The Opposite of Love

Love is placing another higher than yourself and laying down your rights for that person. The opposite of love is not hate but pride. Pride places the self above all others. Pride causes us to seek our own good and pleasure above others' good and pleasure. You don't have to hate someone to not love them. You do not love someone if you love yourself more.

"Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13

This is what Christ has done for us. He loved us more than His own life. Christ is the ultimate example of love, and His work on the cross is the chief display of love. May we know and understand the love of Christ, and may His love transform our hearts so that out of love we will,"count others more significant than [ourselves]." Philippians 2:3

Out of the Abundance of the Heart

The tongue
O, that little member
That steers the ship
Though a small rudder

The spark
That sets aflame a forest
Animals are tamed,
But who can tame this

The tree
Producing olives and figs
With our tongue
We bless God and curse men

The tool
For building up one another
That also can
Destroy our brothers

The flaw
Of all the human race
Is corrupted hearts
In need of God's grace.

The cure
Is being filled with the Spirit
For what's within
Is what will exit.

"The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart." Luke 6:45


~Inspired by James Chapter three

True Wisdom

Wisdom is not knowing. It is knowing that you do not know. We have no wisdom in ourselves, and our hearts are deceitfully wicked.  


"Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord (Proverbs 3:7a)."

"If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know 
(1 Corinthians 8:2)."

Wisdom is knowing the source of where to obtain wisdom. God is the only one who is truly wise.

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach (James 1:5)."

Adam and Eve sought to be wise apart from God and became fools. There is no wisdom apart from God. True wisdom is knowing that all wisdom is found in God and trusting His Word is truth.

If we follow our own foolish hearts and try to become wise through our own reasoning we will become fools.

"Professing to be wise, [we will become] fools (Romans 1:22)."

Scripture commands us, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; (Proverbs 3:5)."

"To the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen (Romans 16:27)."(emphasis added)

The Keys to Unity

The keys to unity are humility and love.
The key to humility and love is the cross.

"Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity." Colossians 3:14

"In humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." Philippians 2:3-4

"Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity" Psalm 133:1

There will be conflicts in the church and in our homes that we must handle with love and humility in order to maintain unity. Unity is not agreeing about everything, it is maintaining loving, healthy relationships despite conflicts. In order to do this we must fix our eyes on Christ. Truly, He is the perfect example of love and humility.

"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." Philippians 2:5-8


May we, "[be] diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace"(Ephesians 4:3), and may God bring unity to His Church and to our homes.

Motivations for Ministry

What should the motivations of God's workman be? What are the Biblical reasons to minister to others?

1. The Glory of God
Our first motivation for ministry should be the glory of God. The goal of all ministry is to serve Christ, for as we do it to one of the least of these, we have done it for Christ. We must minister out of a heart desire to glorify God. "...whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31b

While we do minister to people, serving people cannot be the focus of our ministry. Otherwise, our ministry ceases to be ministry and becomes a humanitarian work and a work of our flesh. This is important. Ministry can become an idol in that it can become our focus. We cannot truly love or minister to people if they are at the center of lives. If our goal is merely to help people, we will not be much help. However, if our chief goal is to glorify God and we lift up His name, God promises that He will draw men unto Himself.

Compassion for people will not always sustain you. People will not always appreciate your efforts to reach them with the gospel. Many laborers for Christ have been killed, tortured, and imprisoned for serving Christ. Not only this, there are people who you will not feel like ministering to that will require you to draw on God's strength in order to love and serve them. Jesus tells us if our enemy is hungry to feed Him. Truly, if we are merely serving man, we will quit when we aren't appreciated or when the man we are to serve happens to be our enemy.

The apostle Paul was faithful to the end of his ministry. He wrote these words: "For am I seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ."  Galatians 1:10. Paul offers us great insight into ministry in this passage. If we are not motivated by devotion to Christ and a desire to glorify Him, we will stop ministering as soon as we wear out or are persecuted. If we are simply serving man, we will not persevere. Our highest goal in ministry must be to serve God.

2. Love
Our second motivation for ministry should be love for our others. While our chief goal in ministry is not to serve man, we should love man. Without love, we will wear out. The Bible tells us love "does not seek it's own" (1 Cor 13:5). We see from this text that love is self sacrificial. Love seeks the good of others at one's own expense. It will take christian love to be able to continue ministering to people who don't appreciate you, take advantage of you, or even mistreat you.

We read in 1 John 3:13-14 and 16, "Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into life because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." We shouldn't be surprised if the very people we are ministering to hate us. Once Christ saves us though, we ought to love others as Christ loved us. We ought to lay down our lives for others in love as Christ laid down His. We ought to love others at all cost, even if it costs us our lives. This is true love. This is the kind of love that should motivate us to minister.

 It took love for Elizabeth Elliot to take the gospel to the people who killed her husband. She went back and faced violent Auca tribes people because she still loved them even after they had murdered her beloved husband. This is the power of the love of Christ.

It took love for Jacob Deshazer to take the gospel back to the people who had brutally tortured him for years in POW prisons. Upon seeing the head prison guard of one of the prisons he stayed in, Jacob said,"We meet today in the presence of the God who loves and offers forgiveness to everyone." He was able to offer forgiveness to his former torturer because he had the love of Christ.

 It took love for Jesus to say,"Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." as the people stood in the crowd and mocked Him. This is the kind of love it takes to fulfill your ministry.

May we be faithful ministers who seek the glory of God and who love others.

What is Self-Control?

Under Whose Control?

When the Bible mentions self-control as a fruit of the Spirit, what is it talking about? It seems that self-control would be to control one's self; however, this is not the correct definition here. In fact, to be controlled by one's self is not a challenge at all. We all do this by nature. We do what we want to do. It does not take the power of the Spirit to make us decide to take control of our lives. The original sin occurred when Adam and Eve decided to take control themselves. Clearly, Scripture is talking of something else when the term "self-control" is used.

Self control, is to have one's self under the control of the Holy Spirit. This means to have our thoughts, emotions, tongues, and actions submitted to the Holy Spirit. Self control is not just deciding to "behave". It is walking by the Spirit and having ourselves under His control. It is having the attitude of Christ who lived in perfect submission to the Father (John 5:19) and was led by the Spirit (Matt 4:1). Self-control is carried out through the power of the Spirit.

The Keys

Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit, not the self. Too often, I have tried to control myself rather than walking in the power of the spirit. In order to walk in the power of the Spirit, I've found that praying and seeking direction from the Spirit are helpful. Taking time to be alone with God, asking for a greater filling of the spirit, and then walking in the Spirit's guidance and power are the keys to being self-controlled.

"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16)."

Are you walking by the Spirit today? Are you being controlled by Him?

Come Away

"Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away"
Song of Solomon 2:10

Solomon wrote these words to his beloved wife. He beckoned her to come and enjoy intimacy with him away from everyone and everything else.

"O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the secret place of the steep pathway... let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet." Song of Solomon 2:14

He called her away with him to be alone so they could enjoy each others presence. 

Jesus spoke similar words to His disciples.

"And he said to them, 'Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.' For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat." Mark 6:31

In fact, Jesus was always slipping away to be alone with the Father. Often His disciples would search for Him because He had gone away to pray. Jesus knew the importance of coming away. He knew the sweetness of secret intimacy. 

Christ is the husband of the church (2 Cor 11:2, Is 54:5). He beckons His bride as Solomon beckoned his. 

"Come away." I hear Him say to me. "Come away from all the worries and cares in this life. Come away from your distractions and daily tasks. Come away and rest in my presence and commune with me. Come away and enjoy intimacy in my presence. " I hear Him calling, "In the secret place let me hear your voice."

How often are we in the desolate place? How often do we come away to pray? We have much more need of coming away than Jesus did. Let us imitate Christ. Can you hear Him calling? "Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and Come away. Come away. Come away."

Four Components of True Ministry

What is true ministry? What is it comprised of, and how is it accomplished? 

1. True ministry is accomplished by the work of the Holy Spirit.  

Without the work of the Holy Spirit, nothing is accomplished. The Holy Spirit is not to be thought of as a necessary ingredient that is added to our efforts to prosper our ministry. The Holy Spirit is the only one who can minister to people's souls, and He uses our efforts in the work He is doing. We do not accomplish ministry; we participate in God's work.

"I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart form Me you can do nothing." John 15:5

"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life." John 6:36

2. True ministry is accomplished by prayer.

Since we have no power in ourselves to minister to people's souls, we must pray for an outpouring of the Spirit. We must pray that God would do what only He can do: change hearts, give strength, provide comfort, and build up His Church. Prayer is the key to joining the ministry God is doing. In prayer we intercede on behalf of our fellow men, and God does the work.

3.True ministry is accomplished through sharing the Word.

People do not need our wisdom or our ideas. They need God's Word and His wisdom. "The grass withers and the flower falls off, but the Word of The Lord endures forever." God's Word is never outdated. It is"the power of God unto salvation." It is sufficient to revive men's souls and to sustain them after salvation. "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds form the mouth of God." Scripture is sufficient for ministering to others' various spiritual needs, and it is an indispensable tool in ministry.

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of the soul  and the spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

"All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." 

2 Timothy 3:16-17

4. True ministry is accompanied by ministry to physical needs.

Jesus set an example of caring for people's spiritual and physical needs. God also cared for His people's physical needs in the Old Testament. God knows our physical and spiritual needs and cares for both. We should do likewise. We are told to love our neighbors in Scripture. Man is both spiritual and physical. We should love their their soul and care for their body. 

Ministry to men's souls and physical needs is important. One should not be without the other. 

"If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,' and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?" James 2:17

"We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has the world's goods and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth." 1 John 3:16-18

May we be faithful ministers of the gospel, and may we faithfully minister to our fellow men through the power of the Spirit and the Word of God, praying on their behalf and caring for their physical needs.

The Reversed Effect of Self Esteem Building

It is commonly taught by psychologist that those who are insecure need to boost their self esteem. This however does not produce the desired affect. Insecurity is not caused by a lack of confidence one's self, but it is caused by placing too much confidence in yourself. Security in a being so unreliable, sinful, and constantly changing as one's self is destined to cause insecurity. It is only when all our confidence is in God that we can truly be secure. He never changes, and He knows everything. He is good, and we can trust Him. We don't need more confidence in ourselves. We need more confidence in God.

Relationship Recipe

Many Types

Everyone has relationships, and there are many different types of relationships. There is our relationship between God and us, us and our family, us and our friends, us and strangers, us and our enemies, us and our authorities, us and those under our authority, and for some there is the relationship between them and their spouse. We all have relationships in some form or another.

What Kind?

 The question is not "What type of relationships do you have?" but "What kind of relationships are they?" Are they godly or ungodly? Are they healthy, or are they weak, neglected, and ignored?No one desires to have bad relationships, so what are the necessary ingredients for a healthy and godly relationship?

The Recipe:

1. In order to have healthy relationships with others, we must first have a right relationship with God. Our sin has separated us from God and ruined our relationship. In the beginning of time, man walked and talked with God. His sin separated him from God though, and In order to have a right standing with God, restitution had to be made. Christ paid the penalty for our sins on the cross in order to bring us back into a right relationship with God. 1 Peter 3:18 says, "For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;". We can not have a right relationships with others until we have been made right with God and are given new hearts.
2. Love is a vital ingredient for godly relationships as well. I am not talking about a fuzzy feeling. I am talking about the kind of love the Bible describes in first Corinthians chapter thirteen. Some people are easier to love than others, but Christ loved us while we where still sinners. Christ loved us when we where His enemies and when we hated Him. We must love even our enemies and especially those who hate us, for in so doing we become like Christ.
3. ^{Humility is essential to a healthy relationship. Pride will separate you from others. Pride is the root of all sins. Pride exalts the self and seeks its own interest. Pride is a sin! Philippians 2:3-8 says, "}Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;  do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becomingobedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. " Christ should be our example of how to conduct ourselves in any relationship! We must follow his example and be humble.Click Here for more on humility.
4. Forgiveness plays a very important role in any human relationship. If you do not forgive others, your relationships with them will be bitter and stagnant. You must forgive as God has forgiven you! God has commanded us to forgive. It is not an option!( See post entitled Forgiving as We've Been Forgiven for more on forgiveness.)
5. We will sin against others sometimes, and in order for that relationship to heal, you must repent and ask for their forgiveness too. Acknowledge your sin before the person you have offended and ask for their forgiveness and ask for God's. In the same way that you must forgive so that you do not become embittered, you must ask forgiveness so that the person in your relationship does not become embittered against you.
6. Serving is a great way to strengthen your relationships. When you serve some one, you are investing your time and energy into their life and into your relationship. Galatians 5:13b says "through love serve one another."
7. Another way to strengthen your relationships is to exhort. Look for ways to build the person up. Exhorting does not just include praising someone for doing what's right, but also encouraging them in areas where they may be discouraged or where they lack. You are exhorting someone whenever you are building them up with your words. Our words can destroy others and ruin our relationships, so making shore that our words are edifying is very important. Hebrews 3:13"But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin." Also, Ephesians 4:29 says, "Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear" Our words are very important! 
8. If you want to have a good relationship with others, you must be a good listener. James 1:19 says,"Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;" Listening to others communicates that you value that person's thoughts, feelings, and Ideas. I struggle with this, and I am trying to become a better listener. Often I want to be heard and I forget to listen! It all boils down to my own selfishness!
9. You must also keep confidential the things that others confide to you and not spread gossip. Proverbs 16:28 says"A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends." What an awful thing to separate close friends!
10. Not only must we exhort with our words and not gossip, but we must not slander with our words! Slandering is simply speaking badly of others. Even if what you are saying is true, it is wrong to slander. Slandering will cause relationships to ruin. Titus 3:1-2 Says "Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one (Emphasis added), to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men."
11. Praying for your relationships will also strengthen them. You can pray that God will help you to love, be humble, forgive, to be repentant, to serve, to exhort, to listen, to not gossip, and that He will help you not to slander. Pray that God will show you ways to strengthen your relationships. If the person is lost pray for their salvation, and pray for an opportunity to share the gospel. If the person has Authority over you, pray God will give them wisdom as they make decisions and that He will help you honor them. There are so many things that you can pray for in your relationships! Prayer always makes relationships better! Prayer is vital to godly relationships
    .

Examination

The things that matter most on this earth are our relationships. We must be looking at our relationships and actively seek ways to make them better. One of my goals is to build others up. That is one purpose for this blog. Be honest with yourself and ask, " Am I building others up in my relationships and helping them become more like Christ, or am I tearing them down with my actions and words? Am I showing my enemies the love of Christ, or do I avoid or mistreat them? Have I forgiven others, or am I full of bitterness? Do I gossip or slander? Am I listening to others well? Am I serving others or only looking out for my own interests? Am I repenting and asking for forgiveness when I sin?"Truly examine these eras. I can not say that I do any of these things as well as I'd like to, but by God's grace I'm making progress. Examine each area in your  life and ask God to help you with the ones that you struggle with. Maybe you need to repent and ask forgiveness from somebody. Maybe your relationship with God is is not right. Maybe you need to ask for His forgiveness. Godly relationships do not form by themselves. They take work, But the rewards are worth it! These are just a few ways that you can strengthen your relationships, but they certainly aren't the only ways. Search the scriptures for how you should conduct yourself in your relationships. May God bless and strengthen your relationships! 

Originally posted 2/12/13

On Gifts and Disabilities

Family Retreat

Joni and Friends International Disability Center is a unique ministry with many facets. I learned about Joni and Friends only last year, but it has had a huge impact on my life. For the past two summers I have been thrilled to have had the opportunity to serve at a Joni and Friends Family Retreat.

Family Retreat is a time when families that are affected by disability are able to rest, meet other families, and enjoy fun activities that are catered to their needs. One of the things I really appreciate is that it is also a time for spiritual refreshment. Family Retreat is not just a fun week; it is a time when the Gospel is shared and people are encouraged with the word of God.

I was so excited about the opportunity to serve the first time I went, and I was expecting to be a blessing to families affected by special needs. Little did I know how much God would teach me and how much I would be blessed. Joni and Friends has had a huge impact on my life, and I want to share some of my experiences and things I've learned from being involved with it.

Different Gifts

Many people do not know how to interact with those who have disabilities. I used to be afraid of their differences too and ended up treating them in an unloving way. I wanted to treat them kindly, but I didn't know what to do around them. Serving at family retreat taught me that people with special needs are no different than me, they just have different gifts than I do. It made me realize that God chooses to give each person different gifts and talents, and while we don't get to choose our gifts, we do get to choose what we do with them. We are all made in the image of God, and every person is precious. People with special needs are just people--who have special needs. Realizing this has helped me to know how to show value to people with disabilities. I've learned to just smile and engage them in the exact same way I would any other person. Now I have many friends with disabilities, and I have been blessed by their gifts. 

Juddy's Gift

I will never forget the smile on one boy's face when we lined the red carpet to cheer for the families that entered the chapel. We were already cheering wildly, but when this boy entered, everyone started cheering, "JUDDY! JUDDY! JUDDY!" I had never met him because it was my first year at camp, but it was impossible to miss him. 

Juddy is famous for his smile. He cannot do a lot of the tasks that we would consider to be simple; however, he has found the secret to something that psychologists still haven't figured out. Juddy knows the secret to joy. Juddy is in a wheelchair and can't talk, but you never notice his chair, and his smile speaks for him. He just enjoys the life God has given him, and seems to squeeze out every ounce of joy in each day. He has a gift of joy, and he shares it everywhere he goes. 

When I came home from camp last year, his smile was imprinted in my mind. I wrote a song in his honor entitled "He Gave Joy." Whenever I think about Juddy, I am reminded that no matter what is happening in my life, "this is the day that the Lord has Made," and as long as I amm alive, I want to "rejoice and be glad in it."

Ralph's Gift

Another person who particularly touched my heart this year was Ralph. Every year at Family retreat, there is a talent show that is held by the disabled campers and their families. It is one of the most memorable nights of the week. This year, Ralph sang a song called "You Put the Light in Me." Ralph is blind, and to hear him sing that song was touching. He has never seen the light, but he stood up there, smiling, and sang about a light that shines brighter than the sun and all the stars together. He sang about the light that God gives. Ralph couldn't see the tears that rolled down my cheeks as he sang, but his song reminded me of why I came to camp. He reminded me of my reason for living. I live to tell others about God's light.

Ralph has a gift for sharing the light of Christ. This blind man is leading others to the cross. He does not know how to make his way around well, but He knows that Jesus is the way to heaven.

Philip's Gift

Philip is quite a character. He can wheel himself so fast in his wheelchair. One day at camp I remarked, "Philip, you are so fast!" He replied, "I bet I could beat you If we raced!" I'm sure he could have. Philip is a very smart boy with a caring heart. One day I was holding the door for his Dad who was also in a wheelchair, when Philip raced up behind me, locked his wheelchair, and grabbed the door. He wanted to serve his Dad. Philip has the gift of a servant's heart. His eagerness to serve impacted me. It was more difficult for him to hold the door than for me to, but that didn't stop him. He wanted to serve. Philip reminded me that I should serve others even when it's challenging, and I should do it with a willing heart.

Mrs. Ellen's Gift

Every morning at seven, Mrs. Ellen met with anyone who wanted to pray. We had a list of everyone at camp and prayed for each person. Mrs. Ellen has a passion for prayer. If you ever mention a struggle to her, she will offer up a prayer right there on your behalf. She has her own challenges. Mrs. Ellen has spina bifida. Her "disability" does not keep her from serving the Lord. She can't do some of the activities at camp, but she uses her passion for prayer to serve everyone at the retreat. Nothing happens without the power of the Spirit, and that is why her prayers are so important. Even if we had planned everything perfectly, we would not have been able to minister to the families that came if we had not been empowered by the Holy Spirit. Mrs. Ellen does many other things to serve at Family Retreat; however, it is her passion for prayer that impacted me most. Mrs. Ellen reminded me that prayer is essential for every day of our lives.

I could tell you many more stories about the people I met at Family Retreat. Many would make you laugh, and some might make you cry. Even if I shared every story, it could not fully portray what I have experienced. Every person I met was precious, and God has uniquely gifted them all!

A New Definition of "Disabled"

Not only did I learn that the "disabled" are normal people, I realized that "normal" people are disabled. Prior to serving at Family Retreat, I thought I was a normal girl going to serve disabled people. However, "disabled" took on a whole new meaning for me after I met my dear friends at camp. I realized that sometimes it is the blind that really see truth, the deaf that truly hear God's voice, and the crippled that actually walk by faith. I was the one limping around on my own strength. I was the one who was blind in so many areas. I was the one who had a hard time hearing God's voice. I realized that my disabilities were just as real as theirs.

Spiritual Disability

"Oh! How hard it would be to be completely dependent on someone else for everything," one person remarked in a conversation we were having about disabilities. It would be difficult to need someone else feed you, clothe you, bathe you, and do everything else for you. It is hard to imagine what it would be like to be in the shoes of some of the people at Family Retreat. The truth is, we are all completely dependent on someone else.

 We all need God's grace and are totally dependent on Him. Thanks be to God who made provision for our souls! Jesus, the Son of God, lived a sinless life and died in our place to take the punishment for our sins. He offers His free gift of salvation to everyone who believes in Him. 

That is what Joni and Friends is all about. It is not just about providing a fun experience for people with special needs. It is about loving people who might be a little different, but who need a Savior just like everyone else. Family retreat is about pointing people to the One who can care for their special needs. The One who can give them life and hope and will one day wipe away every tear. The One who will one day call them to pick up their mats and walk, who will open their eyes to behold His glory, who will heal their ears to hear the music of heaven, and loosen their lips to declare His praise. Everyone who is in Christ will one day receive a new body and will not suffer anymore. Joni and Friends is not only about helping disabled people enjoy this life. It is about loving them through their trials and giving them hope that goes beyond this life. Joni and friends is reaching out to the people who are suffering from disability. It is helping them through their trials now and sharing the way to eternal life.

The Value of Suffering

Serving at Family retreat has caused me to realize the value in suffering. Every Christian wants the courage of Stephen, the boldness of John the Baptist, and the faith of Paul, but few would volunteer to endure the trials it took those men to gain them. The trials that people face strengthen their faith. Sometimes, it is the girl with a G-Tube that is eating spiritual meat, and it is the businessman that is still drinking spiritual milk. If we could fully understand the spiritual blessings that are gained through suffering, we would all be signing up. At Family Retreat, I learned that suffering is invaluable, and God really does work all things (even the painful things) out for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purposes. Our faith may be tested by fire, but afterwards, it will result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:6-7).

Pride

If there was ever a reminder to me that I have no reason to boast, serving at Joni and Friends has been that reminder for me. While I was at Family Retreat with people who could not do a lot of the things I never give a second thought to, I was reminded that the only reason I can speak, walk, or even eat is because God has given me those gifts. All the things I prided myself in were suddenly swept out from under me when I met my friends with special needs. "But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." Galatians 6:14

More than Words

Only a couple of days before I arrived at camp this year, I found out that I was going to be assisting with Bible and music instead of being paired with a camper. I began praying that God would prepare my heart to worship and to lead others at camp in worship. However, I was surprised when I got there and stood before the families, that they actually led me in worship. 

When I looked out into the crowd and saw people who were facing trials and still praising God's name, it moved my soul to praise Him too. It was a taste of heaven to stand and sing God's praises together. These people were hurting and tired, but they still blessed the name of the Lord. 

I could not help but think of Job, who upon finding out that he had just lost everything, "tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped" Job 1:20. These people had many challenges and struggles, but they praised the name of the Lord, and it was beautiful. 

What I saw at Joni and friends was a true picture of worship. Worship is not singing a song. It is not a warm, sappy, gushy feeling or experience that you have when the lights are dark and the music is playing. In fact it is not a feeling at all. Worship is an attitude. It is an attitude that exalts God above all else. It is the acceptance of all His dealings (even the painful ones) with you as good, and the ability to bless His name at all times. God is seeking true worshipers who will worship in Spirit and in truth (John 4:23). Worship is an attitude, and it manifests itself in actions. I was reminded at camp this year that worship is so much more than words.

Looking Forward to the Next Retreat

I have learned so much at Family retreat. My friends from family retreat taught me a lot about my own pride and disabilities, the value of suffering, and true worship. Not only have I learned, but I have also built relationships that will carry over into eternity. Serving at Joni and Friends Family retreat has been a time of growth, encouragement, love, laughter, and blessing in my life. Of all the people at Family Retreat in the past two years, I think I have been most blessed. It truly is more blessed to give than to receive. I can hardly wait for the next Family Retreat! Even more so, I look forward to the day when there will be no more disabilities. The day when my friends from Family Retreat and I will all stand in the presence of the Lord, see His face, hear His voice, and sing His praises together. 

"Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame... that my house may be filled."

Luke 14:21, 23b

To learn more about Joni and Friends and Family Retreat click here.

For a free download of my song about Juddy, click here.

A Lesson From my Blueberry Bushes

I planted six different types of blueberries this year. After testing our soil, I realized it was defficient in everything. We added pete moss, pine needles, and a host of other things to the soil before planting them. After all the work of planting the bushes, I had to pay close attention to when they needed watering. I did this in hopes of them producing blueberries.

My little sister said to me the other day, "When we planted those bushes, we had to wait a long time before we got to have the blueberries." I agreed with her and explained that it's that way in all of life.

Often we work hard and do not get anything back right away. Even in doing kingdom work, you may not see the results until Christ returns. We must preach the gospel without losing heart. We may not get to see the results of our witnessing, but we are called to be faithful. We should share the gospel out of obedience to Christ and love for Him. We can rest assured that His word will accomplish His purposes.

"Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary."

 Galatians 6:9

What is a Biblical Worldview?

Suppose that you are going to take a trip to Hawaii. As you are seated on the plane, you introduce yourself to the passenger next to you who looks nervous. He replies, “I'm sorry if I don't seem very friendly. This is my first flight, and I don't like heights. Would you mind if we closed the shade on the window?” You smile and politely pull the shade. While preparing for takeoff, a voice over the intercom announces, “This is your pilot speaking. Can anyone tell me how to get to Hawaii? I can't find the compass on this thing. Since I've never been in a plane before either, I could use some help figuring out what all of these buttons are for.” Upon hearing this announcement, only a lunatic would remain in his seat. It is essential to have an experienced pilot in order to first make it off the ground, and then arrive at your destination. If the person next you had never been in an airplane before, it would have little effect on you. However, it would matter immensely if your captain had never been in a plane. His lack of experience as a pilot would affect his choices, everyone else in the plane, and your destiny. Many people think that their beliefs are irrelevant, but all beliefs have consequences. They affect our choices, they affect those around us, and they affect our destinies. Our beliefs are not just a passenger in the mind; they are the pilot of the entire body. Having the right beliefs is vital because our beliefs will determine the course of our lives.

It Matters

What we believe matters, but how can one know what to believe? There are many different belief systems, but the Bible alone is consistent with itself and reality. Author Susan Schaeffer Macaulay compared the search for truth with finding the right key to a lock. She recounted a time when she had a large ring of keys and needed to find the correct one for the door that stood locked before her. Mrs. Macaulay explained that just as only one key fit the lock, only one belief system fits the facts around us. The Bible gives the philosophy and explanation of life and truth that fits reality. The Bible offers the key to understanding the past, present, and future. It explains creation and its purpose and reveals why pain, disease, and death exist. It accounts for why we have a sense of right and wrong. The Bible also offers a living hope¹ for mankind and provides truth to guide us through life. The Bible contains the only correct belief system.

Worldview

Another word for a belief system is worldview. Francis Schaeffer said, “No man can live without a world view; therefore, there is no man who is not a philosopher.” Everyone has a belief system even if they do not believe in a god. A worldview can be broken down into what one believes about seven basic categories: truth, God, origins, man, purpose, morality, and destiny. Hence, a biblical worldview is viewing all of these areas through the lens of Scripture and letting the Bible govern one's beliefs. In order to understand what a biblical worldview is, we must answer the question, “What does the Bible teach us about each of these topics?”

Truth

Every worldview begins by laying the foundation for truth. By necessity, a Biblical worldview begins with the belief that God is the source of all truth, and that truth is revealed to us through His Word.² God cannot lie, so His Word is true.³ Thus, truth is not relative or subjective to our opinions. God's Word helps us to discern what is true and provides direction much like a compass does. It would be impossible for a pilot to navigate without a compass. Likewise, it is vital that we rely on God's Word in order to discern truth. Understanding where to acquire truth lays the foundation for the entire Biblical worldview.

God

What is a Biblical worldview of God? Having established that Scripture is God's revealed truth, we should investigate what Scripture teaches about God. However, this does not prove to be a simple task. God is eternal,⁴ and it is difficult for finite man to understand and explain a being who is infinite. While it is not possible for man to know God as God knows Himself, God has revealed Himself to us in His Word and we can know Him to the extent that He has revealed Himself in Scripture and through His Son.⁵ Not only can we know about God; we can know God Himself and have a relationship with Him.⁶ What He has revealed to us in His Word is sufficient for life, faith, and practice.

We learn in Scripture that God is independent from everything and does not need anything to sustain Himself.⁷ He is unchangeable and eternal.⁸ He is omnipresent (in all places), yet He cannot be contained by space.⁹ He is immortal,¹⁰ invisible,¹¹ omniscient (all-knowing), and wise.¹² He does not have a body but is spirit.¹³ He is truthful,¹⁴ faithful,¹⁵ good,¹⁶ and holy.¹⁷ He is righteous,¹⁸ jealous,¹⁹ sovereign,²⁰ and orderly.²¹ He has wrath towards sin and demands a payment for it.²² However, He is merciful, patient, and loving too, and He offers salvation to all men.²³ He is omnipotent (all powerful), free to do all His holy will;²⁴ and He is perfect.²⁵ He is blessed,²⁶ beautiful,²⁷ and glorious.²⁸ God is three persons in one: each is fully God, and there is only one God.²⁹ Although man has tried to use language to describe God, there are no words that can fully explain Him; He is indescribable. A Biblical view of God is that we cannot know God fully, but we can know Him personally as much as He has revealed to us in His Word and through His Son.

Origin

What is a biblical worldview of the origin of the cosmos? Many theories exist, so we must rely on our “compass” to guide us through the philosophies of this world. The very first sentence in the Bible says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”³⁰ We also read that without Christ nothing was made.³¹ All creation has its' origin in God. It is important, however, to clarify that God did not create sin. God's creation originally existed in a perfect state. All that He made was good, but because man sinned, creation was subjected to futility.³² This is the reason that pain, disease, and destruction are rampant today. The evil in this world is not a result of God's actions. Evil entered the world through man's disobedient choice. Scripture is clear on the origin of the cosmos, and the biblical view is that all creation originated from God and was originally perfect.

Man

What does the Bible teach us about man? We learn four basic things about man from Scripture. First, man was originally created perfect in the image of God. The Bible says, “...all that He had made... was very good,”³³ and, “God created man in His own image.”³⁴ Second, when man sinned, all mankind was doomed to death. In Romans we read, “all have sinned”,³⁵ “the wages of sin is death”,³⁶ and “...by the transgression of the one the many died.”³⁷ Third, man can still be redeemed. Jesus said, “In Him we have redemption through His blood”³⁸ Fourth, even when man is redeemed, he will still struggle with sin until he is made perfect when Christ returns. In First John 1:8 we read, “If we say that we have no sin we are deceiving ourselves....”³⁹ A Biblical perspective of mankind is that he fell from his original perfect state; he is doomed to die; he can be forgiven; and once he is redeemed he will not be made perfect until Christ returns.

Purpose

What is the purpose of creation? This question has been asked for ages because we all want to know why we are here and why everything else exists. Everyone longs to have meaning and purpose. In desperation some have tried to create their own purpose, but a purpose must come from a creator. People can only have purpose if they were created intentionally. Similarly, one can only know his purpose if his Creator reveals it. Once again, our compass is a vital tool for discovering what we were intended to do. Scripture teaches that God made all things for His own glory.⁴⁰ It is true that God does do things for our sake,⁴¹ but the ultimate reason He does anything is for His own sake and His own glory.⁴² If man's purpose is to glorify God, the question we are left with is, “How does one glorify God?” Jesus said that if we love Him we will keep His commands,⁴³ and that the Father is glorified when we bear fruit.⁴⁴ We glorify God when we obey His Word. A Biblical view of creation's purpose is that everything was created for God's glory and that we can glorify Him by submitting our lives to the teachings in His Word and bearing fruit.

Morality

How can one decide what is moral or immoral? This is the question of right and wrong. The Bible teaches that right and wrong do exist. Wrongdoing is synonymously called sin in Scripture. The book of First John tells us that all unrighteousness is sin, and sin is lawlessness. Hence, sin is any transgression of God's Holy Law. While sin is lawlessness, it is not merely lawlessness because according to Romans 5, sin existed before the law was ever given. Sin is anything that is contrary to God's character.

Galatians 3:24 teaches that God's laws were given to reveal our sinful state and point us to the perfect God who is the only One able to save us. The law was not given to be kept, for it had already been broken before it was revealed. Rather, the law was given to show us that we have broken it, that we are not like God, and that we need the power of the Spirit to obey His commands.⁴⁵ The Bible also teaches that we know right from wrong in our consciences.⁴⁶Therefore, we are held responsible for our sins. Since the beginning, man has made excuses for his sin because of his pride, but God will not excuse man's sin unless he is covered by the blood of Jesus. A biblical worldview of morality is that right and wrong are determined by God's Word, and man will be held accountable for his actions because his conscience tells him what is right and wrong.

Destiny

A Christian's view of eternity and destiny varies from all other religions, in that salvation is a gift of God that cannot be merited. In Isaiah 53:5 we read,“He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed.” Salvation is received through repentance and faith. In Scripture we learn that without repentance we will all perish.⁴⁷ Ephesians 2:8-9 teaches us that we are saved by grace through faith and not our works. Once a person is saved, they pass from death into life, become a new creature, and are sealed with the Spirit. Salvation is initiated and sustained by God's power, and one cannot lose it.⁴⁸ Only those who have trusted Christ will enter heaven. Acts 4:12 teaches that salvation is explicitly found in Christ.

If salvation is a free gift to those who exercise repentance and faith in Christ, what happens to those who do not obey the Gospel? The Bible teaches that God has planned a day in which He will judge the world through His Son whom He appointed.⁴⁹ On this day, He will say to the unbelieving to depart from Him into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.⁵⁰ In Matthew 13 we read that God will throw those who commit lawlessness into the furnace of fire, and in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Both hell and heaven are eternal and once in either place you cannot pass to the other according to Luke 6:26. A Biblical view of destiny is that those who repent and exercise faith in Christ will spend eternity in heaven with Him because of His blood, and those who are unbelieving will perish in their sins and spend eternity in hell.

Conclusion

All areas of life are influenced by our worldview because our beliefs are the pilot of our entire body. Our beliefs about truth, God, origins, man, purpose, morality, and destiny are important. They affect our actions, those around us, and our destinies. The more biblical a Christian's worldview, the more equipped he will be to carry out the Great Commission, understand the world around him, discern the will of God, and ultimately bring glory to Him. God has not left us without a compass to try to figure things out on our own. He has given us His Word to show us the way to salvation and to help us know His will. Having a biblical worldview is to view the world in truth and actuality because the Bible is truth. May we be as the Bereans who tested everything against scripture,⁵¹ and may we accurately handle the Word of Truth.⁵² Soli Deo Gloria.

Supporting Scriptural References

¹1 Pt. 1:3

²Jn. 14:6, Jn. 17:17, Ps. 119:160, 2 Tim. 3:16

³Heb. 6:18, Num. 23:19, Tit. 1:2

⁴Psalm 90:2

⁵Ps. 147:5, Ps. 145:3, Rom. 11:33, Is. 55:9, Col. 1:10, 2 Pet. 3:18, Matt. 11:27, Deut. 29:29

⁶Jn. 17:3, 1 Jn. 5:20, 1 Jn. 2:3, Gal. 4:9, 1 Jn. 2:3, Phil. 3:10, 1 Jn. 4:8, Jer. 9:23-24

⁷Acts 17:24-25, Job 41:11

⁸Ps. 102 :27, Mal. 3:6, Jas. 1:17

⁹Ps. 90:2, Job 26:36, 1 Kgs. 8:27, Isa. 66:1, Acts 7:48

¹⁰1 Tim 1:17

¹¹Jn. 6:46, Jn. 1:18, 1 Jn. 4:12, Ex. 33:21-23

¹²Job 37:16, Rom. 16:27, Job 9:4, 1 Jn. 3:20, Heb. 4:13, Job 28:24, Rom. 11:33

¹³Jn. 4:24

¹⁴Jn. 14:6

¹⁵Deut. 32:4

¹⁶Ps. 34:8, 100:5, 106:1, 107:1

¹⁷Isa. 6:3, Ps. 71:22, Ps. 99:9, Ps. 99:3, Ps. 22:3

¹⁸Deut. 32:4, Ps. 19:8, Rom. 3:25-26

¹⁹2 Cor. 11:2, Ex. 20:5, Ex. 34:14, Isa. 48:11, Deut. 4:24, Deut. 5:9

²⁰Isa. 46:9-10, Ps. 139:15-16, Jer. 1:12, Ps. 127:1, Dan.2:20-21, Rom. 8:28

²¹1 Cor.14:33

²²Deut. 9:7-8, Deut. 29:23, Rom. 1:18, 1 Thess. 1:10, 2 Kgs. 22:13

²³2 Cor. 1:3, Ex. 34:6, 1 Pet. 5:10, Rom. 3:23-24

²⁴Jer.32:17, Gen. 18:14, Jer. 32:27, Lk. 1:37, Matt. 19:26, Matt. 3:9

²⁵Ps. 18:30, Matt. 5:48

²⁶1 Tim. 6:15, 1 Tim. 1:11

²⁷Ps. 27:4

²⁸Ps. 24:10, Lk. 2:9, Rev. 21:23

²⁹ Matt. 3:16-17, 2 Cor. 13:14, Isa. 45:21-22, 1 Tim. 2:5, Rom. 3:30, Jn. 14:26, 1 Jn. 2:1, Jn. 16:7, Lk. 4:14, Acts 10:38, 1 Jn. 1:1-4, Matt. 28:19, Jn. 20:30-31, Jas. 2:19

³⁰ Gen. 1:1, 1 Cor. 8:6, Col. 1:16

³¹Rom. 8:20

³² Jn. 1:3, Heb. 1:2

³³Gen. 1:31

³⁴Gen. 1:27

³⁵Rom. 3:23

³⁶Rom. 6:23

³⁷Rom. 5:15

³⁸Eph. 1:7

³⁹see also Rom. 7:19

⁴⁰Isa. 43:7

⁴¹Ex. 32:11-14, 2 Kgs. 8:19

⁴²Jn. 17:4,5, Eph. 1:11-12

⁴³Jn. 14:15

⁴⁴Jn. 15:8

⁴⁵Gal. 5:16

⁴⁶Rom. 1:19-23

⁴⁷Lk. 13:3

⁴⁸Rom. 8:30, 2 Cor. 5:17, 1 Jn. 3:14, Eph. 1:13-14, Rom. 6:4, Gal. 2:20, Eph. 4:24, Ez. 36:26-27, 1 Pet. 1:5, Lk. 22:31-32, 1 Pet. 5:10, Jn. 6:37-39, Jn. 10:27-30, 1 Cor. 1:8-9, Phil. 1:6, 1 Thess. 5:23-25, 2 Tim. 1:12, 1 Jn. 2:19, Matt. 7:22

⁴⁹Acts17:31

⁵⁰Matt. 25:41

⁵¹Acts 17:11

⁵²2 Tim. 2:15