The Unmentioned Essentials

The Unmentioned Essentials

And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about... the world was not worthy of them... These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect (Hebrews 11:32-40 TNIV).

As last week ended, two very quiet and unassuming people in our church family -- one a woman, the other a man -- passed quietly from this life and into the arms of Jesus. Neither would garner headlines in the paper. Neither would be listed as key leaders in our church. Both lived quiet lives of unassuming service outside the limelight. Both did more good things than can be counted. Both of these served folks others didn't see or simply neglected. Neither wanted to be well known for what they did; both just wanted others to be served. One provided scholarships for students who couldn't afford a Christian education and the other made dresses for little girls in children's homes -- and yes, they did hundreds of other things in addition to these, so I share these as just a sample.

Both of these fine, sweet, people are part of what I call the "unmentioned essentials" of God's Kingdom. They fulfilled the apostle Paul's charge to the Thessalonians:

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands (1 Thessalonians 4:11).

They will be missed because of who they are and because of what they have quietly done.

All too often, we give our attention to celebrity. Even in our churches, we honor the person who is up front or who can speak loudest or can display some entertaining skill in a public forum. Yet if we scratch beneath the surface, we know the folks that win great victories or accomplish great things or win great battles for God are often these "unmentioned essentials" -- the quiet, faithful, resolute, steadfast "git 'er done" folks behind the scenes.

So I am thankful today.

I am thankful that the Holy Spirit mentioned the "unmentioned essentials" in the Faith Hall of Fame -- yes indeed, "the world was not worthy of them" (Hebrews 11:32-40, see Scripture above).

I am thankful for getting to know more about two precious, but private, people who served God's Kingdom in ways that only the Lord knows.

I pray that more of us will be like them.

I am thankful for the people over the ages who toiled in obscurity, suffered without notoriety, served without fanfare, sacrificed without notice, and advanced the cause of Christ without needing a headline, a billboard, or a platform.

I pray that more of us will be like them. I hope more of us will thank such folks when we find them. And I know that God will reward them in glory in ways we did not while they lived quietly among us.

Then I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on."

"Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them" (Revelation 14:13).

Who are some of these quiet servants of God that have crossed your path? I'd love to hear a story or two about the people who have impacted your life for Jesus!

Why do you think we tend to ignore and neglect these kinds of servants and get so caught up in the hype and bluster of celebrities -- especially since Jesus taught us who the real heroes are?

Phil Ware

Heartless Lips

Heartless Lips

Matt. 15:8
These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.

Have you ever found yourself sitting in church, listening to the sermon, and suddenly your mind begins to drift? Or perhaps you are in the midst of singing praises to the Lord and you discover that your mind isn't focused on the words that your mouth is uttering? Or maybe it's during the service that your mind is suddenly bombarded by the myriads of things on your to-do list or the things you accomplished during the week. Meanwhile, you aren't hearing a word your pastor is saying!

This is a continual problem for me, and I often have to remind myself that I go to church to worship God and experience Him corporately, not to pursue in my mind the things I have laid to rest in order to be able to enjoy God on a personal level!

This text hits home: "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me." (Matt 15:8 NIV) Aren't we often times filled with heartless lips? Our lips are singing to the glory of God, but our heart is far from what we are actually saying? Are we really giving God the glory or are we cherishing another illicit lover who prevents us from enjoying God's company?

Imagine a boyfriend (or a girlfriend) who tells you: "Whenever I am with you, I can't stop myself from thinking about this other cute guy (or attractive girl). For some reason I cannot concentrate on what you are telling me." Would you continue dating that person?

This kind of double-mindedness can get worse! Imagine it invading the core of our relationship with God. What would happen then? James is quite clear about this: "When he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does." (James 1:6-8 NIV)

Ouch! That sure hurts! Is it possible that our double-mindedness keeps us from experiencing God fully in our lives? Is it possible that our prayers are not answered because we are too busy thinking about something other than God's promises? Has doubt crept up in our souls because we let our hectic circumstances dictate our life? Has stress overrun our faith?

Interestingly enough, many do cherish their daily to-do lists, and many favour their myriads of activities. Sadly, many also don't experience God the way they could, many in fact are estranged with the lover of their soul.

"'Will you go out with me? Are you willing to listen attentively to how much I love you and how I constantly think about you? Will you return the favour and start experiencing me fully?” asks the Lord.

"Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth - for your love is more delightful than wine. Pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes; your name is like perfume poured out." (Song 1:2-3 NIV)

"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." (Rev 3:20 NIV)

Will we accept His invitation?

Rob Chaffart

God's Gerbils

God's Gerbils

Gerbils are pretty funny and they're extremely predictable. At least, the one our kids had as a pet sure was. When I checked in on him in his little cage upstairs, he was almost always doing the same thing - the wheel. There he was, just chugging away, running on his gerbil wheel. If you went back a few hours later - the wheel. If I had spoken "Gerbilese," I would have pointed out that even though he was expending a lot of energy, he wasn't going anywhere. But I think I know what his response would be. He would just run faster on the wheel that was going nowhere!

These next few moments are dedicated to a special group of people – really busy Christians. Many of whom are, unknowingly, spiritual gerbils running faster and faster on a wheel, but often really not going anywhere because they're doing a lot of the right things for a lot of the wrong reasons.

The right reason to be serving is plainly spelled out in our word for today from the Word of God, where Jesus asks what is probably the most important question He ever asked. After Peter's triple denial of his Lord and Jesus' resurrection from the dead, Jesus calls him aside for a man-to-man talk in John 21, beginning in verse 15. And there's the question.

"Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon... do you truly love Me more than these?' 'Yes, Lord,' he said, 'you know that I love You.' Jesus said, 'Feed My lambs.'" Jesus goes on to ask His question a second time, and then again. "Jesus said, 'Simon...do you love Me?' Peter said, 'Lord... You know that I love You.' Jesus said, 'Feed My sheep.'"

Jesus didn't ask, "Why did you fail Me?" or "Will you work for Me?" All He wanted to know was "Do you love Me?" That's all He wants to know from you - do you love Him? Notice that the assignment, "Feed My sheep," comes only after Jesus is sure, and Peter is sure, that he's doing it for love.

Which leads to the inevitable question about your spiritual service. What are you doing it for? Basically, there are three reasons people do Christian things: duty, recognition, or love. And the first two don't count. Maybe you've been busy for God mostly out of a sense of duty. That's why you're easily frustrated, often depleted, and way too stressed. It's a spiritual gerbil wheel, isn't it? You're Martha, fulfilling all your responsibilities, but you're neglecting your relationship with Jesus. And the relationship matters way more to Jesus than the responsibilities.

Maybe you're doing it for recognition - Gerbil wheel. Not to mention glory-stealing; using what only God should be getting glory for to get glory for yourself. Doing the work of the Lord for duty or for recognition is inevitably going to feel hollow, unsatisfying, exhausting, and frustrating, because you're supposed to be doing it as an overflow of your love for Jesus.

And chances are good it used to be, it was because you loved Him. But now what's supposed to be a joy has become a gerbil wheel because your reasons for doing it got mixed up. Maybe it's time to say, "Jesus, I repent of doing the right things for the wrong reasons. I just want to spend the time with You that I need to spend to fall in love with You again." When you do, then all your spiritual service becomes simply loving Jesus in front of people. It's all for Him! And then the results don't matter... the recognition doesn't matter, just as long as you know Jesus is smiling.

The longer you do it for yourself, the more miserable it grows. But the longer you do it for Jesus, the sweeter He grows.

Ron Hutchcraft

Wants vs Wishes

Wants vs Wishes

"Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to be made well?" John 5:5-6 (NKJV)

A Daily Encounter reader writes, "After many years of counseling and prayer for help, my brother who has been a Christian for many years can't seem to let go of his emotional problems and failures. Is there anything I can say to help him forgive himself? What might be holding him back from finding healing and freedom?"

There may be any of a number of reasons why this man seems to be "stuck" in his situation. One may be that deep down he doesn't want to get well.

According to reports I have read from both a Christian and a secular source, of all the people who go to a counselor or physician saying they want help approximately 25 percent actually don't want to get well. Some of these people like to feel sorry for themselves and get some kind of satisfaction from seeking sympathy. A further 50 percent expect the counselor or physician to heal them. Only 25 percent actually take responsibility for doing what they need to do in order to get well. One physician said that some patients would rather he operate on their body than they operate on or change their lifestyle!

Many of us say that we want to lose weight, too, but do little or nothing about it. What we do is confuse a wish for a want. It's one thing to wish for something, it's another thing to want it.

As Jesus said to the sick person, "Do you want to be made well / whole?"

To be made well/whole, I need to be committed to being made well/whole and accept responsibility for doing whatever I need to do in order to get well. I can pray forever about losing weight but if I don't watch my diet and get sufficient exercise, it's not going to happen. And if I cling to my grudges and refuse to forgive all who have hurt me, I won't get well either.

True, some ills and miserable circumstances are beyond our control but there are many that we can do something about ourselves. Yes, pray for wisdom to know what to do, for truth to see what we need to do, for courage to do it, and for God to lead us to the help we need to overcome. When we do our part, we can be sure that God will do his.

The bottom line is do we truly want to be made well/whole--or do we just wish for it?

Prayer: "Dear God, please help me to accept responsibility in every adverse situation that comes my way. Besides trusting in you, help me to see what I can and need to do to make healing and wholeness possible. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

ACTS International
www.actscom.com

THE POISON AROUND YOU…

THE POISON AROUND YOU…

I'm sure everybody reading this
Knows somebody that they really shouldn't be around
For one reason or another

And yes some of you reading this
Might actually be that person, Lol!

Maybe every time you are with this person
You get into trouble...

Not saying that you are "better" than them
(Cause were all equal in GOD'S EYES)

But maybe this person is into things
That you are not down with
And don't agree with
(drinking, smoking, selling, etc.)

Well as a CHRISTian
We gotta be particularly careful
Who we bring into our circle

Cause its hard to get away
"from the world"
When we’re still in it!!!

1 Corinthians 15:33
"DO NOT BE MISLEAD, "BAD COMPANY CORRUPTS GOOD CHARACTER."

And when you really think about it: What does a believer and a non-believer has in common?

2 CORINTHIANS 6:14
"DO NOT BE YOKED TOGETHER WITH UNBELIEVERS. FOR WHAT DO RIGHTEOUSNESS AND wickedness HAVE IN COMMON? OR WHAT FELLOWSHIP CAN LIGHT HAVE WITH DARKNESS?

You see everybody who's not for us
Is against us...

I'm not saying that we should stand back
And watch their life "ship wreck"

But when it comes to dating
And stuff like that
We should definitely be careful
Who we bring around
‘Cause they might never get on your level

And the next thing you know
You are back in the world…

PROVERBS 12:26
"A RIGHTEOUS MAN IS CAUTIOUS IN FRIENDSHIP, BUT THE WAY OF THE wicked LEADS THEM ASTRAY.

PROVERBS 13:20
"HE WHO WALKS WITH THE WISE GROWS WISE, BUT A COMPANION OF FOOLS SUFFERS HARM.

Proverbs 24:1
"DO NOT ENVY wicked MEN, DO NOT DESIRE THEIR COMPANY.

And I think it’s even worse when you deal
With relationships ‘cause they can lead
To marriage and kids...

You have no idea of how many Single CHRISTian mothers
There are out there
Just because they got with the wrong person.

With that said, we should try
To bring THE WORD OF GOD
To the people in the world
The streets, internet, you name it

But that doesn't mean
We’re supposed to marry them… Lol!
Or be on the corner with them,
And have kids with them, lol!

I mean a lot of CHRISTians fell in love
With somebody thinking
They would turn them to THE GOSPEL
But what happens if that person
Never turns to CHRIST
And you are already married to them
With kids?

You just made your life a lot harder
Than it needs to be
And you could've spared yourself
The heart ache...

So ladies, fella's think twice
Cause you reap what you sow...

[Shared by Dinesh Pandian]

HE loves you!

HE loves you!

Matthew was a tax collector
Hated by most,
Yet he was chose as a disciple
By the Lord of Host.

Zacchaeus cheated
Many in his day,
But Jesus dined with him
When He passed his way.

Women were on a level
Far below man,
Yet inside a woman
His life on earth began.

And Samaritans
Were despised by the Jews,
But to a woman Samaritan
Jesus gave the Good News.

Cheaters, adulteresses
Sinful and unclean,
These were the people
With whom Jesus was seen.

Saul persecuted Christians
Until that day,
Jesus blocked his path
Along the way.

He touched his heart
And Paul came to be,
A wonderful example
For you and for me.

David was a murderer
Yet look how he was blessed,
God loved him far more
Than most of the rest.

Moses also
Murderer too,
Check out Mary Magdalene
Me and you.

Look at the examples
Shown above,
No earthly sin
Can hinder His love.

For He takes earthly sin
And throws it aside,
He looks deep in the heart
To see what's inside.

He looks in that place
Where no man can go,
Where the depth of His love
Begins to flow.

So when we see someone
Who is a sinner by far,
Remember this list
And where they now are.

Remember the sins
Listed above,
Remember He alone
Measures their love.

And before we hate
And judge the rest,
Look at those God chose
As some of the best.

Cathy Henrie

[Shared by Sis. Bensi]

There Remains Yet the Youngest

There Remains Yet the Youngest

"So he asked Jesse, 'Are these all the sons you have?' 'There is still the youngest,' Jesse answered, 'but he is tending the sheep.' Samuel said, 'Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.' Then the LORD said, 'Rise, and anoint him; he is the one.'" 1 Samuel 16:11-12

God had dethroned Saul as king of Israel because of his disobedience and rejection of God. God tells Samuel to go to the house of Jesse, and from his sons He will find the "man after God's own heart" who is to be anointed the new king of Israel.

Seven of Jesse's sons appear before Samuel, but none is God's choice. Then Samuel asks, "Are these all the sons you have?" To which Jesse answers, "There remains yet the youngest." "And where do we find him?" "Out in the field tending the sheep."

It was David, a young man with a shepherd's heart. He has been trained in all the tender and sensitive ways of caring for the sheep. God says to Samuel, "Rise, and anoint him: he is the one." How blessed to have the mind of the Lord and be led by Him.

What was wrong with the other sons? One in particular illustrates God's heart. Eliab came before Samuel, a strong, strapping, handsome man who certainly would have been the choice of most. But Samuel said he was not the one. Then God tells Samuel His clarifying thought: "Look not on his countenance or on the height of his stature, because I have refused him; for the LORD sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7).

God ignores what man glories in. David was looked upon as insignificant, unworthy, too young, and unqualified, but he was God's chosen one. "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways, saith the LORD" (Isaiah 55:8).

Look who God had chosen before: Abraham, from an idolatrous family and nation. Isaac, not Ishmael, Abraham's first-born son. Jacob, not Esau, the first-born of Isaac. Moses, a shepherd on the backside of the desert. Israel, not Egypt, the Babylonians, or the Greeks (each representing commendable strength, wisdom, and culture).

WHY? So that all men might know that power belongs to the Lord, that his ways are past finding out, and that he does all things according to the counsel of his own will.

The story is told of a young cerebral palsy victim at a junior high school camp, who was the brunt of others' jokes and the object of their laughter. Billy moved with an uncoordinated body. He spoke in slow, stammering words from a contorted mouth. The others would mimic Billy's stammering speech. "It's... over... there... Billy." The fury reached its highest point when Billy was told that he was to give the cabin devotions. Billy dragged himself to the front amid giggles that were everywhere. It took him almost five minutes to say seven words: "JESUS... LOVES... ME... AND... I... LOVE... JESUS!" There was dead silence, and then tears streamed down the faces of the kids. A revival broke out all over the camp.

God had used a "cerebral palsy kid" to do what the testimonies of sports figures could not do. He chose an afflicted, outcast, distorted, and stammering boy to break the hearts of the haughty. "God said unto Samuel, Rise, anoint him: for this is the one." DARE TO BELIEVE!

Ed Powell