By Paulette Hamilton, Intown Atlanta church of Christ
Many women in the Church today struggle with issues of self-worth. This is particularly true in the US where there is a variety and complexity of cultures and mores that influence how women feel about themselves. Most women with low self-worth do not feel good about themself because they have absorbed negative messages about women from their culture and from their relationships with family, friends and colleagues. Our experiences can make us think that we are useless, powerless, weak, ugly and worthless. And when we come to the church, we sometimes compare ourselves to other women in the church and feel that we are so unworthy. Some of us think we are not as worthy as other women in the church because we are single mothers, or because we are in abusive marriages or because we are coming out of relationships where we were not married to the man we lived with. I think these are normal and expected feelings. But these feelings should be temporary ones. These feelings should go away as we become enfolded into the community of sisters in the church and realize that in Him, we are all the same. What is surprising to me, is that some women, after years of being in the church still have low self-worth. We are told that we are of great value in God’s eyes. *Matt 26:6* puts it like this, “Look at the birds of the air, they do not sow or reap or gather into barns--and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than them?” We are told that Jesus would not have died for us if we did not have the highest of value in His eyes. “Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (*Luke 12:7*). But sadly, to some women in the church these sayings seem like empty platitudes. Why is that? I think it is because they don’t fully understand what these scriptures mean. Take the example of the sister who said, “*All I ever wanted was a family, but men just used me and left me. I knew it was because there was something wrong with me. When I got baptized, I expected to come out of the water feeling different. I expected to feel the Holy Spirit rushing through my body and then I would know that I am truly changed, and men would look at me differently, but none of that happened*.” After six months she turned her back on God. What is the key to having high self-worth? First, we must understand that God’s words are *NOT* and will *NEVER* be platitudes. God’s words are truth that must be meditated on, studied and internalized. Whether we know it or not, Christian women, we are worthy because God says so. But sometimes it takes a while for us to realize our worth. Our high self-worth can be realized as we begin to be transformed. But transformation is not a magical thing. Transformation comes with careful study of God’s word and with putting it into practice. Instead of sitting back and waiting for something to magically change us, we must intentionally focus on doing good to others. When we practice doing good to others, we begin to realize our esteem and high self-worth. What other *people* think of us does not matter. What matters is what *God* thinks of us. When we have a strong footing with God, we look at ourselves differently. All women should know, whoever or whatever we are, that without a doubt, we are of great value.
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By Patrice Garvey. (member of the Mt Airy church of Christ)
Working as a social worker is a darting task and, at times, can be rewarding. I am a Christian and working in this field has made it challenging to look the other way. Sometimes my Christian values and principles are challenged due to the statement you hear "politically correct." Sometimes we will have to let the families know that there is a way out, and that way is through Christ. At times I am not able due to being politically correct. Most of the parents that come to my agency for help are single mothers with different issues and barriers. Most time, they are here because of a lack of parental guidance and support. The social welfare field can be a challenge especially being a Christian and serving the families. Most of the parents whose children are in the foster care system in the child welfare system are single mothers and single fathers. The children who are two parents are either separated or not in the home, thus bringing the family to the DHS. When you look at what the word of God says, it makes sense why these children and families are in the system. According to God's instructions about parenting apply equally to the single and the married (Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:21). It is never the Lord's intention or desire for anyone to suffer, especially the children. These suffrages are a result of not doing thus said the Lord. In" (Genesis 16:31) look at a single mother who was going against God's law, but in the end, she saw that she needed help and cried out to the Lord, and he heard her cry and gave her relief. It is time our parents go back to basic principles and raise the children as the Lord has instructed according to Proverbs 22:6. "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it." Working in this field, I have seen the good, bad, and ugly. There is never any justification or reward when a child arrives in the system due to parents overdoing or being 302. However, it is always a challenge to find a silver lining, especially when they cannot return home. Most of the parents known to the system suffer from mental health, drugs and alcohol, lack of parental guidance, and housing. Being a social worker can be very rewarding or heartbreaking, especially when the children cannot return to their homes. Most single parents, especially mothers, their children's father is either locked up or his whereabouts unknown. The bible speaks about being a good parent in Psalm 127:3-5. Most of these fathers do not know what it means to set up and help with raising their children. Most of the children are in the welfare system are raised by their grandparents and or great grandparents. It is time that we teach in our schools and homes basic bible principles, most of our parents would not be in the situation if they knew the fundamental principle that spells out child rearing. Having children out of wedlock and not knowing who the father is contributes to children staying longer in the child welfare system. By Patricia Miozza, member Exton PA church of Christ
If we consider ourselves to be children of God (having received the gift of salvation after baptism into Christ’s death), let us ask ourselves if our daily walk with God is a reflection of the gratitude we should feel and express to Him? Psalm 103: 1-5 reads, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.” We often thank God for our blessings, as we should; a familiar hymn may come to mind: “count your many blessings; name them one by one.” But with this Psalm, we see that WE are to bless the LORD. What does it mean to “bless the LORD”? “To bless”, is an exclamation of gratitude and admiration but it is not limited to this. In other words, does blessing the LORD mean only to express so verbally? Another sense of the word bless is to make happy. Is God happy with us if our daily walk, in the things we do and say, are not in harmony with His will? We can take comfort in the scripture that tells us we are saved by grace (Eph 2: 5-10) but this does not negate the fact that we shall all appear before God in the day of judgement and give an account of what we have done in the body, whether good or evil (2 Cor 5:10). We need to strive, in our daily walk, to be pleasing to God. 1 John 2: 28-29 states “Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him”. The key thoughts here are “abide in Him” and “practice righteousness”. The apostle Paul implores us in Ephesians 4: 1-3, to walk in a manner worthy of His calling with humility, gentleness, and patience, etc. Let us deeply consider these next two sets of verses and examine our lives by them. Does our walk in life reflect these verses? Titus 2:11-14 “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing us salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for His own possession who are zealous for good works” and 1 Peter 1: 13-16 “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy”. There can be many distractions in this life that can cause us to lose spiritual focus and many challenges that come our way. If we are not careful, we can forget to set our minds on things above. There are times when we do not handle ourselves in the way we should; we fall short and sin. We can take comfort in knowing that if we sin, we have an advocate with God; Jesus Christ the righteous as is stated in 1 John 2:1, but the verses to follow show us that “whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked”. God wants us to be holy for He is holy. If we examine ourselves by the scriptures and find that we fall short, let us not be discouraged but rather let God’s word motivate us to repentance and let us strive to be a blessing to God, not only in word but in deed. We all stumble at times but it is crucial that we do not make a habit of sin but rather “practice” righteousness, because we are His possession. Psalm 87 is a beautiful Psalm that depicts Zion as the birthplace of the children of God. When we are baptized into Christ, we are born again; we are born in Zion! This world is not our home; we are just sojourners here. Let us always remember that we are citizens of the kingdom of God and let us keep our minds set on things above. Let us love as He loved. Let our daily actions be a reflection of the gratitude we feel for His wonderful gift of salvation! Let our souls truly bless the LORD, in word and in deed! By Annette Wright-Warmington (member Mt Airy church of Christ)
What is the meaning of Commitment? Per the Miriam dictionary Commitment means the state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity, etc. - dedication · devotion · allegiance · loyalty · faithfulness · fidelity · bond · adherence · attentiveness To be committed is to be loyal to a services, person and to give safe keeping, We are l committed to something or someone at some pointed time in our lives. We know sometimes we fail , but failure does not mean we stop what we are doing and or we give up. Failure is only a step back to reevaluate our selves and objective an continue to work on that commitment, What does the word of God say about commitment? Eph 6;5: Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear, Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. Heb 10:25: And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. 1st Corinthian 6:19: Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself. Matt. 22:37-38: Jesus replied, "You must love the lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. John 3:16 The word of God teaches us about being committed to his words, teaching and principles, We know we are all sinners and has fallen short of the glory of God. God expect us to do his will and also to be committed to doing whatever he asked of us. This sometimes mean even our families we have to put second and do what God wants us to do. Our loyalty is to God and his words and that means putting our own needs and wants aside if we truly going to be fully committed to God. Luke 14:26: If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison-- your father and mother, wife, and children, brothers and sisters--yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:27: Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. John 15:18: Jesus alerted His disciples: Remember the word that I said to you: "A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. " 2nd Tim 3:12 The apostle Paul echoed His warning: "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jeill suffer persecn reality God Words are: In essence, the true cost of commitment to Christ is one's total self-denial, cross-bearing, and the continual following of Him. The imperatives picture for us sacrifice, selflessness, and service. Total commitment to God means that Jesus is our sole authority, our guiding light, and our unerring compass. Being committed to Christ means being fruitful; it means being a servant. Our axiom is simple and succinct. The Spiritually Conclusion Is: Phili 1:21: For to me to live [is] Christ. Should he be suffered to live, his life would be for extending the kingdom of Christ, but personally, to die [is] gain. To die would be gain; a release from sufferings and an entrance upon eternal joys. By Anonymous in Oklahoma
In the beginning God said “it is not good for man to be alone” so He made a helper and this became the marriage of Adam and Eve. Gen 2.18-25. God was looking out for Adams best interest by creating the woman for companionship. Pro 18.22. Pro 19.14. Now I don't want anyone to get me wrong; I believe in marriage and in having a man around. What I don't believe in is, settling for just any man and when I say that, I'm not talking about the man must have a great education, high paying job or attractive physical attributes. What I'm talking about is does he have faith? Is he serving the Lord as he should? Is he proving his love for Christ by his deeds. John 14.15. Does he understand what the Bible teaches about a man loving his wife as Christ loved the church? Eph 5.25. This is what I look for in a husband and anything else can be negotiated, worked out. etc If I can't find a man with this type of devotion; I feel that I would be better without a man. Pro 12.4 Pro 14.7. Pro 21.9. I say that because going to heaven is my main goal and having a husband is secondary. And since I'm putting all my energy into pleasing God, I desire a man who will be doing the same thing. In other words, my sisters. I want a man standing with me when fighting Satan; not a man who stands with Satan and fights me. It bothers me that some of our sisters are so determined to have a man that they will settle for men who aren't faithful. And some even settle for men who aren’t Christians. Sisters, just think for a moment, these men aren’t faithful or a christian and a lot of problems are going to come as a result and we cannot afford to be in a relationship with a man who makes poor choices and brings much hardship upon us. I'm reminded of the situation with Martha and Mary. Martha was so concerned about cooking the meals and getting the house ready, that she had no time to sit and listen to Jesus teach. She came and told Jesus to make Mary leave the class and come and help her with the meal and the housework. Jesus refused, and He told Martha that Mary great interest in her soul, was more important than housekeeping. Luke 10.38-42. We have to be like Mary; we must put interest in our souls first, because that is the big picture. Jesus said if a person gains the whole world but loses their soul what can they give in exchange for that lost soul? Mark 8.36-37. My sisters, there is a bigger picture here and getting a husband should not be the primary thing in our life. Serving the Lord and saving our souls should be the primary. If a husband comes, great! If a husband does not come, because we can't find anyone who is trying to serve the Lord, we're still good. There are many women in the church who do not have husbands or boyfriends, and these women are some of the most holy, educated, and focus women that you'll ever see in your life. They have come to know the big picture and by knowing that, they know the Lord and that is more important than any other thing that they could ever do in this life. By Patrice Garvey
Member, Mt Airy church of Christ Who is consider a Virtuous woman and what does the bible say about a virtual woman? What does the dictionary say about a virtuous woman? According to the Merriam webster dictionary the word Virtuous: having or showing high moral standards. Example she considered herself very virtuous because she neither drank nor smoked. To be consider a virtuous person is having or exhibiting virtue. b: morally excellent: righteous a virtuous decision. 2: chaste. 3: potent, efficacious. The word virtuous is an adjective which is. conforming to moral and ethical principles; morally excellent; upright: Lead a virtuous life. chaste: a virtuous young person. Examples: Honesty, courage, compassion, generosity, fidelity, integrity, fairness, self-control, and prudence are all examples of virtues. The virtuous person is an ethical person. What does the bible said about virtue has been defined as “conformity of life and conduct with the principles of morality?” The virtues are thus the practical attitudes and habits adopted in obedience to those principles. ... To these four, Christianity added the three theological virtues of faith, hope, and love. What does the bible say about a virtuous woman and how she should behave? “Proverbs 31 defines a virtuous woman as one who leads her home with integrity, discipline, and more. All the virtues she practices are aimed at making her husband's life better, teaching her children, and serving God” As Christian women we should have and demonstrate these characters wherever we go. We are the salt and light of the word and so we should let our light shine through these traits that the bible states. In the book of Ruth, we learn about Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi and how they were loyal and obedient to Gods word, even after the death of her son and Ruth’s husband. According to Ruth 3:11 – “And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou require: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman”. Proverbs 3:15 - She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. As Christian women we should always be consider more than rubies, because of our devotion to God and the lives we live and the role we play in out homes and at work. When an individual who is not a Christian sees us, that individual should know that we are a virtuous woman because of our behaviors. Proverbs 8:11 - For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. Proverbs 12:4 - A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones. Proverbs 31:10-31 - Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. Proverbs 31:11 - The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these Titus 2:3-5 - The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things. by Paulette Hamilton Member of Intown Atlanta church of Christ There are certain human characteristics and traits that are overwhelmingly feminine and attributed to women. Only women can bear children. Only women can breastfeed. Only women can be traditional mothers, aunts, sisters and wives. We are wired differently than men and we have different societal roles than men. As women, we often face cultural restrictions that men do not face. We have vulnerabilities that men do not have. But although we are different than men, spiritually, we are no less important to our Lord and in His eyes, we are not that different at all. In *Galatians 3:27-28*, Paul writes that for those who have been baptized into Christ, we become one in Him, and our cultural (neither Jew nor Greek), societal (neither slave nor free) and positional (neither male nor female) differences are no longer important.
But we live in a world where these differences often intervene and disturb our lives. As women, we face a dichotomy that is sometimes difficult to handle. The world presses us to be feminine while our Christian walk demands us to be strong. Society wants us to be submissive, but the Word tell us to be bold. In the worship we are cautioned to be quiet, but we also are told to be outspoken about our faith. Sisters, I have grappled with this, and what has helped me tremendously is to study and meditate on the women in the New Testament who intersected and connected with Jesus during his life on this earth. There is not much information about these women, only snippets, here and there. They lived in a time and culture where women were often treated like they were personal possessions, disposable, without much say in their own lives. But in their biblical records, I see these women being brave and nurturing, serving in their households and boldly following Jesus, hosting in their homes and sitting at his feet to learn. They believed in Jesus and hoped in Him. Elizabeth, Mary, Martha, Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Salome and Susanna have taught me that I can be and do all things in Jesus. I can’t let the restrictions and challenges I may face as a woman stop me from living in the power of Christ. Remember when Mary, while she was pregnant with Jesus, goes to visit her cousin Elizabeth? At the time Elizabeth was also pregnant with John the Baptist. Elizabeth had a visceral reaction to Jesus while he was still in Mary’s womb. She declares to Mary, “Blessed is the fruit of your womb! Why is it granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me” (*Luke 1:42-43)*? Mary responds to Elizabeth by praising God. “My soul magnifies the Lord” (*Luke 1:46).* Now, these two women were facing some of the most difficult times in their life. Elizabeth was advanced in years, was having her first child and her husband had been struck dumb. Can you imagine what she must have gone through not being able to talk to her husband about her feelings, her fears, her doubts, her wonders during this miraculous pregnancy? And Mary was pregnant with a child that was not her husband’s! The angel had stopped Joseph from putting her away, but can you imagine that stress! She lived in a time when she could have been severely castigated for this. If I were in Mary’s place, or in Elizabeth’s place I think I would have been crying and complaining. But Elizabeth and Mary show us the value of having godly woman companions. *Together*, praising and magnifying Jesus, they coped with their stress and worry. In Jesus they found solace. When Jesus was hanging on the cross, amid the sorrow, terror and fear, the women stood by. His mother, Mary Magdalene, James’ mother and Salome were all at the cross. I think we sometimes don’t get how brave an act this was. When you consider the political turmoil that led up to the crucifixion, you would think that these women would have hidden away in their homes while the crucifixion was taking place. But they didn’t. Imagine what it must have been like for Mary to watch her first born die, in such an agonizing way! But she stood there, *together* with her godly women companions, strong in the hope of the resurrection. As women we are going to face challenges that are unique to us. There are women who are unwed mothers, women facing difficult pregnancies, women threatened by men who hold financial power over them. The list goes on. But, as Christian women, we can find great strength in our godly companionship, to overcome these challenges. Like Mary, Elizabeth and Martha, we can draw on each other’s strengths, knowing that in Jesus we find solace and in Him we have a wonderful hope. "Together". By Anita Marie Spencer Member, Westside church of Christ. Louisville, Kentucky The lesson is simple: when you learn better, do better.
God expects us to grow in grace and knowledge as we mature and age (2 Peter 3:18). He loves us and His grace, mercy, and forgiveness are very close. He does not expect us to know everything according to 1 Corinthians 8:2, but He is there to assist and has provided “…all that we need for life and godliness…” (2 Peter 1:3). For Christians, it is as simple as confessing our sin and repenting (having learned better, doing better in obedience). For non-Christians, it is as simple as obeying the gospel, being baptized, and continuing to grow and mature spiritually (having been obedient, learning better, and doing better). When we learn better, we can do better—if we choose to apply the Lord’s standard, His Word to our daily living. My husband reminds me that we can all usually do better, no matter the circumstance. My Dad (a non-Christian) once told me, “You don’t always do the right thing”. I replied, “I try. And when I know I am wrong; I don’t have a problem admitting the wrong and getting it right with God.” Learning better and doing better means we begin to resemble God more and more in our actions and most importantly, in our reactions. We can listen to all the sermons. We can listen, study, and engage in all the Bible studies—both personal and group on “adding to our faith with virtue and virtue with knowledge and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love…” but if we do not INCREASE these qualities (think LEARN BETTER, DO BETTER), we will continue to be ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord, Jesus Christ. There is no way we can grow, if we do not hold on to our progress by remembering that we are cleansed from our former sins (I Cor 6:11) And being diligent while practicing these qualities that glorify God (think LEARN BETTER, DO BETTER). In 2 Peter 1:12-13, the bible says “Therefore, I intend to always remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth you have. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder.” LEARNING BETTER and DOING BETTER means…~Now that we know the truth, and are ABIDING in Christ, God will bless us according to Jesus in John 13:17. ~We accept and obey God’s Word, and this shows our love for God. (Think: accept + obey + abide in Christ = love for God.) In accepting and obeying, we are being the good example for others to follow. 21Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.” John 14:21. By doing so, we are about the Father’s business (Luke 2:45-49) We hold on to our progress (Phil 3:16) that we have made because we are being nourished by the message of faith, good teaching, and are now imitating Christ who imitated God (John 5:19). In 1 Peter 1:14-16, Peter reminds us So you must live as God’s obedient children, don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. 15But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. 16For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.” In 2 Corinthians, Paul wrote to the church in Corinth/God’s holy people throughout Greece: 2 Cor 7:1: 1Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear (reverence/respect) God, (Think: knowing +learning + doing better = we are growing and begin to resemble Him).~We are being nourished by the message of faith and good teaching. In 1 Tim 4:6, Paul reminds Timothy that he will be a worthy servant of Jesus because he is nourished by the message of faith and the good teaching (from his grandmother Lois and Mother Eunice that) he has followed: I Tim 4:6, If you explain these things to the brothers and sisters, Timothy, you will be a worthy servant of Christ Jesus, one who is nourished by the message of faith and the good teaching you have followed.2Tim 1:5 I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice. And I know that same faith continues in you. (Think: We keep on learning better, we keep on doing better).~We are being nourished by seeing the examples of others who are learning better and doing better. We work towards being faithful and standing firm in God’s grace. Knowing that what we are experiencing in this life is truly part of God’s grace (1Peter 5:12). ~Heaven is our goal, and we cannot lose focus. We remember and remind others that we are to …”2Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God….7You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world.8But, now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.” (Colossians 3:2, 7-8) ~We continue to encourage one another in love” the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things (Gal 5:22-23). We remember our promises from God and pray that we cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And we work toward complete holiness because we fear (reverence/respect) God (2 Cor 7:1). ~If we mess up, accept that we messed up. We get it right. And continue moving forward towards our heavenly goal, thinking of heavenly things, and not the things of this earth.We get it right because we want heaven as our eternal home. We do not want the alternative! We remember that James 4:17, reminds us that it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it. And we do not want to be ashamed or try to hide when Christ returns. (Adam and Eve, Gen 3:7-8; Joab & David’s soldiers after Absalom died, 2 Sam 19:3. Us ashamed of what we used to do? Rom 6:20-21; Us [refused to live righteously)? Instead, we look forward, are ready, to welcome His return because we have learned better and are doing better. We love His appearing, 2 Tim 4:8. We are ready and are at peace, 2 Pet 3:14. As Psalm 119:5-6 states “Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees! Then, I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands.” ~And we remember that in our freedom in Christ, we pray for and love one another and hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching we have learned that (Galatians 5, 2 Timothy 1:13) that we might all LEARN better and DO better. by Ye Bao Stoa Member of the Mt. Airy church of Christ In the path of life we have many decisions to make, some trivial some important. As humans we can’t see the consequences of our choices , so in the times of life changing decisions, how we wish that we had a GPS to lead us to the right path. Now, the good news is we have one!
Exodus Chapter 13: 21-22 vividly illustrates “ By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on the way and by night, a pillar of fire to give them light. Neither the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.” Yes God is our GPS! (Of course we shouldn’t expect God to lead us the same way He physically did for the Israelites in the Old Testament; but Psalms 119:105 also tells us that “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”) When you use GPS, first step is to enter your destination, but if you don’t enter anything, it will not lead you anywhere. Prayer is the first thing to communicate with God about goals. We tell God our needs and see how He reveals the way. Psalm 32:8 “God says I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go,I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” Next, we got to move. If I turn on the GPS but just sit and not move, I won’t go anywhere. This is probably one of the hardest things for people to do. When we need to find a job, or a spouse and so on; just sitting around praying and waiting is not going to make it happen. We have to act. Such as searching for jobs/submitting résumés/preparing for interviews, going to bible studies/camps/gospel meetings to meet eligible Christians. We have to make an effort and can’t expect God to just carry us to the destination. Proverbs 21:25-26 “The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor. All day long he craves and craves” Sometimes, God will show us a direction that we don’t think makes sense; but we have to trust Him. Remember in Exodus, when God lead the Israelites to the Red Sea with Egyptian army not far behind? I would imagine the Israelites asking God “Why did you lead us here, there is no road but an endless sea? And guess what? God opened the Red Sea right in front of their eyes! If the Israelites had just stayed put and didn’t move following the GPS (God) into the Red Sea. They wouldn't have been able to witness this miracle. I remember when I was looking for a new job, I prayed and only searched for jobs in California because that is where I wanted to live; beautiful weather and supposedly lots of single Christians (I was single then) and opportunities. I got a few leads but nothing fruitful, meanwhile my friend told me about this job in Connecticut that required the exact skill set I had but I didn’t want to apply, because I was thinking “what’s in CT, so small and cold.” But God answered my prayers by blocking all the roads to CA, and 6 months passed, my friend told me again that job in CT was still available. I thought to myself I might as well give it try. Everything went smoothly and I got the job and moved to CT, where I met my future husband in church. Looking back, I see that CT was the path God directed me to, even though at the time it didn’t make sense or was what I wanted. Imagine if I didn’t follow God direction, I would have missed my now husband! But what if I have made a lot of mistakes and wrong decisions in my life, is it too late? Am I doomed to be a failure? The answer is No. Again using the GPS is your example. if lost, just open the GPS and hear the delightful voice saying “the route is recalculating, and then it shows us a new route. If a man made GPS is smart; how much more is God? Matthew 19:26 “Jesus looked at them and said, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” by Audrey Baker Member of Mt. Airy church of Christ Have you noticed occasions when young people leave the church? The loss of even one young person to the world is spiritually devastating. An article published by Lifeway Research in 2019, claims that ‘Most teenagers drop out of church as young adults.’ Their survey was conducted on protestant church members 20-30 years old, but we have seen this occur in our congregations as well, especially after the young person leaves for college.
When our young people leave the church, they are opting for a life that is not regulated by God’s laws, but by the standards and directions they create or obtain from people who do not respect God’s teachings. The consequence of leaving the church is eternal separation from God (Mt 10:28). As Deuteronomy chapters 4, 5, and 6 state, our God is supreme and provides principles and laws that are ideal for man’s physical, emotional, social, and spiritual wellbeing. God cares. He knows that we, like Peter (Luke 22:56-62), Paul (1Tim 1:12-16), and the woman with the alabaster jar (Lk 7:37-38) struggle with sin. Using these examples, we can reassure our young people that God cares (Matt 6:28), and that nothing can top what God has in store for those who love Him. Reassure them that God can solve their physical, social, and emotional stresses, along with the need to graduate from school and land that job, but we must be obedient and put God above all. Women in the church can help by encouraging our young people. It may be a tough task, but Jesus’ parable of the lost sheep illustrates his care for one lost person (the sheep), and his willingness to leave even 99 behind as he searches for the lost member (Matt 18:10-14). We should have this same attitude; but to be effective, women should consider a three-pronged approach: (1) forge a bond with the young person based on genuine love and concern, (2) develop an understanding of the challenges the young person grapples with, and (3) provide biblical advice when trouble rears its head. Too often, we are slow to care but quick to chastise. The three-pronged approach can guide us in our interactions with our young people. Let’s investigate how it might work. Firstly, to forging a bond takes time, attention, and brotherly love. That bond you have with your best friend was not built overnight. You likely spent time and shared joys, sorrows, achievements, regrets. 1Jn 4:7,8 and Rom 12:15 remind us to “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” God himself, sympathizes with our weaknesses, Heb 4:15. So, let us build those bonds of love (Gal 5:22), compassion and kindness (Col 3:12) with our young people. Sharing your time, stories, thoughts and prayers can go a long way. Secondly, to develop understanding of the challenges our young people are facing, we must truly listen, be patient, and really understand what they are saying. Keep their information confidential and reassure them that they are not in it alone. We are charged with bearing one another’s burdens (Gal 6:2, Eph 4:2, Col 3:13). Paul said he ‘became as a Jew’ to win the Jews (1Cor 9:20). Consider sharing your own challenges and your methods for tackling sin; and coach them when the opportunity arises. Jesus trained Peter, James, and John for the huge task they had in spreading the gospel. They observed when he prayed, when he taught, when he performed miracles, and how he responded to persecution. It took time, but they learned. Let us strive to better understand and coach our young people in their walk with God. Finally, when the young person shows signs of leaving the church, we are in a better position to approach them. Whether the problem arises from dating, self-esteem, social pressures, or coping with life, the foundation we have laid based on a bond of friendship and understanding provides an easier pathway into the more serious conversations around sin. They know that we respect and seek the best for them. Approach them by praising their past efforts and accomplishments; then, let them know you are seeing something that causes you concern. If they agree, reassure them that they can overcome their challenge, then warn them in love of the seriousness and consequences of their planned actions. Share stories of biblical characters who grappled with the problem and overcame. Psalm 1 and Prov 29:24-27 warn against following the council of the world; and 2Cor 6:14-16 and Amos 3:3 advise against being yolked or bonded to unbelievers. Further, remind them that making wise choices is important. Mention Joshua’s conviction (Joshua 24:14,15) to serve God; Paul’s conviction (Rom 8:38,39) to never let hardships separate him from God; and Ruth’s resolve to align with Naomi and God’s people, rather than choosing a heathen life in Moab (Ruth 1:16). When they accept your coaching, help them through the stages of regret, contrition, sorrow, repentance, acceptance, conviction, and transformation (Rom 12:2, 1Jn 1:7). Do not forget to pray for them often. Your support will go far. In the church we strive to love each other as God demands (1Jn 4:7,8, Matt 22:35-40). As we seek to help our young people, let us begin now by developing that strong bond and seeking to truly understand them. After this foundation is established, we will be better equipped to council them when they are about to pursue unwise decisions. God had a special purpose for Ruth, Sapphira, and Esther. He may also have a special purpose for the young person you help. In that way, the help you offer to them could be priceless. |
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