EXCITEMENT AND CELEBRATION!

June 15, 2016June 17, 2016 | lindamowles

What excites you? What causes a sense of celebration and joy for you?

A child at a birthday party anxious to see what the package holds?

Watching fireworks at the park?

Fireworks 2 — Fireworks after baseball game!

Going on a vacation?

Cruise ship at distance — Cruise ship at a distance.

Going outside?

Okay, that question is really related to our MinPin daughter, Snickers, who cannot stand at the door to go outside. In her exuberance for getting outside, she, in all her 8 inches of height, will jump higher than the doorknob while she waits for us to open it.

What makes you glad? What excites you?

Scripture tells us of a time when David exhibited extreme excitement and joy in 2 Samuel 6. The cause of his excitement was that the ark was being returned to the City of David, and it had just arrived from the house of Obed-edom. Scripture says that David “danced before the Lord with all his might” [ESV] or “with great enthusiasm”. [Amplified Bible] When his wife, Michal, saw him dancing, she became angry because she thought his actions were undignified. She confronted him with his conduct and David responded, reading from the Amplified Bible:

So David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord that I did this, who chose me above your father and all his house, to appoint me as ruler over Israel, the people of the Lord. Therefore I will celebrate in pure enjoyment before the Lord.”

2 Samuel 6:21.

In the New Testament, Jesus talked of His joy:

“These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”

John 15:11.

And then also we read what Paul says gives him joy:

I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.

2 Corinthians 7:4.

This same verse is translated as follows in the Amplified Bible:

“Great is my confidence in you, great is my pride and boasting on your behalf. I am filled to the brim with comfort; I am over flowing with joy in spite of all our trouble.”

Having joy in spite of the troubles that confronted him. Wow!

The disciples, at the ascension of the Lord, watched Him go up into the clouds after He blessed them. Then we read, in the Amplified Bible, at Luke 24:31-32:

And they worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy [fully understanding that He lives and that He is the Son of God], and they were continually in the temple blessing and praising God.

Worshipping with great joy.

That doesn’t sound like being the “Frozen Chosen” on Sunday Morning, sitting in the pew with dour faces, never smiling and singing through clenched jaws!

Rather that description sounds like:

people who are thankful to God, and to Him alone, for their salvation, who recognize how great the mercy was when the Holy Spirit touched their hearts through His grace alone!
people who put God at the center of worship and not their own feelings and opinions.
people who celebrate and praise God for His goodness through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
people who want to spend time with each other, who speak to and encourage one another!

So, I ask you, how do you worship the Lord and the Father Almighty? With great joy or with a sense of obligation or dread? Do you love meeting with other believers and fellowshipping with them because of your common bond in Christ, or do you spend the smallest amount of time possible at church because other “more pressing matters” are calling to you!

Worship is exciting because in it we are ushered into the throne room of God. Because of Jesus’ atoning work on the cross, and the work of the Holy Spirit in illuminating our hearts to the reality of our sin and to the blessing of His mercy. While in our own strength and power we would be cast out from before His presence because of our abject sin and spiritual poverty, because we stand before God in the righteousness of Christ, we can call the Holy One, the Creator of all things and the Lover of our Soul, “Abba, Father”.

I pray that we would have a renewed appreciation of worship and fellowship in the life of the Christian Church.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

John 13:34-35.

Worship and love – they go hand in hand. Worship denotes the reverence of and for God, stressing the feeling of awe or devotion. And, our devotion to the Lord should be evidenced in the love that we have for one another and for the world around us. Indeed, worship and love of one another are means of grace given to us through the Holy Spirit … let us not ignore them!

This week, may we remember that the worship of our God is exciting and is a joyful experience. Then, when we leave the worship service, may we continue in an attitude of love toward both our fellow believers as well as each person that the Lord puts in our path. Love one another — surprise them by your love and then point them to Jesus.

Father, forgive me when I have approached worship with a sense of obligation rather than with excitement about being in your presence. May your Holy Spirit touch my heart and may I come with reverence and awe at your majesty, power, omniscience, glory, and love. May I be accepted before You as I stand covered in the righteousness of Jesus Christ, my Savior. May I love You with my whole heart and may I worship You daily.

OBEDIENT LOVE FOR THE LORD AND FOR OTHERS.

November 28, 2015 | lindamowles

Obedience … it is a hard lesson for children to learn and often we, as adults, still have difficulty accomplishing it. Obedience comes easy when it concerns something that I want to do anyway. When the task being asked of us is fun or something we are interested in, obedience is not hard at all. It comes, almost, naturally!

Obeying, when doing something you are interested in, is fun!

But when it relates to something that is difficult or outside my own comfort zone, then it is hard to obey.

As a child, I remember telling my Mother that I loved her. Then, later in the day, when she asked that I do something for her, I hesitated and waited until it suited me, rather than her. At bedtime, I said I loved her and she replied: “Really? That surprises me.”

Her statement caught me off guard and my eyes teared up when I asked “Why, Mommy?” Her reply echoes in my heart even today: “If you loved me, you would do what I say rather than ignore my direction or argue with me.”

In the Gospel of John, Jesus talked about love and obedience when He said:

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

John 14:15 [ESV] He continued on with this thought in verse 21:

“Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”

John 14:21 [ESV]

So, what are Jesus’ commandments? While there are a number of things that He said we should do, they are summarized in Matthew’s Gospel where He says:

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Matthew 22:37-39 [ESV]

In the Gospel of John, Jesus makes it even more pointed – incredibly, He tells us we are to have the same love for others that He has for us.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

John 13:34-35 [ESV].

What is His love for us like? It is overwhelming. It sent Jesus to the cross as a substitute for our sin so, if we believe in Him, we could live with Him forever.

The cross of Christ tells of the magnitude of His love for us.

Do we love others like that? We can’t be their substitute for sin because we also are sinners. But, do we live our life in such a way as to put others first over our own desires and wishes?

What about starting with our family members – surely we can love like Jesus loves when we are talking about those to whom we are related! Too hard to do?

Well, perhaps we can love strangers who don’t know us, and who we don’t know. Those people we could love like Jesus loves us! Maybe, but probably not!

Well then, how are we ever going to love those we don’t like if we have difficulty loving those in the two categories above? The difficulty of it is irrelevant — the command is still there. We are to love even those we don’t like. Think of the parable of the Good Samaritan. Luke 10:30-37.

In fact, Jesus even went one step farther — we are to love our enemies!

“But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:44-48 [ESV]

Obedience – we show our love for our Savior by the way we obey His commands. Not just the convenient ones or those that are easy. We are to be obedient to all of them. I recognize that we cannot do it in our own strength. Indeed, this is totally against our human nature and we need to have His Spirit flow through us to enable us to love like this. When we fail, we must confess that failure and seek His grace for the power to love as He commands.

What if people could see, on a daily basis, evidence of our relationship with Jesus by how we love others? At home, at work, at school? On the bus, the playground, the elevator? In the grocery store, the mall, the post office? Do we exhibit love to our boss or our co-workers or to the server at the restaurant? Do we show love to the person next to us on Sunday morning?

Beloved, what has been your response to His love? Has it made any difference in your life?

Do we have obedient love for our Lord and Savior? Do we obey Jesus’ commands?

Does our love to our neighbors reflect our love for Jesus? Jesus said that it will.

So, I guess the real question is

“How much do we love Jesus?”

Father, may I express my love to your Son, my Savior Jesus Christ, by ministering to those He loves, whether they may be among my friends or not. May I express my love to you, Father, by studying your Word and praying, listening to the Holy Spirit urge and direct me as I walk the path you have provided for me. Thank you Father for your love and presence in my life, and for your Holy Spirit who comforts, encourages and strengthens me. Forgive me when I have turned a blind eye and ignored pleas for assistance. Please give me grace that I may love others as you love me, through the power of your Holy Spirit and to the glory of God the Father.

HELPING OTHERS

June 9, 2015 | lindamowles

I came across a picture the other day that made me smile; okay, it made me laugh. I copy it here for your consideration. And, I suspect that you are at least smiling too!

Doggie giving a head's up to infant — Doggie giving a head’s up to infant

I don’t know the name of either the photographer or the child nor do I know the name of the considerate canine. But, I do know that the little one could not have had as clear a view of the outside but for the help of his friend.

The ways of helping others are as varied as there are people and needs. We could help a child overcome the fear of water.

We could take care of the wildlife in our sphere of influence.

And we could enable young children to participate in feeding the backyard critters, thereby teaching them that all of God’s creation is important — that we are stewards, not owners!

Helping child learn about feeding backyard friends

Often we think that we need to help others by being busy about doing things … hurrying here and there, bustling and caring for others while our frenetic schedules are clamoring for our attention. But, sometimes, helping others means stopping and being still. Sometimes all that is needed is a little help to get a different view of the situation, a new perspective. Sometimes the best help we can give is just being with someone who needs an ear, or a shoulder, or a smile. Take time to pray with them, or cheer for an accomplishment, or perhaps give encouragement to take the next step!

The Bible often talks about helping others. For example:

Acts 20:35: “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” [NIV]

Philippians 1:18‐19: “Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.” [NIV]

1 Thessalonians 5:14‐15: “And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.” [NIV]

Lord, in answer to your commands and as I respond to the guidance of the Holy Spirit:

I pray that I am kind to each person with whom I interact.
I pray that I will help those I come in contact with who need special attention, whether family, friends or neighbors.
I pray that my help will address the need of the individual, rather than my own need for recognition.
I pray that my help will be sacrificial and that it will be done in secret, without concern for receiving thanks.
I pray that in all things I will bring glory to God and his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, without whom I would, most likely, not be inclined to help at all!

Amen.

MOTHER’S DAY

May 8, 2015May 12, 2015 | lindamowles

I don’t think that a mother can forget holding her newborn child, looking into his/her face and dreaming of what the child will become, with the future stretched out as a clean slate for the child to write upon. While Mother’s Day was probably a day created by the greeting card industry, it is appropriate for us to take time to honor our mothers and to consider where we would be without them? (That’s a rhetorical question if ever there was one!)

A mother’s love grows stronger with each gentle touch of her child. She does not know the future. All she knows is that she loves her child in a way that is deeper and more fundamental to her being than she thought love could ever be. It is unconditional – the baby did nothing to earn it and it is the baby’s without any strings attached. Her love is incredibly strong and yet it is tender and gentle and warm. Her touch can ease the pain of a skinned knee or the pain of rejection from so-called friends.

She can withstand all sorts of difficulty without cracking but her heart becomes fragile bone china when her daughter has her first haircut or when her son gets on the bus for Kindergarten, all grown up!

In short, the birth of her child made her a Mother and she shares the strength and fragility of motherhood that is common to us all.

The Bible talks about a number of mothers who are remembered through the millennia … the first example, of course, being Eve, the mother of all things. (Genesis 3:20) Most people know of Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ.

Hannah is the mother of Samuel, but she became his mother only after pouring out her heart to the Lord in her request for a child because her womb had been barren. Scripture says: “So in the course of time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, ‘Because I have asked for him from the LORD.’” (1 Samuel 1:20) Only eight verses later, Hanna dedicates her son to the Lord and takes him to the temple where he is raised by the priest Eli and serves the Lord throughout his life.

“Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.” (Proverbs 23:22)

“Let your father and mother be glad; let her who bore you rejoice!^” (Proverbs 23:25)

Then, too, is the Commandment: “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.” (Exodus 20:12)

So, how do we honor our mother, on this Mother’s Day or on any other day of the year? The ways can be as unique as each individual. Breakfast in bed is nice. Or, how about a hug and a smile with the words “I love you”.

Cards, flowers, or candy is certainly appreciated. But, a heartfelt phone call or an email note just to say I’m thinking of you, or any of a gazillion spontaneous loving gestures on regular run of the mill days throughout the year, are also ways to honor your mother.

When we become mothers, we don’t automatically become paragons of wisdom and fun, nor do we become anything other than what we are, flawed human beings. So, even if there is conflict between mother and child, we must remember that the responsibility and privilege of honoring your mother still exists. The issue is not how you do it – but that you do it!

Why? Because honoring our parents reinforces the family as the primary unit of society, it provides the foundation for spiritual teaching of our children, it is an example of humility and hierarchy, and it is a commandment of God our Father. What other reason do you need?