As a Minister of the Gospel celebrating 29 years this September I have had many counseling moments. From these varied moments and situations I have learned from listening to those who came seeking help, as much as I have shared from my experiences and scripture. When I first surrendered to God’s call I thought I knew so much about Him, His ways and what I was to do as His ambassador. I must confess the past 29 years have taught me so much about myself, Him and how I can best use my talents and skills.
Learning has not always been at the top of my list. In the beginning of my walk with Jesus as my Savior I struggled thinking I had a better grasp on what He wanted me to do than I actually did. I have really learned over the years of my need to be totally dependent upon Him and of my need to forgive myself and accept His grace and mercy as the answers for my life.
It is amazing today as I consider my previous position as a youngster in the faith that I could have ever thought I was able to stand on my own once I became a Christian. I believe this is a real issue that every Christian faces, but it could be an issue we are not willing to admit. Many individuals become Christians after they have exhausted all their own means and they find themselves upon their back or into a corner with seemingly no other option than Jesus. Now I have no problem whatsoever the condition we find ourselves in before we turn our lives over to Jesus. I know some in religious positions that believe you need to be someone who has changed your life prior to coming to Jesus, but to quote the words of a great hymn; Jesus wants us to come to Him “Just as we, I, you, are”.
I have discovered the older I am in my Christian walk with Him how precious that he accepts us as we are and that He doesn’t require any change to come to Him. You don’t have to look a certain way, you don’t have to talk a certain way, you don’t even have to speak a certain way. All you must do is come to Him, asking Him to coming into your heart and asking Him to forgive you of your failures. Coming to Jesus is easy, the difficult parts are asking Him to enter our inner most part, our heart. It is also just as difficult to admit our failures or to confess our sins, but it is necessary and a requirement for His forgiveness.
One of the most quoted verses from the Bible I believe would be John 3:16. “For God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” I personally find it funny that I would ever think that His love was unique and just for me. Now it is true His love is unique and His love was with me in mind but not me solely. On His mind was everyone in the world. Red, yellow, black and white, they are all precious in His sight. It is sad that all who bear His name as Christians do not practice the same love He has demonstrated. One of the changing moments in my life was when I realized that His love was for everyone and it was my calling to love everyone and to show them His care through my actions and my words.
So what will your actions be and what words will we hear from your lips. And even more challenging will you be listening or talking for now?
Until then
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Knowing what to say.....
When faced with difficult questions by our friends or listening to the situations they are experiencing we often are at a loss of words. We have this sense of helplessness sometimes because we don’t have the confidence in our answers or suggestions so we share nothing thinking we would not be correct. Who wants to give advice when you have that feeling of doubt? I went to Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth Texas, and there I had classes in both homiletics and hermeneutics. These words are ones that you will not hear often, if ever, from the pulpits of your church I would think. Not that they are bad words but rather because they are topics that generally are not discussed or shard from the pulpit, but are rather discussions from a classroom setting or small group gathering.
Homiletics is a class that teaches ministers about the application of Biblical theology. For me personally, homiletics is a favorite discussion and class of learning. I often write about the application of the Bible and if the words of Jesus do not apply to my life then I am one that questions why I would need Jesus at all. My Christians faith has a fundamental foundation that believes we must be able to apply His teachings or it makes no sense. Hermeneutics teaches pastor’s, ministers and Christians in general about how to interpret the Bible from a historical perspective using scripture as the bases for that interpretation. These types of studies are great keys to properly interpreting God’s Holy Word and I use their practice daily when talking with friends, family members and even those that I just meet or have been referred by others.
Giving advice is both scary and challenging but I have learned from reading the Bible daily and from learning how to recognize God’s voice in my ear and heart has helped me in helping others. Knowing who Jesus is and learning what His characteristics are has also helped me to help others with confidence that the advice I am sharing is actually not my opinion but His and that changes the advice we give totally.
We each have folks that we come in contact with daily, or weekly in some situations that we know are struggling and facing big mountains to climb. In stead of feeling helpless and without a advice you can share, why not simple share what you have found confidence in and let that be our answer or the help you share. I often say, I am not sure what to do, but this is what God’s word says, and I share the scripture or the passage that relates and I let the Holy Spirit do the rest.
To often we feel like we must provide a 3 step plan or a beginning and ending picture of what will happen before we share and that is not at all what the Bible says. Scripture teaches that it is no demonstration of faith if the requirement is that we must see to believe and for every situation I have ever dealt with the first issue is one of love. Feeling loved, knowing we are loved and demonstrating love to others comes from one source and one source only. “For God so loved the world” and that is the source I use and strongly recommend when faced with issues and situations that leave us hurting personally and that we see our friends and family members facing through this journey called life.
Faith and Love are two of the three greatest gift the world has ever know. It is not democracy or freedom of speech, it is the touch of the Master’s Hand and I am confident that is the only touch required to make the difference in your situation today.
Until then
Homiletics is a class that teaches ministers about the application of Biblical theology. For me personally, homiletics is a favorite discussion and class of learning. I often write about the application of the Bible and if the words of Jesus do not apply to my life then I am one that questions why I would need Jesus at all. My Christians faith has a fundamental foundation that believes we must be able to apply His teachings or it makes no sense. Hermeneutics teaches pastor’s, ministers and Christians in general about how to interpret the Bible from a historical perspective using scripture as the bases for that interpretation. These types of studies are great keys to properly interpreting God’s Holy Word and I use their practice daily when talking with friends, family members and even those that I just meet or have been referred by others.
Giving advice is both scary and challenging but I have learned from reading the Bible daily and from learning how to recognize God’s voice in my ear and heart has helped me in helping others. Knowing who Jesus is and learning what His characteristics are has also helped me to help others with confidence that the advice I am sharing is actually not my opinion but His and that changes the advice we give totally.
We each have folks that we come in contact with daily, or weekly in some situations that we know are struggling and facing big mountains to climb. In stead of feeling helpless and without a advice you can share, why not simple share what you have found confidence in and let that be our answer or the help you share. I often say, I am not sure what to do, but this is what God’s word says, and I share the scripture or the passage that relates and I let the Holy Spirit do the rest.
To often we feel like we must provide a 3 step plan or a beginning and ending picture of what will happen before we share and that is not at all what the Bible says. Scripture teaches that it is no demonstration of faith if the requirement is that we must see to believe and for every situation I have ever dealt with the first issue is one of love. Feeling loved, knowing we are loved and demonstrating love to others comes from one source and one source only. “For God so loved the world” and that is the source I use and strongly recommend when faced with issues and situations that leave us hurting personally and that we see our friends and family members facing through this journey called life.
Faith and Love are two of the three greatest gift the world has ever know. It is not democracy or freedom of speech, it is the touch of the Master’s Hand and I am confident that is the only touch required to make the difference in your situation today.
Until then
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
How to explain life...even when you want to die
How to explain that feeling like you want to die is a part of life is not an easy task. Some will say that such a feeling has no place in life and that you should not think about such things. For those who live in the real world, knowing there are such times in our lives is very much a part of life. Life can be demanding. Life can be challenging and life can be a serious strain at times. Having a plan in place to easy the load when it seems to be crumbling or collapsing is a must to survive what could be the worst feeling you will ever experience on this journey we call life. Yes, I believe feeling like you want to die is a part of life, but not an action we take to end life.
Elijah had experienced life under the rule of the wicked King Ahab. Jezebel, was just as wicked. They promoted the worship of idols and of all the Kings of Israel, Ahab was the most wicked to ever rule over the people. I think we would all agree, this is not the best of times and giving up or quitting could seem like the right thing to do. Surrendering under distress should be understood given the circumstances right?...wrong!
God held back the rain on the land for 3 years and a great famine broke out as a just two more aspects of the difficulties faced that could lead one to think there is no way out. I Kings chapter 19 tells the story of great challenges followed by unbelievable successes that Elijah had including the killing of 450 prophets of Baal. Yet, a part of life would involve great depression following the successes and power of God clearly experienced. Elijah sitting under a juniper tree prays for God to take his life.
Understanding how one could want to give up on living is easy for me to understand, because I’ve been there. I understand how the hardness of life can leave you feeling empty and worn out. The delay of fruits from your labor or not experiencing the harvest can be a discouragement that drains you of energy and spirit. Watching folks who are wicked prosper is difficult to accept and struggling when your integrity is challenged or your honest is quested is no fun at all.
Wanting to die seems so unreal but it is a very real feeling but we should never live our lives on feelings. Rather we should live our lives on facts. Facts like, God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. Facts like Jesus came that you and I would have an abundant life experiencing grace and mercy as the keys to abundant mindset. A fact like forgiveness comes from God and our practice of His demonstration toward others sets us free inside and out.
Life is not an easy journey, but never the less I have found Christian faith as the foundation in my life. It gives me hope and joy in every situation. Marilyn Simpson, wife of Dr. Leon Simpson then President of Clear Creek Baptist Bible College shared with me in 1985 a rich nugget of life I’ve never forgotten. I was in a wheelchair suffering from arthritis and my medical future was dim when no medical solutions in sight. It was during this very low ebb in my life she said, “Tim, this isn’t Heaven yet”. It was a startling reminder that life here on earth is not my final destination. This is just a land we’re I am passing through. Her reminder of truth also taught me that I needed to be viewing life from the proper position, God ‘s view.
Life is worth the living, Because He lives and we must find our confidence in Him. In that He will complete that which He has begun if we will but allow Him time to do it well on His schedule.
Until then
Elijah had experienced life under the rule of the wicked King Ahab. Jezebel, was just as wicked. They promoted the worship of idols and of all the Kings of Israel, Ahab was the most wicked to ever rule over the people. I think we would all agree, this is not the best of times and giving up or quitting could seem like the right thing to do. Surrendering under distress should be understood given the circumstances right?...wrong!
God held back the rain on the land for 3 years and a great famine broke out as a just two more aspects of the difficulties faced that could lead one to think there is no way out. I Kings chapter 19 tells the story of great challenges followed by unbelievable successes that Elijah had including the killing of 450 prophets of Baal. Yet, a part of life would involve great depression following the successes and power of God clearly experienced. Elijah sitting under a juniper tree prays for God to take his life.
Understanding how one could want to give up on living is easy for me to understand, because I’ve been there. I understand how the hardness of life can leave you feeling empty and worn out. The delay of fruits from your labor or not experiencing the harvest can be a discouragement that drains you of energy and spirit. Watching folks who are wicked prosper is difficult to accept and struggling when your integrity is challenged or your honest is quested is no fun at all.
Wanting to die seems so unreal but it is a very real feeling but we should never live our lives on feelings. Rather we should live our lives on facts. Facts like, God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. Facts like Jesus came that you and I would have an abundant life experiencing grace and mercy as the keys to abundant mindset. A fact like forgiveness comes from God and our practice of His demonstration toward others sets us free inside and out.
Life is not an easy journey, but never the less I have found Christian faith as the foundation in my life. It gives me hope and joy in every situation. Marilyn Simpson, wife of Dr. Leon Simpson then President of Clear Creek Baptist Bible College shared with me in 1985 a rich nugget of life I’ve never forgotten. I was in a wheelchair suffering from arthritis and my medical future was dim when no medical solutions in sight. It was during this very low ebb in my life she said, “Tim, this isn’t Heaven yet”. It was a startling reminder that life here on earth is not my final destination. This is just a land we’re I am passing through. Her reminder of truth also taught me that I needed to be viewing life from the proper position, God ‘s view.
Life is worth the living, Because He lives and we must find our confidence in Him. In that He will complete that which He has begun if we will but allow Him time to do it well on His schedule.
Until then
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