Notes of Faith February 11, 2023

Notes of Faith February 11, 2023

Why Is the Image of God So Important?

When I was growing up in the South, people often said to me, “You’re the spitting image of your dad.” I understood what they meant, but still, what’s a “spitting” image? Someone later explained that it’s slang for “spirit and image.” It refers to more than just appearance. If you’re someone’s spitting image, you have their charisma or mannerisms, the same walk or laugh or smile. That’s what people mean by spitting image — you remind them of someone.

Although I’m not 100 percent sure that’s the origin of this southern phrase, I am convinced it offers insight into what it means to be made in the image of God. We might say that human beings are the spitting image of God. We remind the world of God. We are able, at our best, to act like God, to love like God, to create like God, and even to smell like God. I once heard someone say that saints are simply those who leave the fragrance of Jesus in the world. Their lives remind others of Jesus.

God created human beings in God’s own image and then, over time, human beings decided they’d like to put their image on things too. Today, we call it branding. Think of millionaires or former presidents who build towers and plazas and casinos and put their names up in lights to spread their empires. Or think of Mount Rushmore or the faces of various presidents printed on our money. Every image is a reminder, an assertion of the image maker’s power, position, or authority.

The kings and emperors of the ancient world were no different. For example, in Jesus’ day, Caesar Augustus was obsessed with putting his image on everything. It was engraved on statues, on buildings, on war machines, on documents, and on coins. Augustus loved getting his name out there and branding everything he could with his imperial stamp.

But for Augustus and other caesars of old, stamping their image on things was more than just a narcissism complex. It was also about marking their turf and expanding their territory. Historians say that you can tell how far the power of a particular emperor reached by tracking the locations of the coins that had his image on it. As coins were used in commerce and war, they carried with them the influence of the person whose image they bore. Coins were a trail of crumbs that led back to those in power. They demonstrated how powerful the emperor was and how much territory his colonizing ambitions had amassed.

We are the living currency of God.

The Image of God on God’s Coins

Perhaps you can see where this is going. God’s image is too glorious to put on a coin or a statue, so God put the divine image on us.

God chose to make us in God’s image. We are the living currency of God.

We are God’s coins, bearing God’s image, carrying God’s influence wherever we go. And we can see how far God’s kingdom extends — somebody say “amen” — wherever human beings find themselves. Where human beings are, God is. As the apostle John said,

No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and [God’s] love is made complete in us. — 1 John 4:12

Wherever a human being is, God is; and whenever we crush a human being, we crush the image of God.

This is one of the big differences between Caesar and God. Caesar wanted to be seen but not known. And God wants to be known but cannot be seen. The image of God is too profound to carve into a stone or stamp onto a piece of metal.

When Moses asked to see God’s glory, God said,

You cannot see My face, for no one may see Me and live. — Exodus 33:20

Instead, God said He would shield Moses in the cleft of a rock and then pass by so Moses could see God’s back. Maybe it was like wearing those special glasses that allow you to look at a solar eclipse without going blind. God wants to be known, so God appears in ways that are both mysterious and miraculous — to Moses in the burning bush (Exodus 3:1–5), to Elijah in the gentle whisper (1 Kings 19:11–13), to Abraham in the guise of three strangers (Genesis 18:1–2). In one encounter, God sends an angel to a woman named Hagar, Abraham’s mistress, whom Abraham had banished into the desert with her son, Ishmael. Hagar names God as, get ready for this, “the One who sees me” (Genesis 16:13). That’s what she names God: “You-Are-the-One-Who-Sees-Me.” It’s a stunning reflection of God’s desire to know and be known.

The God who saw Hagar and Ishmael is the God who sees us and longs to be known by us.

Finally, God puts on skin and comes to us with a name and a face in Jesus. But here’s the part we sometimes forget. Just as we see God in Jesus, Jesus tells us that God lives in us (John 14:17). We are God’s sanctuary. God does not dwell in temples made by human hands (Acts 17:24), but God lives in you and me (1 Corinthians 3:16). Every person on the planet is the holy of holies. That should cause us to treat other people, every person, as if they are God’s temple — because they are.

Caesar could reproduce his image in bronze or marble and mass produce his image on coins, but it was all lifeless. God chose to reproduce God’s own image in us, in living human beings. Perhaps that is why we have the command to “be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:28 NKJV). God is inviting us to broaden God’s Kingdom by filling the world with the currency of love. Wherever there are people loving one another, God is visible in the world.

Excerpted from Rethinking Life by Shane Claiborne, copyright Shane Claiborne.

All human beings are created in the image of God, but we do not all reflect the image of God if we do not have or yield to the Holy Spirit within us. God is perfect and holy, we are not because of sin, and yet, the image of God is there if we allow Him to use us to reflect His glory. Let us endeavor the rest of our lives to grow in His love, grace and mercy toward all who are created in His image!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith February 10, 2023

Notes of Faith February 10, 2023

Right Now

Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see.” — 2 Kings 6:17 NIV

For the first time in months, I awoke before my alarm. The temperature had dropped. Good morning, Lord. I love You, I said silently. Then I went to make coffee.

I smiled as I walked into the kitchen of our new apartment.

It is a separate room, not the mere three-foot-long stretch of counter adjacent to the living/dining area in our old place. I luxuriated in it, thankful, as I poured hot water into the French press and stirred the ground coffee with a chopstick. Then I padded across the new blue carpet to my chair in the living room. Early-morning sun glinted off the bricks of the apartment building across the street. Sparrows twittered somewhere. Life felt good.

I sipped my coffee and chuckled. Absolutely nothing was different that morning except the temperature and a good night’s sleep. Every problem I’d had the day before still existed.

One of my kids was in the hospital after a suicide attempt. Another was struggling mightily with the stress of the situation. Our prior landlord refused to return my calls to negotiate an end to our lease. Many things in my life were not good, yet I was feeling reasonably content.

I prayed (wryly): “You were right, Lord. Feeling helpless doesn’t mean everything is hopeless.” Fortunately, when I stress because I can’t imagine a way out of a bad situation, God gently corrects my thoughts:

Right now, I can’t see the way. Perhaps tomorrow I will. I may wake up, smell the coffee, and see the light, and what felt impossible will feel more doable.

I can’t always imagine that possibility. What I can do, though, is pray.

Let Us Pray

Lord, teach me to trust in You more than I trust my feelings.

Proverbs 3:5–6 NIV

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Excerpted from Held in Perfect Peace, copyright Guideposts.

Truly, when things are not going well and we are not in control of what is going on, we can still have peace that God not only knows today, but what is in the future. He is with us in the struggle and will lead us through the storms of life into glory and joy with Him. No matter the circumstance, God walks with us and will be our comfort and guide.

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith February 9, 2023

Notes of Faith February 9, 2023

Redemption in the Face of Tribulation

For I know that my Redeemer lives,

And He shall stand at last on the earth;

And after my skin is destroyed, this I know,

That in my flesh I shall see God,

Whom I shall see for myself,

And my eyes shall behold, and not another.

How my heart yearns within me!

— Job 19:25-27

Despite the storms that rage against me, Lord God, I will not become embittered against You. Would that I respond to hardship like Job who refused to doubt Your goodness in the face of relentless tragedy and loss.

For I know that my Redeemer lives. You are my Redeemer. You transform the crude sketches in my life into priceless works of art. In Your time, You make all things beautiful (Ecclesiastes 3:11), including my life. Perform Your redemptive work — but give me Your strength to hold on until the end.

My heart’s desire is to be more like You. As gold is refined in the fire, purge me of the dross that tarnishes your character in me (Romans 5:1-4). I look forward to the day when I will be able to see the changes You have made in my life.

You see the big picture — the forest — while I can see only the trees.

Although I may not fully understand the reason why I’m in this situation, one thing I do know: You are good, and Your mercy endures forever (Psalm 106:1).

Therefore, I will not give up. I will not allow the hardships I face to dictate to me my emotions and responses. Lord, I rest myself in Your care. I trust You. You are in control, and You know what You’re doing.

*

Because I cannot escape Your love, I also know I can go to You in prayer.

Magnifying the Lord

I will bless the LORD at all times;

His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

My soul shall make its boast in the LORD;

The humble shall hear of it and be glad.

Oh, magnify the LORD with me,

And let us exalt His name together.

I sought the LORD, and He heard me,

And delivered me from all my fears. — Psalm 34:1-4 NKJV

This day, O God, I choose to bless Your name. I bless You because You are great, and Your greatness does not depend upon my circumstances. The problems of this world are mere child’s play in comparison to Your ability to overcome. So, I choose to focus on the Problem Solver rather than any problem. I will boast in You, O God, because nothing is impossible for You (Matthew 19:26). Only You can make the impossible possible.

I proclaim Your name, O Lord. I ascribe greatness to You, my God, for You are the Rock. Your work is perfect and all Your ways are just (Deuteronomy 32:3-4). For this reason, I place my trust in You with confidence. You are greater than my problems; greater than my sins; greater than my sickness; greater than those who oppose me; greater than the powers of darkness; greater than my own shortcomings; greater than the failings of Your people; greater than the powers of human government; greater than my limited conceptions of how big You really are. My God You are greater!

My power to overcome any situation comes only from You, because greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4). My heart’s desire is that Your great name will be made known throughout the earth, beginning in my life.

I lift my arms in surrender to the One who reigns above the heavens and the earth. There is no power on earth greater than Yours. No love stronger. No wisdom deeper. You alone stand above the earth, but You have willingly chosen to also stand beside me.

The fact that You are great, yet You choose to reveal Yourself to me through Your Son, Jesus, through Your Word, and through Your Holy Spirit, drives me to my knees in gratitude. You didn’t have to reveal Yourself to me, but You did. Now may Your greatness be revealed in my life so that others may see Your glory as well (Ezekiel 38:23).

*

Meditating on His Omnipotence and Omnipresence

And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the LORD God Omnipotent reigns!” — Revelation 19:6 NKJV

Hallelujah! For the Lord God almighty reigns! The heavens and the earth are no match for Your awesome power and might. As You spoke through Your prophet Jeremiah,

Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me? — Jeremiah 32:27 NKJV

There is no mountain or battle too great that Your might cannot cast it into the deepest sea. Nothing is too hard for You.

Despite Your great power, I have nothing to fear. I revere Your great name, but I need not be afraid of You because Your love is as great as Your power.

Through Your Son, Jesus, Emmanuel, You are “God with us” (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23). Clothing Yourself in human flesh, You prove Your love and willingness to meet me at the point of my need. Jesus, You are God’s power and presence revealed. Only through You can I truly be freed from my bondage to sin.

God, where can I go to outrun Your love (Romans 8:35)? You have positioned Yourself right beside me, carrying me, encouraging me, believing in me. At the end of my rope, when I feel all alone, Your Word promises that You are with me (Hebrews 13:5) and that no one can snatch me from Your hand (John 10:28-29).

And because I cannot escape Your love, I also know I can go to You in prayer. You alone have the ability to answer my requests according to Your power and might.

Because You are all powerful, all present, all wise, and all loving, I can entrust the control of my life to You without fear of being unloved and uncared for. You have raised up Your people for the express purpose that You would show Your power in us, and that Your name would be declared in all the earth (Exodus 9:16). And so here I am Lord, willingly giving to You the praise and honor befitting only You.

Excerpted from Battle Prayers by Michael Klassen & Thomas Freiling, copyright Michael Klassen and Thomas Freiling.

Ps 27

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation;

Whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the defense of my life;

Whom shall I dread?

3 Though a host encamp against me, My heart will not fear; Though war arise against me, In spite of this I shall be confident.

4 One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord And to meditate in His temple.

6 I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy;

I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

8 When You said, "Seek My face," my heart said to You,

"Your face, O Lord, I shall seek."

11 Teach me Your way, O Lord,

And lead me in a level path

Because of my foes.

13 I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living.

14 Wait for the Lord;

Be strong and let your heart take courage;

Yes, wait for the Lord.

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith February 8, 2023

Notes of Faith February 8, 2023

How to Be Better with Empathy: Nine Skills to Practice

The good news is that even if you aren’t a naturally empathetic person, there is hope. Thankfully it’s a skill that we can work on. I’ve learned over the years not to get overwhelmed here. Choose one area of empathy to grow in, practice it, come back and revisit, and work on another. Take your time.

1. Ask the question we don’t want to ask.

If you’d like to know more about yourself, the best (and possibly scariest) question to ask others is this: “How do you experience me?” I may or may not have heard these words when asking that question:

You come off as aggressive and arrogant.

You care only about your own success and work.

You don’t seem to have much awareness about other people because you are too self-focused.

You seem uncomfortable and unresponsive when I bring up emotional pain.

No matter where you are, this question will be helpful because you are learning how you really engage in empathy.

2. Remember your Luke 18:13 moment(s).

Luke wrote,

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable. — Luke 18:9 NIV

In the parable, the Pharisee bragged about how amazing he was while the tax collector stood at a distance recognizing his brokenness and crying out. Verse 13 says,

He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

The more we understand the depths of our sins and the grace given to us, the more empathy and compassion we will have for others. When we are honest about where we’ve come from and who we are, we begin to slowly heal from indifference, impatience, insecurity, and ignorance, and our hearts become tender with how people are struggling and carrying their pain.

It really comes down to receiving Christ’s love in every part of our lives. Jesus said,

Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. — John 13:34

In other words, if our core identity isn’t formed on the love of Christ, it’s hard to love others well. When we come from a deep place where we know and experience that we are fully loved by God, our insecurities, fears, and selfishness take a back seat and we are able to lean into compassion and empathy toward others.

3. Celebrate both big and small wins.

We are great at celebrating big moments in life such as weddings, graduations, birthdays, and anniversaries. But we aren’t so great at smaller celebrations. I would argue many frequent smaller celebrations bring greater empathy and belonging than these once-a-year festivities. My friend recently had a long week due to some significant interpersonal issues at work, so a few of the guys got together late at night with some drinks and laughter to celebrate his finishing the hard week.

4. Delight in others.

As we dance, sing, drink, hug, eat, and share important moments of God’s goodness in our lives, we experience belonging.

We know from neuroscience these activities release happy chemicals in our brains that reduce stress and offer connection. Cynicism and a pessimistic outlook on life are not signs of wisdom and maturity. We have much to celebrate and be thankful for. Let us laugh and be silly with one another, even in celebrating the small things.

Recently, I’ve been exhausted from writing this book. As I’m finishing this chapter, my buddy Jeff sent me a card saying, “You’ve got this! Finish strong!” with a gift card to my favorite local coffee shop where I write every day. It’s been a long, lonely journey writing this book on belonging (oh, the irony!), but I felt my friend’s presence, love, and support.

Be kind always.

5. Learn their full story.

I’ve heard it said: “Everyone is fighting a battle you don’t know about. Be kind always.” What if the person who cut you off on the road is actually driving toward a family emergency? What if the person is dealing with mental health issues?

Leading with questions and curiosity instead of assumptions and statements goes a long way. During the height of anti-Asian hate crimes and racial tensions, I shared with my group my pain and frustration. I still remember this moment. One of the guys said, “I’m really new to this. Could you tell me more about AAPI [Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders]? What are some books you recommend? Can I ask you some personal questions to understand where you are coming from? I honestly don’t understand it all.”

This meant the world to me.

Understanding gives greater space for grace.

We must read and learn widely.

And for those who are close to us, watch out for the closeness-confirmation bias,1 where we unconsciously tune them out since we already know what they will think and say. Instead of being involved in people’s evolving stories, we make assumptions that hinder us in honoring how they may have changed. If you hear words like “that’s not what I said” or “you are not listening” often from your close friends, it’s time to evaluate your posture. Are you operating out of curiosity or out of closeness-confirmation bias?

6. Listen well and validate.

Communication is so much more than words; in fact, it may be more nonverbal than verbal. Facial expressions, tone of voice, body posture, gestures, and physical distance all matter.

When conversing:

Pay attention

Make eye contact

Ask pertinent questions

Don’t interrupt

I know this sounds like Communication 101, but we all get this wrong at times and need to work at it to improve. Dallas Willard famously said, “The first act of love is always the giving of attention.”2 Asking “what’s something you are looking forward to this upcoming year?” and making eye contact and being attentive to their answer offers an opportunity to bond and show empathy. Good listening helps to fight against any shame and fear of judgment in vulnerability.

Paying attention and recognizing other people’s bids can be really helpful.3 Validation in listening is something I’ve learned more recently and have found valuable in my own journey of empathy.4

Often when we share, we are longing for someone on the other side to see and support us. Here are some examples of both validating and invalidating responses.

VALIDATING RESPONSES: “Oh, wow, that sounds hard!” “That would also drive me crazy.” “You put a lot of work into that.” These acknowledge and offer helpful justification for what the person is going through.

INVALIDATING RESPONSES: “You’ll be fine.” “Just suck it up.” “It could be worse.” These result in minimizing and dismissing the other person’s situation and emotions.

As Jesus followers, we must also listen to the Spirit’s leading. We do this because God is already at work in this individual and He knows best. So we pray: Jesus, help me to notice and obey the nudging of the Holy Spirit in this particular situation.

7. Learn and lean into their personality and preferences.

I have found Gary Chapman’s book The Five Love Languages to be practical and helpful. The five “love languages” he describes are physical touch, quality time, gifts, words of affirmation, and acts of service. The point is that all of us receive and give love (and empathy) differently.

For example, I love receiving words of affirmation. When I’m not doing well, a few words of encouragement can bring me back to life. Especially when the words of affirmation are specific and nuanced, I feel seen and loved because that means the person cared enough to observe and take interest in my life.

Humans are much more complex than simply where they fall on the introvert-extrovert scale. Who we are is also defined by how we see and interact with the world (whether primarily from the head, heart, or gut), how we take in information, what our core fears and communication styles are, and so much more. When there is a greater awareness of our complex selves, our ability to lean in with others is much stronger, and we can be more thoughtful and honoring of the other person. The Myers-Briggs Temperament Indicator, the Enneagram, and the Big Five Personality Traits can be helpful assessments for building your awareness.

8. Give better options.

Generally, we mean well when we respond by saying: “Let me know if you need anything.” However, this puts more responsibility on the recipient by requiring them to both think of their needs and reach out again. I have found it is more thoughtful and helpful to offer several suggestions and let them pick one or two. For example, offer to

drop off some food this week,

take their kids out to a park so they can get a small break, or

gather some friends to talk and laugh together.

This shows that you’ve done some heavy lifting in thinking through what might be helpful and you are giving them the freedom to choose what would most benefit them.

9. Practice self-differentiation.

This comes down to our ability to identify and separate what is ours from theirs. This skill is needed for those who, in their efforts of empathy, have the tendency to become entangled in the other person’s feelings, emotions, and situations. This requires boundary work where we learn and begin to practice not owning someone else’s stuff in unhealthy ways (having a “savior complex,” severe fatigue, and even burnout). This requires us to take some time for ourselves by journaling or taking a walk to ask, How am I doing? Is this my stuff or their stuff?

This reminds me of Paul’s letter to the Galatian churches:

Carry each others’ burdens [baros]... for each one should carry their own load [phortion]. — Galatians 6:2–5

On the surface, his words may sound contradictory but notice the two different Greek words that are used here. Baros in Greek refers to a heavy burden and weight that requires assistance. Phortion is more of a traveler’s pack, a load that an individual can carry. Self-differentiation invites us to discern what we are called to be responsible for and what we are called to share and carry together.

I have found that working on one skill at a time is most effective. If we want to master any skill in cooking, musical instruments, or sports, we repeat it until it becomes natural to us. Which of these nine skills does it seem like God is inviting you to practice in this season?

How do you know if you’re growing in empathy?

HERE IS THE TEST: People in distress come to you for comfort.

WE PRAY: Jesus, please enlarge my capacity to suffer with others well.

Now it’s time to look at the last practice to cultivate belonging: accountability. This anchor triggers all sorts of emotions for people, and generally most are negative. But I believe it doesn’t have to be, and though it can be the most dangerous and difficult practice, when done right, it offers belonging, community, and transformation in a deeper way than most anything else can.

1. Kenneth Savitski et al., “The Closeness-Communication Bias: Increased Egocentrism Among Friends Versus Strangers,” Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 47, no. 1 (January 2011): 269–73, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022103110002118.

2. Dallas Willard, The Spirit of the Disciples: Understanding How God Changes Lives (New York: HarperCollins, 1988), 210.

3. Zach Brittle, “Turn Towards Instead of Away,” Gottman Institute, accessed August 1, 2022, https://www.gottman.com/blog/turn-toward-instead-of-away/.

4. I recommend reading Michael S. Sorensen, I Hear You: The Surprisingly Simple Skill Behind Extraordinary Relationships (Lehi, UT: Autumn Creek Press, 2017).

Excerpted from Made to Belong by David Kim, copyright David Kim.

Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep … empathy would include these and many other emotions and feelings that we can take part in with others to bless them. Let us strive to be more empathetic in our love for others!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith February 7, 2023

Notes of Faith February 7, 2023

Moses and the Burning Bush

God saved Moses’ life and called him to lead the Israelites. ~ Wendy Blight

TODAY’S READING: EXODUS 3

God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites:

‘I am has sent me to you.’” — Exodus 3:14

As Exodus 3 opens, we find Moses in a most extraordinary encounter, standing next to a burning bush wrestling through his doubts with God.

Where else do we see God revealing Himself, or His will, accompanied by fire? See Exodus 13:21, Exodus 15:7, Exodus 19:18 and Malachi 3:2–3. What does Hebrews 12:29 say about God?

Why would God choose fire? Because throughout Scripture, God presents fire as purifying and refining. It separates the impurities and leaves what is valuable. Friend, when God brings or allows the fiery furnace of discomfort in our lives, it does not burn indiscriminately. It burns intentionally, to make us more like Him. We can trust that it is always for our refinement and never for our destruction. God knew Moses was about to walk with God’s people through some serious refining.

God also knew Moses lacked what He needed to step into His assignment. So, the fire was dramatic. Necessary. A powerful reminder of who God was, who Moses was, and who God was calling him to be.

In Exodus 3:11, Moses, who had been hiding as a fugitive for 40 years, questioned God’s assignment. Moses asked,

Who am I that I should go... and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”

God simply replied,

I will be with you. — Exodus 3:12

It is interesting that God doesn’t build up Moses’ confidence. He simply gives Moses a promise. He affirmed that He would be with Moses.

Moses asks for more assurance. Who exactly is it that will be with him as he returns to Egypt?

God then gives Moses a special revelation of who He is. God gives Moses a new name to call Him. God says, “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14). Though the meaning of this name is not completely certain, one possible meaning is “I will be to you all that I AM.”

How I love this name God has given Moses in the midst of the fear of the unknown! God knew what lay ahead for Moses. Moses did not. Through this name, God promised to be EVERYTHING Moses needed. Everything Israel needed to ensure that the nations around them knew that the Israelites’ God was the One True God.

How do the following New Testament passages undergird what we have learned in today’s reading? (Romans 8:35–37, 1 Peter 1:6–7, and James 1:2–4)

What a beautiful reminder that who we are is not nearly as important as who God is.

I will be with you. — Exodus 3:12

We need to ask where, or to whom, do we look to fill our longings? More specifically, we should pause and ask, in what or whom do we place our faith? In the things of this world? In idols, as the pagan nations did? In making a name for ourselves, like the ones who built the tower of Babel? Or do we place our faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? In Israel’s God? The One True God?

Friend, God, who is our great “I Am,” fulfills every longing of our hearts. Jesus carries this truth forward into the New Testament as He declares His many magnificent names. He is the Bread of Life sent so we never need to hunger or thirst again (John 6:35). He is the Light of the World so we never have to walk in darkness again (John 8:12). He is the Good Shepherd who will lead us so we never feel anxious, fearful, lost, or alone again (John 10:11). He is the Resurrection and the Life who guarantees abundant life here on earth and forever in Heaven with Him (John 11:25).

Take a few moments to ponder where you place your faith when you doubt, fear the unknown, or question God’s actions. Is your faith based on you or is it anchored in who God is? His character. His Word. His power. His very presence living within you.

“I am.”

“I am the bread of life.”

(John 6:35, John 6:41, John 6:48, John 6:51)

As bread sustains physical life, so Christ offers and sustains spiritual life.

“I am the light of the world.”

(John 8:12)

To a world lost in darkness, Christ offers Himself as a guide.

“I am the door of the sheep.”

(John 10:7, John 10:9)

Jesus protects His followers as shepherds protect their flocks from predators.

“I am the resurrection and the life.”

(John 11:25)

Death is not the final word for those in Christ.

“I am the good shepherd.”

(John 10:11, John 10:14)

Jesus is committed to caring and watching over those who are His.

“I am the way, the truth, and the life.”

(John 14:6)

Jesus is the source of all truth and knowledge about God.

“I am the true vine.”

(John 15:1, John 15:5)

By attaching ourselves to Christ, we enable His life to flow in and through us. Then we cannot help but bear fruit that will honor the Father.

Excerpted from 40 Days Through the Bible by Lysa TerKeurst and Proverbs 31 Ministries Team, copyright Lysa TerKeurst and Proverbs 31 Ministries Team.

There is no more wonderful, powerful, reverent, and awesome name for God than “I AM”. It brings spiritual shivers to my soul and I love hearing the Lord declare His name. I AM has always been and will always be, is involved in everything that He created and cares for all toward His eternal plan. May we lift a concert of praise to the eternal, great, I AM!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith February 6, 2023

Notes of Faith February 6, 2023

Making Fishers of Men

The boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.

But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”

And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”

So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”

And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. — Matthew 14:24–32 NKJV

The Sea of Galilee can be fickle. As famous lakes go, this is a small one, only thirteen miles at its longest, seven and a half at its widest. The diminutive size makes it more vulnerable to the Golan Heights winds that howl out of the mountains. Low pressure storms turn the lake into a blender, shifting suddenly, blowing first from one direction and then another. Winter months bring such storms every two weeks or so, churning up the waters for two to three days at a time.

Galileans came to expect storms. They were a part of the topography. They still are.

LIFE COMES WITH STORMS

Atmospheric conditions of our fallen world churn serious turbulence. Health crises. Economic struggles. Unwanted invoices and cancer cells that howl down on our lives and turn life into a bull ride.

Peter and his fellow storm riders knew they were in trouble. Sunlight was a distant memory. Rain fell from the night sky in buckets. Lightning sliced the blackness with a silver sword. Winds whipped the sails. The boat lurched and lunged like a kite in a March wind.

The boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. — Matthew 14:24 NKJV

Descriptive phrase, don’t you think? Apt description for the stormy seasons of life. The gusts and the gales turn contrarily against your wishes, leaving you “in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves.”

In the middle of a divorce, tossed about by guilt.

In the middle of debt, tossed about by creditors.

In the middle of a corporate takeover, tossed about by Wall Street and profit margins.

But after as many as nine hours in the sea, the unspeakable happens.

JESUS COMES, COMMANDING THE STORM

The disciples spot someone coming on the water. They assume it’s a ghost and cry out from fear.

At about four o’clock in the morning, Jesus came toward them walking on the water. They were scared to death. ‘A ghost!’ they said, crying out in terror. — vv. 25–26 The Message

They didn’t expect Jesus to come to them this way.

Neither did we. We expected Him to come in the form of peaceful hymns, or Easter Sundays, or quiet retreats. We expected to find Jesus in morning devotionals, church suppers, and meditation. We never expected to see Him in a divorce, death, lawsuit, or jail cell. We never expected to see Him in a storm. But it is in storms that He does His finest work, for it is in storms He has our keenest attention.

Jesus replies to their fear with an invitation worthy of inscription on every church cornerstone and archway:

Courage! I am! Don’t be afraid!

I like that translation by Frederick Bruner. More common readings, such as “It is I!” or “I am here!” lose the full force of Jesus’ pronouncement. Jesus is not merely announcing his presence on the sea; he is declaring his power over the storm. He’s not saying, “I am here.” He is saying, “I am.” He is saying what God said to Moses through the burning bush:

Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I am has sent me to you’.

— Exodus 3:14 NKJV

This is what God said to Abraham in the desert:

I am the Lord. — Genesis 15:7 NKJV

and to the Hebrews in the wilderness:

I am He, and there is no God besides Me. — Deuteronomy 32:39 NKJV

This is no cry of identity; it is a claim of divinity. Is anyone in control of these winds? I am. Who is in charge of the torrent? I am. Is anyone coming to help?

I am.

“Courage! I am! Don’t be afraid!” With these words Christ claims the position of Chief Commander of the Storm. Peter, much to his credit, takes Jesus at his word.

Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.

— Matthew 14:28 NKJV

Peter would rather be out of the boat with Christ than in the boat without Him, so He calls on the commander to command. And Jesus does.

So He said, ‘Come.’ And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. — v. 29 NKJV

For a few historic steps and heart-stilling moments, Peter does the impossible. He defies every law of gravity and nature: “he walked on the water to go to Jesus.”

I can’t help but wonder how Matthew felt as he wrote that sentence. Surely he had to lower his pen and shake his head. “Peter... walked on the water to go to Jesus.” My editors wouldn’t have tolerated such brevity. They would have filled the margin with questions: “Can you elaborate? How quickly did Peter exit the boat? How cautious was his first step? What was the look on his face? Did he step on any fish?”

Matthew has no time for such questions, however; he moves us quickly to the major message of the moment.

WHERE TO STARE IN A STORM

But when [Peter] saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, ‘Lord, save me!’ — v. 30 NKJV

A wall of water eclipses his view. A wind gust snaps the mast with a crack and a slap. A flash of lightning illuminates the lake and the watery mountain range it has become. Peter shifts his attention away from Jesus and toward the squall, and he sinks like a brick in a pond. Give the storm waters more attention than the Storm Walker, and get ready to do the same.

God wants us to look for good news and seek out the accomplishments of His work.

His call to courage is not a call to naïveté or ignorance. We aren’t oblivious to the storms. We just counterbalance them with long looks at God’s accomplishments.

We must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. — Hebrews 2:1 NASB

Do whatever it takes to keep your gaze on Jesus. Memorize Scripture. Sing hymns. Read biographies of great people. Ponder the testimonies of faithful Christians. Walk to the sound of His voice. Make the deliberate decision to set your hope on Him. And when your attention turns away, bring it back.

Excerpted from In the Footsteps in the Savior by Max Lucado, copyright Max Lucado.

Keeping our focus, our eyes on Jesus is the only way to navigate this fallen world. We have many trials and troubles but Jesus is always there with us to pass through them. Let us seek the face of Jesus at all times, having courage, trusting in His provision and care.

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith February 5, 2023

Notes of Faith February 5, 2023

Deadly Drifting

But if you take your eyes off of him, if you don’t focus on him, you become like a little leaf or a dead fish, and you just float the way the river’s going. And the river is not flowing toward heaven in this world. It’s flowing the other direction. So you don’t have to work hard to go to hell; you just have to drift. Drifting is very dangerous. Very, very dangerous.

“You don’t have to work hard to go to hell; you just have to drift.”

There are some drifters in this room right now. And the good news, the sign of hope for you drifters, is that right now while I’m preaching, God is awakening a desire not to be a drifter. Some of you are sitting there, and you know you’re a drifter. You haven’t read the Bible in a long time. It’s a hit-and-miss affair. You don’t spend any time or vigilance to focus on the Lord, to soak in him. But right now, as I’m talking, the Holy Spirit is saying, “You’d better fix that.” And you want to fix it. And your want to is a really good sign. It’s a really good sign.

If you’re sitting there right now just wishing you could get home a little earlier, and that I would not talk, and this is all for the birds, then that’s a bad sign, and you are in big trouble and need to pray earnestly that God would change that heart. Drifting is deadly in the Christian life. Pay close attention to what you’ve heard. Consider what God is saying.

Fix Your Eyes on Jesus

Let me illustrate for you. I got up at three o’clock this morning. That’s no brag. It’s four o’clock in the afternoon my time; I’m still in Uganda. I couldn’t sleep. I didn’t want to get up at three o’clock. I had no plan to get up at three o’clock. I couldn’t sleep. I said, “Well, if I’m awake, I’ve got to preach over there at Bethesda anyway. I’ve got to preach here, so let’s get up and get ready.”

So I went to the word. Now, everybody knows it’s the 28th, right? After the 25th, you can read anything you want to in the Bible, if you’re on my reading plan. For the first 25 days of the month, they tell you what to read; the last five days of the month you can read anything you want. So I’m totally free. But I say, “I’m going to go on in Mark — I’m going to read Mark 10.” And I opened my Bible and knelt down in my study, and I met Jesus.

The first thing I saw was this: “Suffer the little children to come to me” (Mark 10:14) These disciples were all like, “Get those children out of here — you’ve got more important things to do than children.” And Jesus says, “Let those children come to me, because to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And I stopped and I thought, You know what he’s saying? He’s saying that the kingdom of God is of such a nature that if you are contrary in your spirit to the needs of children, you are contrary to the kingdom of God. And I saw Jesus. I saw Jesus loving these little children.

Now I read further into the story about the rich young ruler, and I heard Jesus say, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom” (Mark 10:25). And the disciples put their hands to their heads and say, “Well, who then can be saved?” And he said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God” (Mark 10:26–27). And I saw Jesus. “All things are possible with God.”

And then I read the next paragraph, and Jesus looks at him, and he says, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of the chief priests and the scribes. . . . And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise” (Mark 10:33–34). And I saw Jesus.

And then I read a little further, and I saw John and James saying, “Who’s going to be the greatest in the kingdom?” And Jesus looks at them and says, “Get it: if you would be great, you must be the servant of all. If you would be first among them, you must be the slave of all. Because the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life for ransom for many” (see Mark 10:42–45). And I saw Jesus.

And I read one more paragraph further, stopping after each one of these, just letting it soak in — just loving Jesus, just looking, fixing my eyes on Jesus the way Hebrews 12:2 says. And I saw this blind man say, “Son of David, have mercy on me. Son of David, have mercy on me.” “Be quiet.” These disciples never get it. They never get it. “Be quiet. Be quiet.” He wouldn’t be quiet. “Son of David, have mercy on me.” Jesus stops. They said, “Oh, he stopped — you can go.” And Jesus, of all things, says, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, let me receive my sight.” And Jesus says, “Your faith has made you well. Go.” And he received his sight and followed Jesus (Mark 10:46–52). Sight. And I prayed for half an hour that I would see Jesus this morning, that you would see Jesus.

“Therein lies the key to the Christian life: not hard work for Jesus, not labor for Jesus, but looking at Jesus.”

That’s all I know, folks, about this text, that we are called upon to see Jesus, to listen to Jesus, to consider Jesus, to fix our eyes on Jesus. And therein lies the key to the Christian life: not hard work for Jesus, not labor for Jesus, but looking at Jesus — look at him over and over and over. And if you see him, if he does for you what he did for that blind man, you open your eyes. You can’t leave him. And if you haven’t seen him, pray that your eyes would be opened. That’s what this text is about.

Satisfy Us in the Morning

When I was in Kenya, a week ago now — God was so good. Thank you so much for praying for me. God was so good to me in Nairobi and in Kapchorwa, Uganda, to give me all I needed to keep my tummy safe while eating all that funny stuff over there, and to help me handle jet lag and teach for sixteen hours in those five days. It was so good. And you know how he did it? Every morning, the word was alive — it was alive. And Jesus stood out of the word. He just stood out and said, “Here am I. I will help you.” Every morning when I said, “I’ve got five hours to teach today” — Wednesday, I had to teach five hours; Saturday, I had to teach five hours. I hadn’t prepared a stitch when I went. I just threw everything in a briefcase and said, “Lord, make a layover in Gatwick.”

The point of that was this: one morning in Kenya, the Lord, from Psalm 90:14, said in a prayer of the psalmist to himself, “Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.” And it hit me like a ton of bricks that God inspired the psalmist to pray for satisfaction from the Lord. “Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love.” Do you ever pray that? That’s the most important prayer in the world. “I’m looking to you. I’m not looking to sex. I’m not looking to money. I’m not looking to health. I’m not looking to family. I’m not even looking to effective ministry. Satisfy me in the morning with your steadfast love.” Pray that prayer, and then just keep looking. Satisfy me that I may rejoice and be glad all my days, because if I rejoice and I’m glad in you all my days, the power of sin will be broken in my life, and you will be pleased, and I will be happy.

It’s very dangerous to drift, folks. It’s very dangerous

Lord we pray that we might focus on the author and perfector of our faith, truly see the Lord Jesus. May we seek to imitate what we see!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith February 4, 2023

Notes of Faith February 4, 2023

Crazy Prayers

Draw the Circle

This woman is driving me crazy. – Luke 18:5

I love the parable of the persistent widow. I don’t mean any disrespect, but I think persistent is a nice word for crazy. This woman is crazy, but when the cause is a righteous one, it’s a holy crazy!

We aren’t told what injustice took place, but she was on a mission. Maybe her son was falsely imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit. Maybe the man who molested her daughter was still on the streets. We don’t know for sure. But whatever it was, she wouldn’t take no for an answer. And the judge knew it. The judge knew she would circle his house until the day she got justice or the day she died. The judge knew there was no quit in the crazy woman.

Does the Judge know that about you? How desperate are you for the blessing, the breakthrough, the miracle? Desperate enough to pray through the night? How many times are you willing to circle the promise? Until the day you die? How long will you knock on the door of opportunity? Until your knuckles are raw? Until you knock the door down?

The persistent widow’s methodology was unorthodox. She could have, and technically should have, waited for her day in court. Going to the personal residence of the judge crossed a professional line. I’m almost surprised the judge didn’t file a restraining order against her. But this reveals something about the nature of God. God couldn’t care less about protocol. If He did, Jesus would have chosen the Pharisees as His disciples. But that isn’t who Jesus honored.

Jesus honored the prostitute who crashed a party at a Pharisee’s home to anoint His feet. Jesus honored the tax collector who climbed a tree in his three-piece suit just to get a glimpse of Him. Jesus honored the four friends who cut in line and cut a hole in someone’s ceiling to help their friend. And in this parable, Jesus honored the crazy woman who drove a judge crazy because she wouldn’t stop knocking.

The common denominator in each of these stories is crazy faith. People took desperate measures to get to God, and God honored them for it. Nothing has changed.

God is still honoring spiritual desperadoes who crash parties and climb trees.

God is still honoring those who defy protocol with their bold prayers. God is still honoring those who pray with audacity and tenacity. And the crazy woman is selected as the gold standard when it comes to praying hard. Her unrelenting persistence was the only difference between justice and injustice.

The viability of our prayers is not contingent on scrabbling the twenty-six letters of the English alphabet into the right combinations like abracadabra. God already knows the last punctuation mark before we pronounce the first syllable. The viability of our prayers has more to do with intensity than vocabulary. It has more to do with what we do than what we say.

Don’t just pray about it; act on it.

There are defining moments in life when we need to prove to God that we mean business – and I don’t mean “business as usual.” In fact, it’s only when “business as usual” goes out of business that we’re in business – the Father’s business. That’s when we’re on the verge of a spiritual breakthrough.

If we want to see God do crazy miracles, sometimes we need to pray crazy prayers.

Crazy Is Normal

Josh Sexton pastors a church plant in North Carolina called Relevant Truth Church. God is doing amazing things at RTC. People who wouldn’t darken the doorway of a church are finding a relationship with Jesus Christ at an indoor skate park that has been converted into a sanctuary. But like many church plants, there is more vision than money. RTC was facing the termination of their lease if they couldn’t come up with the $3,500 rent when Josh got an idea while reading The Circle Maker. One of the leaders at RTC relayed what happened.

Josh asked me to come to the front during a worship service. He handed me a can of spray paint and asked me to paint a circle on stage. That’s when Josh told us he wasn’t going to leave the circle until God made provision for the church.

With his wife’s blessing, he brought in a bed and ordered a Port-a-John. All he had was his Bible and his prayer journal. Three times a day, his wife brings him meals. My wife and I live down the street, so we’re helping with the kids.

I think Josh came to the place of desperation. If this thing was going to work, God was going to have to show up and show off. I really think he is planning on staying in that circle until God does something huge. Crazy huh?

Crazy? Or maybe it’s not crazy!

Maybe our normal is so subnormal that normal seems abnormal. Maybe we need a new normal. Bold prayers and big dreams are normal. Anything less is subnormal.

And when bold prayers become the norm, so do the miraculous breakthroughs that follow.

I know there may be naysayers who find fault with Josh’s approach, but sometimes you need to do something crazy, something risky, something dramatic. That’s what Honi the circle maker did when he drew a circle in the sand and declared that he wouldn’t come out until it rained. The Sanhedrin almost excommunicated him because they thought his prayer was too bold. But you cannot argue with a miracle, can you? His radical prayer resulted in rain. And Honi was ultimately honored for “the prayer that saved a generation.”

For the record, the Sanhedrin still exists in every organization, every denomination, and every church. But don’t let the nitpickers and naysayers keep you from doing something crazy if you know God has called you to do it. For the record, RTC didn’t just get a new lease on their building; they got a new lease on their faith!

There is a pattern repeated in Scripture: crazy miracles are the offspring of crazy faith. Normal begets normal.

Crazy begets crazy. If we want to see God do crazy miracles, sometimes we need to pray crazy prayers.

Bold prayers honor God and God honors bold prayers.

Excerpted from Draw the Circle by Mark Batterson, copyright Zondervan.

There are some pretty crazy prayers given to us in our Bibles. But our definition of crazy needs to be examined if the Lord responds with answers to those prayers and gives a new dimension of faith to the person praying! Maybe we need to be more crazy!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith February 3, 2023

Notes of Faith February 3, 2023

He Gives Beauty for Ashes

[God will] care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion, give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes... Rename them “Oaks of Righteousness” planted by God to display his glory. They’ll rebuild the old ruins, raise a new city out of the wreckage. — Isaiah 61:2-4 MSG

Stella weeps after giving birth to a baby with no heartbeat. Years later, her four children are piling on top of her, each one’s giggles louder than the next.

Sam panics when he’s diagnosed with cancer. Years later, a routine scan comes back clear as he’s training for running a marathon.

Mae is heartbroken as she watches her husband move out. Years later, their bond is the strongest it’s ever been. They write love notes to each other every day.

These are snapshots of lives that have been touched by the God of beauty, the One who gifts us with renewal and sweet surprises.

Even when things feel hopeless, He says, “This can change. You can have joy instead of mourning and praise instead of despair. You can even become like a strong oak tree, one I planted to show the world My beauty.”

It may take time, but you can count on Him to free you. Ask Him to shine a brilliant light in any dark shadows and fill you up with deep goodness and new joy.

I believe You always have more beauty to give, God.

*

Make Hope the New Default

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. — Romans 15:13

God wants His kids’ hearts to be joyful and peaceful. Our part is trusting. His part is empowering us to overflow with hope, which can become our default mindset.

We don’t have to amplify the negative and downplay the positive. We can choose hope instead of pessimism. We can notice and soak in God’s goodness and let His love and words of promise fill our hearts. We can respond to Him by saying, “‘My hope is in you all day long’ and at night, ‘my body also will rest in hope’”

(Psalm 25:5; Acts 2:26).

In this mindset, every day is a clean slate and fresh start, full of possibilities and potential good surprises.

Henri Nouwen wrote, “Our spiritual life is a life in which we wait, actively present to the moment, expecting that new things will happen to us, new things that are far beyond our own imagination or prediction. This, indeed, is a very radical stance toward life in a world preoccupied with control.”1

Consider some new leading thoughts today: God is preparing amazing things. His abundant goodness sparks anticipation and joy.

Give me the courage and faith to make hope my default mindset. Holy Spirit, make my heart overflow with hope.

*

Bring on the Levity

A merry heart does good, like medicine. — Proverbs 17:22 NKJV

Laughter is the most beautiful and beneficial therapy God ever granted humanity,” said pastor Chuck Swindoll. We definitely need to put humor in our toolbelt for dealing with anxiety. It wields some heavy-duty power.

Laughter releases tension and relaxes muscles, which can last for up to forty-five minutes afterward. It boosts energy, improves immunity, reduces stress hormones, and produces endorphins, which relieves pain and stress.2 There’s no question it relaxes us. And “the calmer we are, the more we remain in a rational or positive mind.”3

Laughing about something other than our circumstances can bring us relief simply by capturing our attention. Humor can also give us a new view of our life situation; finding a way to laugh about our worries and struggles can make them seem less threatening and heavy.4 Levity does mean “lightness,” after all.5

So seek out people who will laugh with you. Get goofy with friends and family. Watch silly animals on YouTube and silly people on TV shows. Tell stories and revisit memories that make you smile. Quote funny movie lines. Be playful and quick to lighten things up. See the humor in life, and you’ll make yourself more resilient.

You are the God of joy and You want joy for me. Help me bring more humor and levity into my everyday mindset.

1. Henri Nouwen, Finding My Way Home: Pathways to Life and the Spirit (New York: Crossroad Publishing, 2004), 101.

2. Lawrence Robinson, Melinda Smith, and Jeanne Segal, “Laughter Is the Best Medicine,” HelpGuide, https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/laughter-is-the-best-medicine.htm.

3. “ANXIETY: Find the Humor, Find the Cure,” Anxiety and Depression Association of America, February 27, 2018.

4. Robinson, Smith, and Segal, “Laughter Is the Best Medicine.”

5. “Levity,” Dictionary.com, https://www.dictionary.com/browse/levity.

Excerpted from Calm Your Anxious Mind by Carrie Mars, copyright Zondervan.

Though circumstances don’t always turn out the way as examples given here, our hope in Christ never changes and is more blessed and perfect than the best of earthly hope. Our joy in Christ can and should fill us to overflowing no matter the circumstances.

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith February 2, 2023

Notes of Faith February 2, 2023

Practice the Art of Gentleness

Nothing is so strong as true gentleness. Nothing is so gentle as true strength. ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Have you ever seen gentleness de-escalate a tense situation? If so, maybe you were the source of that gentleness.

The Bible tells us that a gentle answer can calm a person’s anger (Proverbs 15:1). Gentleness almost always contributes to contentment as well as peace. Throughout His life, Jesus showed us by His example the power of gentleness.

See in Matthew 11:29 the way He described Himself:

Accept my teachings and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit, and you will find rest for your lives. — NCV

And consider His gentleness with a woman caught in adultery. The Pharisees and teachers of the law were ready to stone her in accordance with Jewish law. Then Jesus made this simple statement:

Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.

— John 8:7

When no one did, when each one walked away, Jesus was alone with the woman. To her He said simply,

Go and sin no more. — John 8:11 NLT

Choose gentleness today. Refrain from judging others. Treat the people you encounter the way you would like them to treat you, the gentle way your Good Shepherd treats you.

Psalm 23 is perhaps the most beautiful expression of Jesus’ gentle ways with us:

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters,

He refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths

for His name’s sake.

Even though I walk

through the darkest valley,

I will fear no evil,

for You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff,

they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Surely Your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

*

Grace is the face that love wears.

Extend Grace

Grace is the face that love wears when it meets imperfection. ~ Joseph R. Cooke

The world was a kinder place when people interacted face-to-face. It isn’t easy to say rude things when you’re looking someone in the eyes. Slamming someone over social media or with a flippant text message is much easier — and that is happening far too much. Freedom of speech has lost its filter. Thoughtless, disrespectful, hurtful comments run rampant today in social media, late-night talk shows, and even the news.

How do you deal with rude people? When someone is rude to you, maybe your first reaction is to be rude right back. Rudeness responding to rudeness destroys peace. There are better ways to deal with a person’s lack of courtesy and kindness.

Recognize that someone’s imperfections are just that. If a person makes a disagreeable comment on your social media post, cuts in front of you in the grocery line, or, ignoring you, keeps talking on their cell phone, don’t take it personally. Their behavior is about them, not you. So rather than allowing something to upset you and steal your contentment, practice grace by taking the following steps:

Take a deep breath.

Remember what you’re committed to in your heart.

Lead by example and treat them the way you would like to be treated.

Go one step further and offer authentic listening, an act of kindness, or help with something you learn they are dealing with.

Extending grace to difficult people takes practice, but remembering how many times you have received grace makes extending it to others a little easier. Blessing people with grace — with the grace of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, or patience — can help break the cycle of upset in the world. Become a beacon of grace and peace.

Grace is the face that love wears.

Excerpted from Love the Life You Have by Jean Fischer, copyright Thomas Nelson.

Being gentle and gracious do not come naturally. They are things that we must cultivate through our walk of faith and power of the Holy Spirit. But in so doing we will be blessed and filled with the joy of the Lord. Today, let us seek to be gentle and gracious!

Pastor Dale