Greetings. Though you haven't heard from me in some time, I'm still here and hard at work. This week there is a troubling situation in another part of this country between security forces and a radical religious group. (The problem is not in the area where I live, so don't worry about me.) But it is greatly affecting some of our fellowship groups of new believers. We are hearing reports from many quarters about severe persecution, up to and including death. The elders of the group are under great strain, as they try to deal with and counsel refugees, and in some cases travel into the areas where problems are occurring in order to try to help.
One leader came on Tues. to say that a new believer, one of three he led to the Lord on Friday, was attacked and murdered on Sunday night. This leader came to say he was going back to the area, which is at the center of the disturbance, in order to bury the deceased. I asked, "How can you even think of going? It's too dangerous." He said, "I can't do anything else. How can I leave immature new believers to deal with this on their own? God will be with me." The leader called last night to say he is now trapped in the area of the fighting, and terrible things are going on all around. Please pray urgently for this group, and many others who are in similar circumstance.
Thanks for your prayers. We really appreciate them. God bless.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
"Do You Hear What I Hear?"
My friend, Steve Sellers, has once again shared a devotional that I needed to hear. I felt compelled to share this with you because it is such a powerful reminder that we are called to love others with open hearts and open ears!
"Do You Hear What I Hear?"
The beginning of our love for God and His Son, Jesus Christ, and the salvation that accompanies that love, is listening. Our love for God begins when we listen to Him and His Word … and as we accept His Truth, Jesus Christ (“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1; KJV). I find it fascinating that Jesus’ original form is referred to as the Word. Referred to as something that is verbal, not physical. I also find it fascinating that God spoke time, the universe and every living thing into existence. Genesis does not tell us that God took His hands and created things. It states, “And God said, “Let there be light…”
If our love of God begins with listening, then shouldn’t our love for others also begin with listening? Doesn’t God lend us His ear, continually, through our prayers and supplications? Absolutely! And so, it is His work we do for our brothers and sisters when we learn to listen to them. That is probably why Paul quoted God’s command to the churches in Galatia: “For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." But if instead of showing love among yourselves, you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another." (Galatians 5:13-14)
Too many times we, as Christians, feel like we must have something to offer others when they need to talk. We can easily forget that listening can be a far greater service than speaking. Many people are looking for a willing ear to listen to them … but many times they only find Christians who are too willing to talk over the other person.
If we no longer listen to our Christian brothers and sisters, then we will soon fail to listen to God. Truly … TRULY … listening to God requires much more dedication and commitment than listening to someone else. As listening is the beginning to our relationship with God, so is a lack of listening the beginning of our spiritual downfall. As we continue in our failing to listen, we end up with empty, pious words that do not carry truth or The Truth.
Those who cannot listen at length and with patience will talk past other people and not even realize it. Those who believe their time is better spent in talking, not listening, will never really have time for God or neighbor … just themselves and their own words.
Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.” (John 5:24, NLT)
Recently, I read the following story and thought it was an excellent illustration about the need to listen.
“I overheard a conversation a few days ago at lunch which began when a woman noticed one of her co-workers looking downcast. She sat beside him at the lunch table and asked him if he wanted to discuss what was bothering him. He began to talk about the recent trouble he was having relating to his daughter, and it was obvious from his tone and his expression that this was a serious matter which was weighing heavily on him. He had barely begun to explain the essence of the problem when the young woman interrupted, exclaiming, "I know exactly what you mean! My daughter..." And just like that, the conversation shifted as she went on for several minutes describing her own situation. When she finally paused to take a bite of her meal, the man got up and walked away dejectedly. Without missing a beat, she turned to the next person at the table and continued talking about her daughter. I had a pretty strong reaction at the time. I remember thinking, "You don't care about his situation! You just wanted an excuse to start talking!"
It's easy to be critical of this woman, but realistically, this kind of thing goes on all the time. I have done it to my wife and she has done it to me. I have seen pastors do it on many occasions. Few of us are immune. We are rarely listening; usually, we are just waiting impatiently for our turn to talk. We nod and agree in all the right places, but really we are pondering the next thing we are about to say.
It's a shame that so many of us are guilty of this offense, and it speaks volumes about how most people really feel about themselves and those around them. If you struggle with this as much as I do, then it ought to be very humbling when you realize just how difficult and rare it is to have a conversation with someone during which you are far more interested in what they are saying than what you are about to say. It's hard to clear our mind, offer our undivided attention and just listen.
If we dig deeper, we will discover that our egocentric conversations are just one of many ways in which we fail to demonstrate love for each other. I could just as easily point to any of a long list of ways we fail to keep this commandment. I chose this one because it is so subtle and pervasive that for the most part, we've simply stopped noticing that we've stopped listening. I'm sure if you were to ask the woman at the lunch table, she wouldn't have any idea that she had done anything wrong.
The next time you're speaking to someone, especially if they are hurting, make an effort to erase any thoughts of yourself. Instead, give them one hundred percent of your attention. Make a commitment to ensuring that they are able to get their point across, and don't worry about yours. It seems like such a small thing, but it will make a huge difference in not only how you perceive people, but how they perceive you.
You see, loving your neighbor is not like loving your spouse. It may not be something you feel, but it is something that you do. It's the act of sacrificing your own needs and desires for the sake of someone else.
You can demonstrate that love in such a meaningful way by just listening.”
I Wish You Blessings for Open Hearts and Open Ears,
Steve
"Do You Hear What I Hear?"
The beginning of our love for God and His Son, Jesus Christ, and the salvation that accompanies that love, is listening. Our love for God begins when we listen to Him and His Word … and as we accept His Truth, Jesus Christ (“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1; KJV). I find it fascinating that Jesus’ original form is referred to as the Word. Referred to as something that is verbal, not physical. I also find it fascinating that God spoke time, the universe and every living thing into existence. Genesis does not tell us that God took His hands and created things. It states, “And God said, “Let there be light…”
If our love of God begins with listening, then shouldn’t our love for others also begin with listening? Doesn’t God lend us His ear, continually, through our prayers and supplications? Absolutely! And so, it is His work we do for our brothers and sisters when we learn to listen to them. That is probably why Paul quoted God’s command to the churches in Galatia: “For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." But if instead of showing love among yourselves, you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another." (Galatians 5:13-14)
Too many times we, as Christians, feel like we must have something to offer others when they need to talk. We can easily forget that listening can be a far greater service than speaking. Many people are looking for a willing ear to listen to them … but many times they only find Christians who are too willing to talk over the other person.
If we no longer listen to our Christian brothers and sisters, then we will soon fail to listen to God. Truly … TRULY … listening to God requires much more dedication and commitment than listening to someone else. As listening is the beginning to our relationship with God, so is a lack of listening the beginning of our spiritual downfall. As we continue in our failing to listen, we end up with empty, pious words that do not carry truth or The Truth.
Those who cannot listen at length and with patience will talk past other people and not even realize it. Those who believe their time is better spent in talking, not listening, will never really have time for God or neighbor … just themselves and their own words.
Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.” (John 5:24, NLT)
Recently, I read the following story and thought it was an excellent illustration about the need to listen.
“I overheard a conversation a few days ago at lunch which began when a woman noticed one of her co-workers looking downcast. She sat beside him at the lunch table and asked him if he wanted to discuss what was bothering him. He began to talk about the recent trouble he was having relating to his daughter, and it was obvious from his tone and his expression that this was a serious matter which was weighing heavily on him. He had barely begun to explain the essence of the problem when the young woman interrupted, exclaiming, "I know exactly what you mean! My daughter..." And just like that, the conversation shifted as she went on for several minutes describing her own situation. When she finally paused to take a bite of her meal, the man got up and walked away dejectedly. Without missing a beat, she turned to the next person at the table and continued talking about her daughter. I had a pretty strong reaction at the time. I remember thinking, "You don't care about his situation! You just wanted an excuse to start talking!"
It's easy to be critical of this woman, but realistically, this kind of thing goes on all the time. I have done it to my wife and she has done it to me. I have seen pastors do it on many occasions. Few of us are immune. We are rarely listening; usually, we are just waiting impatiently for our turn to talk. We nod and agree in all the right places, but really we are pondering the next thing we are about to say.
It's a shame that so many of us are guilty of this offense, and it speaks volumes about how most people really feel about themselves and those around them. If you struggle with this as much as I do, then it ought to be very humbling when you realize just how difficult and rare it is to have a conversation with someone during which you are far more interested in what they are saying than what you are about to say. It's hard to clear our mind, offer our undivided attention and just listen.
If we dig deeper, we will discover that our egocentric conversations are just one of many ways in which we fail to demonstrate love for each other. I could just as easily point to any of a long list of ways we fail to keep this commandment. I chose this one because it is so subtle and pervasive that for the most part, we've simply stopped noticing that we've stopped listening. I'm sure if you were to ask the woman at the lunch table, she wouldn't have any idea that she had done anything wrong.
The next time you're speaking to someone, especially if they are hurting, make an effort to erase any thoughts of yourself. Instead, give them one hundred percent of your attention. Make a commitment to ensuring that they are able to get their point across, and don't worry about yours. It seems like such a small thing, but it will make a huge difference in not only how you perceive people, but how they perceive you.
You see, loving your neighbor is not like loving your spouse. It may not be something you feel, but it is something that you do. It's the act of sacrificing your own needs and desires for the sake of someone else.
You can demonstrate that love in such a meaningful way by just listening.”
I Wish You Blessings for Open Hearts and Open Ears,
Steve
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