Southern Hills Evangelical Free Church

O Where, O Where Have the Work Gloves Gone?

Patty — Tue, 15 May 2012 03:03:51 +0000

On and off, during the past few days, my husband and I have been on a search. No, it hasn’t been treasure or a good deal that we have sought which has occupied our time; we have been trying to find a pair of lost leather work gloves. To that end, we have looked under bushes, in leafy debris and even throughout the house! To no avail! The gloves remain lost! We have others, but we are certain that this elusive pair is here somewhere–it must be since it was right here that we lost it! In the past, when I have lost something, frequently as I searched, I would think of the Savior and His stated purpose for coming and the preciousness of His wondrous work on my behalf. I would consider how much greater is His love for those He came to save than mine for a lost object! I’d think of how His loving Holy Spirit continues to work on behalf of those for whom I pray:

For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10

However, on this occasion, my thinking turned in a slightly different direction as I thought about the word “lost” as it is used in the Bible. Really, the things that I lose are not lost, rather they are missing. I simply can’t locate them! Perhaps that same idea spills over to men and asking for directions. The joke says that they won’t because they are not really lost. In a sense, I think that could be true. When thinking of the concept as the Bible presents it, men are not actually lost. Perhaps we could say that they simply aren’t on a “direct path to their stated destinations”. Given enough time and turns, they will get to where they want to go! When the Bible speaks of being lost, The Lord gives us a picture of a state of being hopelessly separated from Him, with only one remedy, Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf:

For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:6-8

The Bible is clear that we have no way of finding God. We, on our own, wander aimlessly! Even if we sincerely search for Him walking down paths of our own making or someone else’s, until we admit our real lostness and inability, we remain hopelessly separated from the Savior. John 9 shares a beautiful example of the Seeking Savior. Jesus had graciously and dramatically healed a man born blind. Because of man-made rules and traditions and the bold words of the newly healed man who dared speak up for Jesus, the religious leadership, who had for the most part rejected Jesus, kicked the newly healed man out of the synagogue. Then something, even more amazing than the complete healing of his eyes happened to this unnamed man, the very thing that has occurred for each one of us who has received the Gift of Salvation:

Jesus heard that they had put him out, and finding him, He said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “ Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him, and He is the one who is talking with you.” And he said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped Him. John 9:35-38

Jesus found him and made Himself known to him! What a picture of the Seeker and Savior doing what He came to do. If Jesus had not done these things, the man would have died, seeing physically, but lost eternally! Jesus continues to seek and save the lost today. He still “finds” them, the truly lost, and He being their only Remedy rescues them from that condition too:

For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13-14

Whether we have received the Savior or not, we share a common condition. Know it or not, each one of us has either been rescued from being lost or still is in need of that loving and miraculous act! We all come into this world, desperately needing to be found! O how tenderly we should see each other since we share the greatest need, for which there is but One answer, 1 Timothy 2:5-6. Jesus, Thank You for finding me and for Your on-going love as You continue to rescue the lost every day!

Getting Back Up On The Horse!

Patty — Tue, 08 May 2012 02:33:36 +0000

When I was in my early 20′s, I was enjoying a trail ride, at least prior to the “unfortunate incident”. At this time, I should confess that I was a city girl whose lack of vision, coordination and experience with horses should have caused her to proceed with utmost caution! I was doing just that until I listened to the promptings of someone I didn’t even know! He urged me to stand up in the stirrups–the next thing anyone saw was my horse happily moving on without me! My pride and legs were both badly bruised, but other than that I was just fine! Since then, there have been no horsy rides for me–though, there is a picture of me bravely astride a merry-go-round creature. A safe way to ride, but it does lack adventure! That’s fine with me! Sometimes, a similar thing happens to those of us Who love Jesus. We know His power and His love. We boldly talk with Him in prayer. We know what He has told us in His Word–there is no limit to His power:

The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me? Jeremiah 32:26-27

However, sometimes, the Lord does not answer prayer as we hope. We feel similar to how I felt when I fell off that horse. Our hearts are bruised while the world seems to walk merrily along, unaware of our pain. At times like this, we may want to pray only from the merry-go-round. After all, if we only ask for things that seem “safe”, we will not have to feel the brokenness we experienced before when we were disappointed by the outcome of our fervent prayers. I’m so thankful that we have a Savior to Whom we can speak forthrightly, if we have a struggle like this. I love the honesty of a man who came to the disciples of Jesus with his son who had been tormented by a demon since childhood. This Dad had been hopeful that healing would come, but instead, he was disappointed. His words show us that it would have been easy to retreat from another prayer for help–even with Jesus right there:

And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “If you can! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. Mark 9:14-27

This man asks for help from the Savior, so that he might overcome his unbelief. A prayer we can also bring to Jesus! When we would rather continue to pray in a way that “keeps us safe”, Jesus will help us overcome the fear of being disappointed again, if we ask for that help. This may take some time, but because we have the Living God as a friend, our relationship with Him is a growing one, and He is not in a hurry as we walk with Him. In fact, He has promised that He will never leave us, Hebrews 13:5. Even if our prayer walk with Him is not as bold as it once was, Jesus’s love continues to hold us fast!

An Unauthorized Spokesman!

Patty — Tue, 01 May 2012 01:17:59 +0000

The 2012 NFL Draft is in the books. Since I enjoy football–go Bears–watching the prospects for the various teams is a fun thing for me, and my husband enjoys it too. Besides wondering about which new team members might benefit their particular teams, I like hearing the personal stories about the various players, and one really interesting story emerged from this year’s three day production. Muhammad Sanu, who was not expected to be taken in the first round of the draft, received a call on Thursday evening. It was news that thrilled both Mr. Sanu and his family! He was told that the Cincinnati Bengals were going to choose him! The celebration began in earnest! However, there was a serious problem. The one who had held out an offer to Muhammad Sanu had no standing with the Bengals and when the Bengals took their turn at the podium to announce their first round selection, Muhammad Sanu’s name was not called. It was a hoax perpetrated by someone who for reasons we do not know, simply made up the offer! Of course, Mr. Sanu was very disappointed, having had his hopes raised to the heights and then dashed. However, later on, someone who was authorized to speak on behalf of the Bengals called him, spoke kindly to him and expressed the organization’s regret for what had happened. Mr. Sanu was told that the Bengals might choose him in a later round, and to his joy, they did! All is well now, but how much pain is caused when a person offers false hope, based on false promises! This incident made me think about other spokesmen, who speak not on behalf of football teams, but in the name of God! However prior to discussing them, I love saying how thankful I am for those whose desire it is to share the Word of God with grace and with accuracy! What a wonderful gift we have to be living in an hour where we have, at our fingertips, messages from teachers, some of whom are famous and some whose outreach may be small, who share the Bible’s truths, not holding back anything the Savior has revealed about Himself. Paul reminds us what that kind of life looks like in his description in the book of Acts:

Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. And when they came to him, he said to them: “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 20:17-21

The picture of the apostle’s God-honoring life, as well as His faithful imparting of biblical truth is also presented to us in First Thessalonians 2:

For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed — God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us. 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8

What beautiful pictures of how an authorized spokesman of the Savior should conduct his life, one which by the power of the Holy Spirit, we can emulate! However, because the stakes are so high, the Word of God speaks very strongly concerning those who purport to speak on behalf of the Lord and whose lives and messages don’t honor Him because they willfully distort His Word and live recklessly and shamelessly disregard His teachings. These are those who show through what they say and do that they are not speaking on behalf of the Savior:

Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error and perished in Korah’s rebellion. These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever. It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage. Jude 1:11-16

The “hope” they hold out is not the One the Bible offers. Instead it is one built on sand, Matthew 7:26-27. It is “another gospel” that Paul refers to in Galatians 1:7-9. These are strong words because those who speak them hold out false hope, with its devastating and eternal consequences! As those who love Jesus, we can speak with conviction and kindness to those who may have been misled by false teaching. We can speak the truth in love, offering the Real Hope. He is the One Who has given us the privilege of being His authorized spokesmen, who hold out to them, the only Way of Salvation, John 14:6. Father, help us to live and speak, more and more, in a way that honors You, remembering the privilege and responsibility we have, as those who speak on Your behalf!

Nothings Says Lovin’ Like Turning on the Candle!

Patty — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 02:26:31 +0000

We often think we can’t remember many things, but I wonder how many people can recall these “gems”: ‘Things go better with Coke!’; ‘Everything tastes great when it sits on a Ritz!’; ‘Want to get away?’; ‘You deserve a break today!’; ‘Nothing says lovin’ like something from the oven!’ Amazing, isn’t it–how easily our memories are jarred! That last one makes me smile as I think about the Pillsbury Dough Boy, with his high-pitched laugh. In truth, loving someone is done by finishing that cute jingle in a way that is special to him or her. For example, my husband knows that ‘nothing says lovin’ like turning on the scented candle’–let me explain. We have an extra room that used to be a garage. We do projects and listen to music in that room. It even has a swing on which I love to sit, in it. Sometimes, when he knows I will be using that room, my husband will turn on the scented candle ahead of time, making the room even more pleasant for me. Frequently, we think that things that show love must be monumentally elaborate acts of service, but this is special to me because it says that He knows this kindness pleases me. He is not trying to earn my love or gain any favor–he is simply doing what he knows I like. Those special loving acts keep any relationship growing and warm–we simply have to discover what says ‘lovin‘ to the ones who already love us! There is One Who perfectly loves us, and so great is that love that He gave Himself on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins:

By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:9-10

What a wondrous thing to know that we can add nothing to cause the Savior to love us more deeply, and He will never withdraw His love from us! On the contrary, we, as His children, are kept by that very love:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5

As we ponder that kind of love and rejoice in it, we desire to know–what do we do, and how do we live our every-day lives in a way that is pleasing to the Lord? What says ‘lovin’ to Him? How blessed we are because we are given the answer to that question in the Bible:

For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. 1 John 5:3

But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. James 1:22-25

Obedience! Not to gain His love, but to know that it says “I love You” to the Lord. He exhorts us to do what He says and because His Spirit indwells us, He also gives the “want to” to us, as we learn what He desires! And there is more than obeying. There is a growing relationship with the Savior as we learn to rest in what He has promised, more and more. I have not yet met anyone who perfectly rests in the Lord on every occasion. I surely do not, but here is a promise that is precious to me:

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Romans 8:32

I love how the Lord reminds us about His love, starting from the greater and ending with the lesser. Since Jesus provided everything needed to secure our salvation, is there anything else His love won’t provide for our day-to-day lives! As we come to know the Savior more and more, we rely on His promises, and that resting says “I love you” to Him. Lord, open our eyes to Your amazing love, and help us sense Your smile as we say “I love You” through our small acts of obedience and trust.

Needed–Winsome Words!

Patty — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 04:37:57 +0000

Painful words! We hear them all around us, whether spoken by the bully or boldly proclaimed by someone in the limelight! They often pit a stronger person or group against someone vulnerable, or demean and look down on folks whose lives are vastly different from their own. This week, we have seen how words have specifically wounded women, and that saddens me. So, as those who love Jesus, what can we tell women–any group of women–concerning Jesus and how God has done what He has done in the lives of precious ladies, as noted in His Word? Truly, the Lord has used women who had riches and women who had almost nothing! He has made His love known to those of noble birth and those who “polite society”, would and did, shun! He showed Himself to the beautiful and the one whose physical appearance is never described! Let’s take a bit of a look into the lives of two ladies, whom the Lord speaks of in His Word, Rahab and Lydia! They are so different in so many ways, and yet, because of the Lord, they have the most important things in common! They are truly now part of the same family! Rahab–she was a prostitute, but we are told something wondrous about her! She believed what she heard about the Lord, and because she believed, she acted in faith:

Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, and said to the men, “I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. When we heard it, our hearts melted and no courage remained in any man any longer because of you; for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. Now therefore, please swear to me by the LORD, since I have dealt kindly with you, that you also will deal kindly with my father’s household, and give me a pledge of truth, and spare my father and my mother and my brothers and my sisters, with all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.” So the men said to her, “Our life for yours if you do not tell this business of ours; and it shall come about when the LORD gives us the land that we will deal kindly and faithfully with you.” Joshua 2:8-14

This one, who was a prostitute, came under the protection of the True and Living God, and her faith is honored in Hebrews 11, as well as James 2. She is also in the genealogy of the Savior, Matthew 1:5. What about Lydia? We meet her in Acts 16. She is a wealthy lady who looked to God, but didn’t yet know the Savior, but her need for the Lord is no less than Rahab’s, and the same One Who made Himself known to Rahab touched the life of Lydia too:

A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us. Acts 16:14-15

Lyddia’s belief in the Savior caused her, as Rahab’s did, to take action. Yes, what each lady did, after putting her trust in the Lord was vastly different, but the faithfulness each exhibited sprang from the fact that the Lord had made Himself known to them both! They exhibited faithfulness, the very thing the Lord requires:

Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy. 1 Corinthians 4:1-2

As those who love Jesus, we can speak words that have the potential to bring women together! The Lord does not favor any class or group, but He is pleased with faithfulness. Therefore, we need not be the ones who tear down others with our speech! Instead, may the Lord give us words of healing like those promoted in the Book of Proverbs:

There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, But the tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 12:18

There is truly no need to compare ourselves, either positively or negatively, with others! May we instead magnify the Savior Who desires that all people, both men and women, be saved, 2 Peter 3:9!