It's Pentecost Sunday...

It's Sunday, and I know I should write something deep and spiritual. But to be honest, my brain is still a little fuzzy since my surgery...even though my surgery had nothing to do with my brain...totally opposite...but well, I won't give TMI.   Anyway, there really is something to "anesthesia brain". I realize that as I try to type here...you don't know how many times I am hitting the wrong keys and have to go back and rewrite words.  I find it is easier to just go sit in my recliner and read a book than to try and think and write and communicate.  But something drives me to at least keep trying...don't give in to it or it will become difficult to ever get back in the routine and groove...

Today is Pentecost Sunday...the Sunday set aside in the traditional church calendar to remember and celebrate the day that the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles, who were gathered "with one accord in one place..." (Acts 2:1).  Acts 2:2-3 tells us that

"Suddenly there came a sound from heaven, 

as of a rushing mighty wind,

and it filled the whole house where they were sitting...

Then there appeared to them divided tongues,

as of fire, and one sat upon each of them."

Now I know that all of Christendom has discussed and debated over this event ever since it happened...and many differences in church denominations have sprung up because of the differences in opinion over just what happened here and what it meant to all Christians everywhere.  I am not going to discuss that here, but what I do want to talk about is who we are in Christ...and what this means to each of us individually.  To do that, I need to look at I Corinthians 12:4-7

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"There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

There are differences of ministries,

but the same Lord.

And there are diversities of activities,

but it is the same God who works all in all.

But the manifestation of the Spirit

is given to each one for the profit of all..."

This morning I happened to pick up my friend Susie Klein's wonderful little book, Walking Butterfly~Comfy Cocoon to Flying Free  (Available HERE on Amazon.com) and turned to this particular page (Chapter Ten, page 58), and I'd like to quote what Susie wrote here. I know she won't mind...she really is a very special friend of mine, whom I met through blogging several years ago...and we formed a very genuine and precious friendship that I treasure highly...  So here is what Susie says:

"The Father designed you for a purpose.

To be loved by Him and to share that love with others.

It really is as simple as that.  When we actually believe God loves us, it changes everything.

When you know you are loved, you are free to give away that love generously and abundantly.

You know there is more where it came from;

there is no need to be stingy or protective.  

Love is generous.

God likes your personality.  He thought it up and installed it in you.

Don't ask Him to change it for a bigger, louder, quieter or fancier version.

He wants to send His love to the world through your style and version.

Are you quiet, or are you boisterous?  

Are you methodical or are your spontaneous?

He enjoys that about you.

He won't answer the prayer to change the way you've been designed.

God has created you with love.

Like one of those tags that grandmas add to a hand-knitted sweater or blanket;

Made With Love.

You are made with love to share love."

I love this, Susie!  It speaks to my heart exactly what I Corinthians 12 is trying to get across to us (if you read the whole chapter)...We are created for the purpose of serving God with the gifts that He, through the Holy Spirit, has instilled in us.

Now, one may think that the gifts of the Holy Spirit have nothing to do with our personalities or how we were made...but I beg to differ.  I believe that the gifts of the Holy Spirit enhance and build upon the qualities and traits God has already built into us.  The Holy Spirit takes our propensity for boldness and fills us with the ability to use that gift for God's Kingdom.  He takes our capacity for love and gives us the desire to spread His love wherever we are.  Whatever our particular gifts and strengths are, when filled with God's Holy Spirit...those strengths are magnified and utilized for His glory throughout the world. God made us in His image, with love, and when we become His children by salvation through Jesus Christ, His Holy Spirit seals us and empowers us to become all that He intended us to be from the beginning of time.

Jeepers, "It's Sunday, and I know I should write something deep and spiritual!"  Wow!  I guess the Holy Spirit did intend for me to write something from His heart to ours...and I thank Him for the inspiration...and I also thank my friend Susie Klein for her very heartfelt, honest, and down to earth book that has deeply touched my heart in so many ways.  God is using her gift to bless you and me and others today as well...and I know Susie would be very humbled and blessed to know this.

Lord, I am so thankful for Your gift of the Holy Spirit, Who came down to us at Pentecost so many years ago, and Who continues to indwell, embolden, give gifts, and empower us today to serve You and stand strong in the face of countless foes and dangers in life.  Thank you for Your gifts that give us the words to speak when needed, the capacity to love others as You have loved us, and the wisdom to know what, when , and where to be available and at Your service.  Without Your Holy Spirit guiding us we would be lost and confused and unable to be of much help in any situation.  Our own personal traits and qualities are wonderful, but when filled with Your Spirit they become tools for Your glory in Your Kingdom.  Thank You, Lord, for taking the time to shape us and mold us after Your will.  In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.

One Body, Many Members

"For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ."  I Corinthians 12:12

It is a great mystery, The Church, the Body of Christ...and yet, is it really such a mystery?  I like to think of the Body of Christ as a huge network of people from all over the world...of all races, colors, languages, and abilities.  Since the advent of the internet and especially "social networking", we are becoming more aware every day of our fellow body-members, brothers and sisters in Christ, from everywhere.  Distance is no longer a barrier to becoming "friends".  We existed long before we knew each other, and perhaps this medium of the internet is just another way that God is preparing us for our heavenly home.  We used to think that we would only know our family, close friends, and all the saints of old when we got to heaven.  But now, because our world is ever enlarging through these daily contacts we are making through social media, we are beginning to catch a glimpse of the magnitude and vastness of this Body of Christ, of which we, as believers, are all members.  It does not matter if you call yourself a Baptist, a Methodist, or a Presbyterian, or even a Catholic, or any of the other many many denominations (and Non-Denominations) of churches. But what DOES matter is if you are a member of the body of Christ...a believer in Jesus Christ, Who has redeemed you by His blood for the salvation of your soul and has delivered you from death into everlasting life.

Yes, we are one body...and we are a network of friends and brothers and sisters in Christ...and because we belong to this huge network we are to love and care for one another...

"That there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it, or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it."  I Corinthians 12:25-26

So, my dear friends,  I thank God for each and every one of you. You have upheld me and my family this past year when we went through various trials and tribulations.  Your prayers have sustained us and covered us and kept us from going under when the seas of life became tempestuous.  There are many of you who are also suffering and hurting and grasping for that life-line...that safety net.  Let us continue to hold each other up in prayer and be that safety net for each other.  That's what the Body of Christ does...

Now that's what I call "networking!"  

The Poor You Have With You Always...

Proverbs 31:20: "She extends her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy."

I am currently working in an old established historic church in an old established historic downtown neighborhood. Due to the current difficult economic climate in our country, our church is in a prime location for the transient, homeless and hopeless people to come searching for some kind of help.  We have so many hurting people stopping by on a regular basis that we had to limit our times of giving out assistance to one day a week.  This really hurts...the needy can't limit their times of need to one day and one hour a week.  We are having to turn people away every day because we just can't keep up with the constant flow. Our resources are being stretched to the limit and even our own church people are finding it difficult to make ends meet.  We refer people to all of the usual charitable organizations in the community that are established for that purpose, but we have discovered that the charitable organizations are sending many of these people to us in the first place because of their own lack of resources. It is a heartbreaking situation that is being played out in churches and communities all across the country.

I must admit that this is an area where I personally have a lot of difficulty. Oh, I've given a fair share to the needy, you know like old clothes to the Salvation Army and other such organizations, and food for the food pantry at church to be distributed to the needy or gifts for baskets at Christmas or Thanksgiving. But I feel like this just isn't enough anymore.  What else should I do?

God has called some people to become very involved in "rescue" type ministries in our urban areas. He has called others to foreign places where the gospel has never been heard. He has called some to difficult ministries in large suburban churches where the needs are of a different kind, but still important. Who's to say that one kind of ministry is more important or needful than others? Isn't that why God gave diversities of gifts to men and women in the body of Christ? I Corinthians chapter 12 is very comforting and helpful in understanding that God did not intend for all of us to do the exact same things in serving Him. Furthermore,
I Corinthians 13:3 says that "though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing." In verse 13 we are reminded that "now abide faith, hope, love, these three, but the greatest of these is love."

So I must conclude that the most important thing for me to do is show God's LOVE to those that He brings into my path. Whether they are rich or poor, sick or well, good or bad. All are equally important to God. If the needy are around us, we must reach out to them with love. However, we must also identify who the needy are in our personal sphere of influence. It may be the wealthy lady next door, or the bag lady on the street. It may be the teenage friend of your own child who comes from a broken home. It may be a lonely widow or the unsaved neighbor dying of cancer. It may be a friend on Facebook whom you've never personally met who has burdens she/he is afraid to talk about, but who always seems to be right there searching for hope and answers.

Yes, the needy are everywhere, in every neighborhood, in every church, and possibly right under our noses.

Help me, Lord, to identify the ones You've placed in my path that I may be able to help. Keep my eyes open, my ears attentive, and my heart softened to their pleas. Give me discernment to know when and how to act to show them Your love. Help me to always point others to You, and not to seek praise for myself. Enable me to screen out the voices of the world and tune in to Your voice only. Thank you, Lord, for teaching me Your way of love. Amen.

Perhaps you could share some of your ideas for helping others during these difficult times.  What does your church do to meet the needs of the needy in your community? How can others become involved?  Maybe this has gotten you thinking about ways you could help as well.  I know my mind is working on this, and my heart is praying about it.  I just pray that God won't let go of me until I do something about it.