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Sunday, May 15, 2011
Today I Will......
Today I Will......by Gary Laws on Sunday, May 15, 2011 at 9:02am
Today I choose to give some sort of encouragement to everyone I meet. By doing so I will be encouraged! I will smile at everyone I make eye contact with. I will respond positively to everyone who say's hello. I will sit next to someone who needs to feel accepted. I will pat someone on the back who needs approval. I will be kind to all and I will really mean it when I say 'glad to see you'. These things I will do while at Church and throughout the day!
Today I choose to give some sort of encouragement to everyone I meet. By doing so I will be encouraged! I will smile at everyone I make eye contact with. I will respond positively to everyone who say's hello. I will sit next to someone who needs to feel accepted. I will pat someone on the back who needs approval. I will be kind to all and I will really mean it when I say 'glad to see you'. These things I will do while at Church and throughout the day!
Are You a Struggling with What You Used to Be?
One thought to struggling 'Formers': We think of ourselves as 'Formers' when we allow that to be our only identity. It is when we finally move on to whatever our 'new identiity' is that we no longer think in those terms. It is of no consequence what we 'were';.... only what we are or are becoming! When we become aware of this, we can successfully move on. For example: I view myself as a full time caregiver to my wife. That is what I am today. I am also a Minister of the Gospel, albeit without denominational affiliation. I am no longer concerned with what I used to be or do. That is irrelevant to my life today. I cherish past ministries and I always will, however, today I am a 'new man'!
Thursday, May 5, 2011
The Salvation Army-A Special Ministry or Just One of Many?
I have always believed the people of The Salvation Army to have a special, God ordained ministry. In 123 countries around the world the poor and disenfranchised find themselves on the doorsteps of the Army as they have no where else to turn. Meeting their needs is what the Army does!
However, the work of these 'Soldiers Without Swords' goes much further. Every Sunday they gather in Salvation Army churches to worship and give thanks to a holy God who not only cares for the body, but the soul. They preach to congregations that are made up of all socio-economic classes who share the common goal of feeding the soul of those who are spiritually hungry and need to know that God loves them. The soldiers of this Army recognise that the greatest good is done when mankind experiences a changed heart! Yet, they never impose their faith on anyone...they simply share their faith with those who are willing to listen.
Having said this, the poor and disenfranchised are that special ministry. The hungry who need food; the lonely who need a listening ear; the children who need a role model; the disaster victim who has lost everything; the prisoner who needs hope and on the list goes. It is unending.
What is most noteworthy is that they do this with little attention being given them. They don't get big headlines from the news organizations. They do not have any billion dollar donors. They quietly go about their work knowing that God is watching over them and working through them. Quietly looking for ways to make a difference. And to be sure, they do make a difference! They bring the most meaningful change to the peoples of the world. Never tiring, just doing what they believe God has ordained them to do; in the most public places and the most secretive shadows.
My challenge to the public at large is, do what you can to support them. My challenge to the soldiers of The Salvation Army is...always keep our Lord at the very center of what you do and the essence of who you are. In your relationship with the poor, with the congregant, with your leaders, with your subordinates allow Jesus Christ to reign supreme.
Of course, there are many wonderful ministries throughout the world. For sure the Army is one of them!
I, once, was blessed ta have served with them. In my heart, that service continues.
However, the work of these 'Soldiers Without Swords' goes much further. Every Sunday they gather in Salvation Army churches to worship and give thanks to a holy God who not only cares for the body, but the soul. They preach to congregations that are made up of all socio-economic classes who share the common goal of feeding the soul of those who are spiritually hungry and need to know that God loves them. The soldiers of this Army recognise that the greatest good is done when mankind experiences a changed heart! Yet, they never impose their faith on anyone...they simply share their faith with those who are willing to listen.
Having said this, the poor and disenfranchised are that special ministry. The hungry who need food; the lonely who need a listening ear; the children who need a role model; the disaster victim who has lost everything; the prisoner who needs hope and on the list goes. It is unending.
What is most noteworthy is that they do this with little attention being given them. They don't get big headlines from the news organizations. They do not have any billion dollar donors. They quietly go about their work knowing that God is watching over them and working through them. Quietly looking for ways to make a difference. And to be sure, they do make a difference! They bring the most meaningful change to the peoples of the world. Never tiring, just doing what they believe God has ordained them to do; in the most public places and the most secretive shadows.
My challenge to the public at large is, do what you can to support them. My challenge to the soldiers of The Salvation Army is...always keep our Lord at the very center of what you do and the essence of who you are. In your relationship with the poor, with the congregant, with your leaders, with your subordinates allow Jesus Christ to reign supreme.
Of course, there are many wonderful ministries throughout the world. For sure the Army is one of them!
I, once, was blessed ta have served with them. In my heart, that service continues.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Does God Care About Gas Prices?
Will there ever be any end to the economic decline? Many very smart people are 'weighing in' on this question. Gas prices are going through 'the roof' and restricting the travel of many Americans like never before. Grandparents are unable to visit their children and grandchilldren who live some distance away. Even trips to the supermarket are becoming less frequent and we are learning that we must become 'logistics' savvy as we plan the use of our family vehicle. So much of our life is dependent on gasoline and oil. Food prices are up an average of 15%, clothing is seeing higher prices and there does not seem to be any end in sight.
Our lifestyles and, some say, even our freedom is being restricted. Americans are experiencing heightened levels of anxiety as it becomes more difficult to make ends meet. Our politicians are promising better days but those days do not seem to be on the horizon!
As if this is not enough to break us, government leaders talk about raising taxes and cutting services while, at the same time, suggesting Americans need to step up and pay their 'fare share'! As if we are not contributing enough! They seem to have lost sight of the fact that we all carry 100% of the burden. The goverment has no money of it's own to contribute....it is our money they continue to confiscate and spend.
All of these factors, and more, are seeming to 'stress out' those who come up short every week.
So....where is God in all of this? Does He really care? Is He active in the affairs of mankind?
When we turn to God's word we do learn that God cares for us. The teaching of scripture is that God will always provide our needs. Some periods of time will always be better than others but, make no mistake, God is present in all of this.
If you are experiencing depression or anxiety due to the stresses of life, remember these words from Matthew:
6:26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.
29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:26-34
Our lifestyles and, some say, even our freedom is being restricted. Americans are experiencing heightened levels of anxiety as it becomes more difficult to make ends meet. Our politicians are promising better days but those days do not seem to be on the horizon!
As if this is not enough to break us, government leaders talk about raising taxes and cutting services while, at the same time, suggesting Americans need to step up and pay their 'fare share'! As if we are not contributing enough! They seem to have lost sight of the fact that we all carry 100% of the burden. The goverment has no money of it's own to contribute....it is our money they continue to confiscate and spend.
All of these factors, and more, are seeming to 'stress out' those who come up short every week.
So....where is God in all of this? Does He really care? Is He active in the affairs of mankind?
When we turn to God's word we do learn that God cares for us. The teaching of scripture is that God will always provide our needs. Some periods of time will always be better than others but, make no mistake, God is present in all of this.
If you are experiencing depression or anxiety due to the stresses of life, remember these words from Matthew:
6:26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.
29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:26-34
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