Col. 3:14, But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

Paula
Prior to Colossians 3, verse 14, Paul tells Jesus’ followers that we are to exchange our old nature (the “old man”) for that of one like Christ’s. We are to put away anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language, lies, and any deeds toward others that prove contrary to Jesus’ example and character. Instead, we are to “put on [as a garment] tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another and forgiving one another;...even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do” (vss. 8 - 13).  In summation, Paul tells us: “But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.”

I loathe quarrels. I mostly go out of my way to avoid them, but sometimes conflicts with those close to me arise anyway—which, sadly, has been my lot of late. As a result, in recent weeks I have been sorely tested by some of Paul’s admonitions. Blasphemy, filthy language, lies, and malice weren’t a problem, but I’ve had plenty of opportunity to allow anger and wrath to enter my realm—and smother Christ’s love. Just because it felt so darned good to do so, and even though I knew better, I found myself setting aside those “love” scriptures and allowing my baser, “old-Paula” fleshly self to rise up and get the better of me.

“My anger and hurt are justified,” I argued. “Those people did me dirty. They need to be told how wrong they are; they need to be put in their place!”

And yet, above all other things, I love Jesus. I want to be a doer of His Word and not a hearer only (James 1:23).  I want every moment of my life to be lived and conducted according to His precepts. Jesus, by humble example, taught that demonstrating love instead of wrath, and returning good for evil, is the only sure path to lasting contentment. Setting aside sinful inclinations and allowing God to justify any wrongs done against us is our only sure means toward godliness, harmony, and peace. He alone perceives the motives and intentions of the heart; therefore, He alone is able to execute fair judgment. He alone can mete out just chastisement and/or vindication. All Jesus asks is that, as He did, we forgive our enemies and love them, even though we may feel justified to express ourselves otherwise. He asks that we allow Him to be the One to vindicate us.

Loving those who have wronged us is a difficult thing to do. I know this first hand. In my case, it took weeks to let the anger and resentment go, and to allow Jesus to fill my spirit with His love and peace. I had to spend lots of time at my Lord’s feet, pouring out the contents of my heart before I was finally able to utter the words (to my adversaries), “I love and forgive you”—and mean them.

For several years, I have been composing lunes as a way to capture, much like snapshots, certain events that serve to propel me along this often thorny road to Glory. A lune is a three-lined poem; the first line is comprised of three words, the second line five words, and the final line three words. The words may or may not rhyme, and the number of syllables does not matter. Here is a lune I composed that encapsulates my experience.

I’m a lover
Sometimes it hurts to love
Sometimes love crucifies

Pam
In the fall, at my church, we hear from many of the missionaries we support. They are such wonderful people with interesting and truly inspiring stories. What really impresses me is the love that infuses their lives and work. They are doing what God has called them to do and they are doing it with love. They seem to truly love God and the people they are serving. Tears come to my eyes when I hear their stories.

Hearing from the different missionaries reminds me that love is the foundation of Christianity. When I searched “love” at Bible Gateway, 686 results came up. Obviously, God has something to say on the subject. God loves us, and He wants us to love one another. If we could give to each other even a slightest fraction of the love God gives to us, the world would be a much different place. Image what the world would be like if Christians would obey Christ enough to let go of anger and quickly forgive all slights and offenses.

I know I fall short of obeying Jesus’ command far too often. I have much to learn about loving those I share the planet with. I pray regularly, “Jesus, teach me to be more like You. Teach me to be slow to anger and quick to forgive. Teach me to pray for those who have hurt my feelings. Teach me to not judge with condemnation. Teach me love more expansively and inclusively. Teach me to love the unlovable.” It’s a process, but one that is of primary importance.

What better witness to the unsaved world than for Christians to live by their Lord’s example? At one point in his life, Mahatma Gandhi read the Bible and realized he read the Truth. He went to a church to give his life to the Lord but was not allowed in because they considered him black. He later said, “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” Ouch. Clearly, he hadn’t met any of the missionaries from my church or any of the other fine servants doing good things around the globe, but he did have a point. If we can’t witness in love, then we shouldn’t witness at all.

 If I were to set out to bake a batch of chocolate chip cookies but leave out the chocolate chips, I will have something in the end, but it won’t be chocolate chip cookies. If I set out to follow Jesus but leave out love, I will have something in the end, but it won’t be following Jesus.

"...But you shall meditate in it [God's Word] day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage: do not be afraid, nor dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1: 8, 9

                                                             Paula

From the onset of my Christian walk, I have made studying God’s Word a priority. Whenever I taught Bible studies or led Christian women’s groups, I stressed to all who would listen that knowing God’s Word intimately and understanding the Father’s precepts is the only surefire way of avoiding satan’s snares.  How can we know God’s will, measure truth against falsehood, or determine if something seemingly good is instead nothing but cloaked evil, unless we measure our conclusions against the yardstick of the Word of God?

God promised Joshua (and all His children) that if he meditated on His Word day and night... “then you will  make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” The same precept also appears in Psalm 1: 2-3: “But his delight is in the law of the Lord: and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

God couldn’t make Himself clearer. “Delight in my Word,” God says, “and then you shall prosper. Then you shall have good success.” Oh, the depth of this promise and how these words should encourage us!

My ageing mother recently left her home in the San Francisco Bay Area and has moved to Colorado. Because she’s in the process of liquidating her assets, I’ll be taking a trip to California soon to sell her home on her behalf and settle her affairs there. I’m excited. I’m armed with God’s promises. I know and believe God meant what He said when He promised that my way will be prosperous and that I would have good success. I am strong and of good courage, and I am not afraid of what lies ahead. Further, I’m  choosing to surround myself with likeminded people who wholeheartedly support my efforts by way of their positive, faith-filled words and constant encouragement.

But on the other side of the fence, I cannot tell you how much negativity has come through well-meaning “others” who keep insisting that “it’s impossible to sell a house in this dismal economy.” They cite examples of hundreds of homes rotting on the market for months, and can give me countless examples of misfortune, doom and gloom. And if I didn’t know God’s Word like I do, and if I hadn’t walked in faith through the wilderness of this world for so many years, I might have succumbed to their pessimism and given up even before I started.

But I do know God’s Word, and I believe His promises with all my heart. I know that what God says, He means. He cannot lie. But even more than that, He deeply cares about my mother and her affairs, and He cares about me and mine. He wants me to have good success in all that I put my hand to. Not mediocre success. Not success with sorrow attached to it, but GOOD success. So, my question, then, is: what does the failing world economy have to do with me and my current plans for success? I (and my mother) have measured every endeavor against God’s Word and know He is in the midst of each of them. I refuse to look to the right or to the left; I’m keeping focused on my God-given goals and aspirations. Let the whole world fall apart if it must, but as I remain faithful to God’s Word and walk in His precepts, the hopes and dreams I have entrusted to the Lord will surely come to pass.

When I think about readying Mom’s home for market, and when I think of the blessing her little house by the Bay is going to be to some dear family who’s at this very moment praying about owning a home of their own, I feel a warmth in my heart like no other. There isn’t a doubt in my mind that God has already chosen just the right buyer, and that Mom’s home will sell quickly and smoothly. And I can’t wait for the opportunity via this blog to report on our good success.
 

 Pam

Is it my imagination, or are the new television shows even more reprehensible than usual? Most look dreadful. Many of them are enough to make Christians hang their heads and weep. Central themes include, but are not limited to: murder, fear, mayhem, selfishness, sex, the occult, and vengeance.

Don’t get me wrong. I watch my fair share of TV, which includes a few guilty pleasures. But I try to keep it to a minimum. Too many shows should come with a disclaimer, “Warning! The following program is bad for your spiritual growth.” In general, television reflects the values, attitudes, and mores of a world not built on godly principles.

I don’t know when I got to be such a prude, but there you have it. I don’t want to spend all of my free time watching shows centered around values so different from my own. I would like to point out a few really bad ideas television promotes as perfectly acceptable. Getting drunk and having sex with a stranger is okay. Seeking revenge when you’ve been wronged is only natural and brings satisfaction. Violence is the best response to almost any difficult situation and, my personal favorite, being self-centered, to an extreme, is not only normal, it’s healthy. All I can say is, “yikes!”

There is so much junk in the world that the enemy would love for us to pour into our hearts and minds. We live in a fallen world and, sadly, satan has had more say in the structure of our society than Jesus. We live in a world, quite literally, custom made for pain and sorrow.

The good news is that we have an antidote and a shield for all this negativity conveniently located at our fingertips, our Bibles.  Reading God’s Word strengthens our faith. Romans 10:17 “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”  Bible study promotes courage, wholeness, and a strong relationship with our Creator.

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” Psalm 42:1-2

owl in Paula's backyard

Note:  Psalm 42 (and 43) is a poignant, contemplative poem written by a man exiled in the far northern reaches of Palestine. He longs to return to Jerusalem so he can once again worship God at the Temple there. His song is written for and dedicated to the sons of Korah, the descendants of Levi, the Temple priests.

* * *

I am an early riser. Most mornings I’m up by 4:30 or so, and I find nothing more pleasant than greeting my Lord and the promising new day by watching the stars and constellations fade as the sun rises in the eastern sky. At that magical time of morning the house lies tranquil and hushed—the phones, TV, radio, and other devices still fast asleep along with the rest of the household. Outside in the dew-laden yard, deer, rabbits, and squirrels gambol past my window as sated horned owls and peregrine falcons settle in the aspens after a long night’s hunt.

I look forward to my early mornings when it’s just me and God and my steaming cup of jasmine-scented green tea, and everything He created affirms His Being. It’s a time for reading my Bible. It’s a time for taking long prayer walks where I speak and God listens, but most importantly where the Lord speaks and I listen. God is alive and I am alive and the whole Earth vibrates with the wonder of His glory. Nothing in this world is more important to me, for I understand that all too soon the troubles of the day will come knocking. All too soon the trials of life will strive to erode this “centeredness in the Lord,” this heavenly substance of peace and satisfaction He and His creations have so freely provided.

For me this communion must take place daily, because it is like the manna God sent every morning to feed the Israelites as they wandered in the desert—here for the gathering just after dawn but all too soon melted away as the heat of the day advances.

Like the exiled writer of this psalm, my soul continually thirsts for God. I yearn for the bliss of His Presence. When I am tangled in life’s daily difficulties and the Lord seems far away and out of reach, I remember these mornings and the ecstasy of drinking from The Fountain that will never run dry. I long to return again and again to that gathering place where it’s so easy to unburden my heart, hear His voice, and be comforted. How foolish if I should forget to seek God first in all things Paula, for it is only in the Lord’s Presence that harmony, peace, and the answers to all my questions lie.

Pam

deer in Paula's front yard

It is, at times, too easy for me to become complacent in my walk with God. I get busy and distracted by minutiae. Before I know it, God is on the back burner. I cut short Bible study and prayers. My writing, which is a spiritual discipline for me, is ignored totally (as seen by the large time gap since our last blog). I let the world, my old self, and the enemy convince me that other things take priority. I have to find work, earn money, and whip myself into a panic over the state of the economy. I can’t waste time perusing the Bible or dillydallying around writing something that no one is paying me for. There’s work to be done and people to please.

What is my reward for my busy-bee mentality? It is less than nothing. Hollow, empty days and “a mind flattened by the world.”* A life without God is a faded image, lacking color or life. How unnecessary. Jesus assures that if we put Him first, everything else will fall into place (Matthew 6:33).  Seeking God is always the number one priority and what my heart and soul longs for.

A.W. Tozer said it so much better than I ever could in his highly recommended book The Pursuit of God:  “The continuous and unembarrassed interchange of love and thought between God and the soul of the redeemed man is the throbbing heart of New Testament religion.”  We are made in the image of God. To paraphrase Tozer, if we remove sin from the equation, we are in little what God is in large. It is a natural law that like attracts like. Deep calls to deep (Psalm 42:7). Our magnetic north is always our Father in heaven. To deny our longing for Him is to deny who we are in essence.

I love how the psalmist characterizes the God we thirst for. We long for a living God, a Heavenly Father who is as real and present in the fabric of our lives as our family and friends. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we can have just such a relationship. We can meet God here and now.

I praise Jesus, that my days when God has been removed to the background are becoming fewer and farther apart.

*From a footnote in the Renovaré Bible.

"And be ye kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." Ephesians 4:32

Paula
Sometimes the things people do just plain make me angry. The postman might deliver my mail to some other address, causing me to hunt through the neighborhood for my missing mail. A passerby walking his dog may allow the animal to go on my lawn without cleaning up after it. A careless driver runs a stop sign and swerves in front of me, missing my car by inches, then has the nerve to flip me off. My husband and kids sometimes don’t appreciate me as much as I think they should.

Whenever I feel offended or abused, I remind myself that all of us have faults. No one is perfect—especially me. I’m sure others feel I’ve offended or abused them at times also. And if Jesus is our example of how to love one another and get along with one another in spite of our faults and the injustices we hand each other, then looking toward Him, I have no excuse to harbor anger or unforgiveness toward anyone, no matter what they do or however guilty they may be.

Hanging on a pitiless cross, Jesus, the innocent of innocents, forgave those who had misunderstood and abused him and were now mocking him has he neared death. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,”* was his cry. How utterly selfless, and what a pure example of God’s unfathomable love toward us His plea expressed.

When I came to the cross with my heart laid bare, when I knelt under Jesus’ shadow, He accepted me, forgave my sins, and made me a new human being. I try to remember His incredible depth of forgiveness when anger rises toward someone whom I think has offended me. Jesus not only forgave me, he died for me. If I truly understand this, how can I not, then, forgive others for the wrongs they have done me?

Paul lived and preached this awesome depth of forgiveness as well. While imprisoned in Rome, beaten and suffering for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, Paul wrote the following words to his beloved church at Ephesus:  “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

May we all strive to not merely hear these words but live and practice them.

* Luke 23:34

Pam

Someone paid me the nicest compliment the other day. She said she could tell I was a Christian because I had been so kind to her. I’m not sharing this to boast. I know that any kindness I possess I’ve received from God. And this sweet woman got me on a good day. Too many times I don’t show the kindness I should.

But I thought she brought up a good point. How do you tell if someone is a Christian? Accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior doesn’t give you a glowing halo. (Which could come in handy if you want to read at night but may make it hard to sleep.) Nope, no halos or pink auras. Not even a sublime, peaceful expression for most of us. Unless someone is wearing a cross necklace or lapel pin, there aren’t any visual clues telling those they meet that they are a Christian. So how do believers set themselves apart? And let's be clear on this point: Christians are set apart. We are in the world but not of the world (John 17). We are in the family of God. If we are different shouldn’t we act different?

It seems to me that after all Jesus has done for us, the least we can do is be kind to one another. Give someone the benefit of the doubt when they are less than kind to me. Be slow to anger and quick to forgive. God’s mercy is immeasurable, so shouldn’t our mercy, too, be full and rich?

Christians need always to stand firm and strong for truth and righteousness. Yet, we can and should be kind and merciful in our day-to-day interactions. If we take an eternal perspective we’ll realize that in a thousand years it won’t matter if the design center messed up our order for drapes, or if our cable is out or we were overcharged on our phone bill. These kinds of things are concerns of the world.  We will be here for a very short time, so why not show compassion? What better witness to an unsaved world?

“There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” Mark 7:15

Paula
As our modern world continues to spiral downward deeper and deeper into the vortex of end-time chaos, I find myself bombarded with unclean images and innuendos I’d rather not see and hear. Whenever I turn on the television, read a magazine, turn on the radio, or check out the Internet, up pop sexually suggestive or explicit images and foul language I don’t expect to encounter but cannot avoid. Sadly, the situation is probably only going to get worse as time goes on.

It wouldn’t be practical or wise to toss out my computer, TV, radio, newspapers, and magazines in order to avoid such confrontations. Others may feel differently, but I don’t believe Jesus expects or asks me to do that. One can’t (and shouldn’t) live under a rock, as the saying goes. Yet, the Bible states clearly and without exception what God does expect of us: “...But as he [Jesus/God] who has called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy’” (1 Peter 1:15). So how do we, as followers of Jesus Christ, keep from becoming tainted or even corrupted by the world and its current mores?

Jesus gave us the answer. He tells us: “There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man” (Mark 7: 15). Jesus is saying that it’s what we do with, and how we choose to digest and process the things that enter our bodies and minds that can harm us. Yes, we must use discretion and guard ourselves from those things we know Jesus would not condone. We must do as God expects and keep ourselves holy as He is holy. But if something unclean does enter in, we can surely take heart. It’s only what comes out of us afterward that will harm or defile. Plainly speaking, Jesus compares the process to food intake and waste output.

We must deal with questionable “intake” immediately and eliminate it from our minds and spirits before it has a chance to fester, exit us through our actions or speech, and finally corrupt us. If we harbor impure thoughts and do not determine to immediately rid ourselves of them, eventually we may act upon them. Then, those things that will come out of us will defile us—and possibly defile others as well. It’s the same with foul speech. We can hear it, but Jesus has called us to a much higher standard. It’s what comes out of our mouths, mouths that God intended for us to use for praise and uplifting, holy speech, that will either bless or defile those who hear it.

I don’t claim to be perfect. I can’t even claim that my own actions and speech are always holy. As the world grinds down toward that glorious day when Jesus makes his return to Earth, it’s going to get harder and harder for me and other Christians to remain in the world but not of it. But I thank God we have the Holy Spirit to guide us and convict us whenever we stray from the path God ordained for us. And all those times when I forget to place myself in another’s shoes, then say or do things I later regret, I remember Mark 7: 15. And I remember that Jesus’ precious blood was shed for the atonement of our sins, and that the power of His blood will keep us and maintain us until the day of His triumphant return.

Pam
Words, words, words. We are drowning in them. It’s been said that the average person speaks about 10,000 words a day.* It seems we are always talking. We give instructions, detail plans, describe events, and order our coffee. We are a culture that always seems to be yakking. So much so, we need unlimited plans for our cell phones. With so many words being uttered is it any wonder, then, that so many sins come from the words we speak? We can use words to lie, cheat, swear, and manipulate. We exhort others to commit sin. We use words to attack. Words are the usually the first acts of violence we commit. A particularly disturbing scene from the movie Hotel Rwanda takes place when  a voice on the radio  urges the Hutus to slaughter their neighbors, the  Tutsis. 

Then there is the much more socially acceptable, seemingly benign yet just as sinful, activity of gossiping. If you want to go an entire day and not hear a negative word spoken about another person you had better check into a remote mountain cave. Office gossip is as ubiquitous as cubicle dividers. And who hasn’t spent time at a family get-together nattering about the faults of the relatives who didn’t show? Backbiting, criticizing, and condemning are common pursuits among believers and nonbelievers alike. So common, it’s easy to forget they are sins. Yet, the Bible is more than clear on the subject. Jesus said we are not to call each other fool (Matt. 5:22). Paul admonishes us repeatedly not to engage in slander (Col. 3:8, Eph. 4:31, Titus 3:2). 

Speaking negatively about another person is a sin I fall into time and again.  If my feelings get hurt, if I’m inconvenienced or annoyed, I find myself making a snarky comment about someone. The Holy Spirit has let me know that no matter how witty or clever I am with my negative comments, I’m still sinning.  This is an area I work on daily. Gossiping is a tough habit to break.

My mother-in-law, who is now with the Lord, had a framed embroidery piece that read, “In this house Jesus is the guest at every meal and a part of every conversation.”  What a wonderful reminder. If we remember to bring Jesus into all our conversations, then all unkind words would die unsaid. Words would only be used to praise, encourage, rejoice, and uplift. We would sing hymns, give thanks, and exalt the Lord.

*http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_many_words_does_the_average_person_speak_every_day

“He is not here, but is risen!” Luke 24: 6

Ludwig Ferdinand Schnorr von Carolsfeld: Three Marys at the Tomb of Christ

Paula
I get teary-eyed when I contemplate Jesus’ suffering on the cross for my sins—the precious Lamb of God Who taketh away the sins of the world. Fulfilling centuries of prophecy, our sinless Lord went willingly to his agonizing death, sacrificing his life for the redemption and atonement of all humanity—for me and you.

Selah, writes the psalmist: Pause and contemplate this.

But Jesus’ work didn’t end there. He had just conquered His arch enemy satan and removed once and for all the terrible burden of mankind’s sin, yet He must now go on to conquer death itself. Here is what happened:

On the third day (Sunday), early in the morning at sunrise, a group of women went to Jesus’ tomb, bringing sweet-smelling spices to prepare the body for permanent burial. How astonished they were to discover the massive sealing stone had been rolled away and the tomb lay empty! Fearful that thieves had stolen Jesus’ body, the women began to fret. Just then, two angels in shining white garments appeared. “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” they asked.  “He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again’” (Luke 24: 4-7).

The women, believing the angels, ran to tell the disciples the wonderful news. However, until Jesus Himself appeared to the eleven men, they doubted the women’s story, thinking their words “idle tales.” Especially Thomas, who stated flatly that unless he put his own fingers into the wounds in Jesus’ hands and side, he wouldn’t believe. Eight days later, the risen Jesus appeared to Thomas and invited the doubting apostle to do just that. Afterward, believing at last, Thomas cried: “My Lord and my God!”

I love what Jesus said to Thomas next. My Lord’s words humble me and make me weep every time I read them. Jesus told Thomas, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20: 29).

Selah.

Jesus’ death and resurrection freed humanity from the bondages of sin and death, but it also ushered in a brand-new age—the Age of Grace. No longer must we sacrifice bulls and goats and doves to atone for our sins. Jesus’ atoning blood, shed for us so long ago at Calvary, provides grace and pardon once and for all. Jesus’ shed blood makes it possible for us to boldly approach the Throne of Grace where our Father God dwells, assured that we will always find acceptance, love and forgiveness there. Because Jesus loved us so completely, he willingly went to the cross, died, and the third day rose from the dead.

It’s been a hectic week for me with plenty of life’s troubles standing ready to choke out the Word of God and tempt me to set aside the awesome significance of Holy Week and Easter Sunday. But I know better than to give in to satan’s wiles. I am so grateful to Jesus for the work He has done on my behalf, and I will celebrate Resurrection Sunday with a heart brimming with thanksgiving and praise. At sunrise this Easter Sunday I will shout along with all the saints and angels in heaven and every believer here below: “Hallelujah! He is risen!”

 Pam

Júnior Miranda, Cruzeiro Gameleira

Writing an Easter blog, I’ve discovered, can be a daunting task. I first thought it should be easy. After all, the story of the Crucifixion and Resurrection is such a rich, complex tapestry, the very heart and foundation of Christianity. The story teems with themes and ideas. We see Jesus at his most human, “…remove this cup from me” and his most divine, “…not my will but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). We see the worst of humankind in the betrayal of Jesus and the best in the joy and faith of his followers. A person could write volumes on the subjects of love, compassion, sacrifice, redemption, obedience, as well as loathing, condemnation, selfishness, and rebellion, which are all present in the story of the Cross.

So what thread of this immense tapestry would the Holy Spirit prompt me to pick up? The thought that comes to my mind is: as Christians, what do we ever have to fear? Jesus went through the worst, the most painful experience imaginable. Not just physical pain, which was tremendous, but the anguish of knowing all His loving, helping, teaching, and healing were rewarded by utter and complete betrayal by men. They were the very men who should have recognized Him as the Christ and fallen to their knees. Instead, they had him Crucified simply because they wanted to maintain the status quo. Yet, on the third day He rose! He triumphed over it all: betrayal, agony, sorrow, and death. We cannot help but sin, but Jesus has saved us from ourselves. Because of his sacrifice, if we stay faithful, we are entitled to the same triumph. No matter what we suffer from the hands of evil men and women, no matter what satan throws our way, we will always triumph in the end. We know the final score at the beginning of the game.

I have to remember this as I go about my daily business. When worry and anxiety threaten to drown out the Word, I have to ask myself, what do I have to fear? Christ died so that I would be saved, so that I could have an everlasting relationship with God. In the next life I will be with Jesus, and He is at the right hand of God.

The Cross brings life out of death. As Christians we can trade fear for faith. Praise the Lord! He has risen.

" Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6: 9

                                                                                    Paula
One day when I was out planting radish and lettuce seeds in my garden, I began to think about the concept of sowing and reaping—how those tiny dead specs of organic matter would, under the proper conditions, come alive and in time grow into mature plants. Radishes would sprout and mature in a matter of a few days, while the lettuce seeds would take longer to develop. Instructions on how and when to sow and when the sower could expect a harvest was all right there, printed on the backs of the seed packets: Work the soil, plant the seeds properly at just the right depth, tamp the rows, water, watch out for invasive weeds and insects, and wait. If only the progression for sowing spiritual seeds could be as straightforward!

I began to think, if only I had some printed information as shown on the backs of these seed packets that would give me hope for when to expect a harvest of answers to my prayers. So, I asked the Lord, “Why is it that when I pray (plant faith seeds) for others, such as for financial needs, for their salvation, or for healing, sometimes the answers come quickly but other times it takes years before I see any positive results? During those times when I don’t see anything happening, when it seems as if my prayers aren’t being of any effect, it’s so easy to get discouraged.”

Well, I’m sure by now you know where this is going. By experience, every farmer understands that it takes longer for some seeds to germinate than it does others. Also, soil and weather conditions as well as countless other factors determine whether a seed will take root or not. The same holds true for spiritual seeds. (In Matthew, chapter 13, Jesus delivered an entire discourse on the subject.)

Perhaps, like me, you’re praying for the salvation of loved ones, for deliverance from unhealthy habits, or for someone’s healing. You’ve sown your seeds of faith and have been tending them for awhile now—but nothing seems to be happening. Every day you look but see only soil, no sprouts. Take courage! Like the farmer, be patient and trust in your heart that God’s laws will surely take their course. Above all, avoid slumping into unbelief merely because you aren’t seeing any results right away. Rest assured that the Holy Spirit is doing His work beneath the surface, whether you see anything springing up yet or not.

Throughout the Bible God has given us instructions on how to sow spiritual seeds. He may not have given us a definite timeline regarding when we can expect a harvest, but as Galatians 6: 9 reveals, when we remain diligent in prayer, hopeful of heart, and faithful that God will bring to pass His Word in due season, we will reap a harvest. We just have to be patient and never lose sight of the goal until the harvest comes. If that takes seconds, hours, days, months, or years, so be it. Our job is to sow the seeds, through faith diligently tend them until they mature, and never allow ourselves to become weary in our well doing. When we follow these instructions, in due season we can then expect God to bring about the harvest—the happy result of our faithfulness.

The Amplified Bible says it this way:  “And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.”

I don’t think the instructions could be any plainer or easier to understand. Gardening is hard work, but a satisfying process nonetheless. In the same way, standing steadfast in prayer takes courage, diligence, and stamina. When we’re engaged in great battles against the weeds and insects of discouragement, fear, and hopelessness—those pests that threaten to destroy our seedlings of faith—that’s when we need to gird ourselves with courage, stand fast, and fight the enemy with faith. And when we’ve done all, we must stand back, watch, and wait. Most importantly, we must trust and believe God will, in His perfect timing, cause the answers to our prayers to come to pass.

I live Galatians 6: 9 and fight the good fight against discouragement every day. People who know me well will tell you that when Paula prays, she never gives up because she understands down to the cellar of her bones that God remains true to His promises. The moment we decide to believe and take God at His Word is the moment our prayer seeds begin to germinate and take root. I keep in mind every time I pray that, no matter what I’m seeing in the natural, God is a master at bringing dead seeds to life.


Pam
So often I can feel the world pinching in. My Christian beliefs tell me one thing and the world tells me something completely different. Christ has asked me to turn the other cheek, not gossip, pray for my enemies, and even feed them if they are hungry.  I have been instructed by God’s Word to be temperate, tolerant, kind, gentle, patient, and joyful. I know acts of love toward others makes God real and visible. I am to trust in God’s love and put my life in His hands.

This is not exactly what the world tells me. A few minutes spent skimming the newspaper, Internet, and popular TV shows tells me just what a schmuck I am for having my beliefs. It’s a dog-eat-dog world, and we have to look out for number one. Selfishness has been elevated to a virtue and an art form. Self-indulgence moves the economy. Compassion is for chumps. Winning is all, and if winning comes at the expense of others, so be it. In the current worldview money is to be praised and worshiped, for it is the scorecard that informs the rest of the world we are either winners or losers; only the accumulation of wealth can provide any kind of security. 

There are times it just seems easier to give in.  Why not indulge and give in to temptation? Why not gossip? Isn’t it kind of fun to feel taller by standing on someone else? After all, everyone else (the mythical, misguided everyone else) does. Why try and hang on to beliefs that are so contrary? These are the times I have to return to Paul’s words. I have to remind myself not to grow weary in doing what is right.

So what harvest can I expect to reap? Will I win the lottery, get a new car or the prize behind door number two? I guess I could receive any one of those things and more. But I think Paul is referring to something deeper and more meaningful. If we persist in doing good, we begin to conform to the image of Christ. And isn’t that the goal of all Christians, to become more Christlike? For Jesus isn’t just our Lord and Savior, but also our teacher and guide. There is no better reward.