Have you ever been told to “trust your heart” or to “follow your heart” when making a decision? It’s a pretty commonly given piece of advice, from both Christians and non-Christians. Most of us have more than likely followed that advice at one time or another. Sometimes when doing so, it went well and things worked out for us. At other times, the outcome was disastrous. The advice was well-intended and meant to help, not to harm. The problem though is that according to God’s word, we know that “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)
Would it be wise to follow the advice of something known to be deceitful and sick? It would mean following something that lies to us, that misleads us. You see, God knows the hearts of man better than we even know them for ourselves. He understands what motivates us and what drives us. He knows that apart from His guidance, there will be failure in our decision-making. That is why He gives us warnings to not rely on our hearts to guide us and that is why He cautions us to seek Him in all things. Unless and until your heart is aligned with God’s, it cannot be trusted to guide your decisions.
What to do? Make sure that your heart is right with God, that it is tuned in to the heart of God, that it aligns with the principles laid out in scripture. Make sure that you seek God with all of your heart when making plans, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” [Jeremiah 29:11-13]…..and…..”Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (Proverbs 4:23)
HOPE NUGGET: 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. [Proverbs 3:5-6]
“Make me a servant, humble and meek, Lord, let me lift up those who are weak, And may the prayer of my heart always be: Make me a servant today.” The lyrics to this 80s gospel song by Kelly Willard is a wonderful prayer for the start of the new year, and for the start of each and every day. In my early days after becoming a Christian, it seemed like we often sang this chorus. It had a big impact on me. Though the words are simple, I knew that they had deep and important meaning to my newfound faith. I knew that choosing to follow Christ would mean a complete and necessary change of lifestyle for me. I knew that making the commitment to serve Christ would mean sacrifice. It would mean a sacrifice of time, talents and treasures.
But finding ways to serve didn’t feel like a sacrifice. It felt right and good. The hours that I had been devoting to myself and to the ones close to me would need to be shared with others, sometimes for others who I barely knew or didn’t know at all. The gratitude and enthusiasm I had for being accepted as a child of God into God’s Kingdom spurred me on with a strong desire to serve. I remember not yet having a solid grasp of the Bible’s teachings, but I did have an interest and willingness to learn. Because of that, one of the natural places for me to begin to serve was in children’s ministry. I had young children of my own, and through teaching them and the other children of the church, I learned more of the Bible stories that are taught to kids. It was a time of growth and service.
Since then, I’ve continued to have the desire to serve. There’s definitely satisfaction in doing so, along with rewards for all involved. I came to realize that my interactions with others and my acts of service made as much or more of a difference to others as the words I spoke. In recent years as the leader of a young adults ministry, weekly meetings were held and Bible lessons were taught, but if my words to the young adults hadn’t been combined with the outreaches and activities that we were involved in, and in serving one another in various ways, the ministry would have been much less effective. I’m still working on perfecting an attitude of servanthood, both in word and in deed. Having a servant’s heart means having a meek and humble attitude, as the song declares. Servanthood isn’t a chore. It isn’t to be avoided. Instead of asking ourselves, “Why should I have to do ‘this or that,’”we should be offering our services for the benefit of others. Servanthood might mean investing some “sweat equity” into a task (credit for this term goes to my friend Sharon who shared it with me recently).
True leadership requires servanthood. The greatest leader and servant of all time is Jesus Christ“who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant” (Philippians 2: 6-7). Christ is the ultimate example of servanthood and He is the standard after which we should model ourselves. It isn’t always easy; it can be exhausting. But ohhhh…..serving others is extremely rewarding and is the essence of Christianity and Christian ministry. Dear God, make ME a servant. So, Christian friends, let’s humble ourselves, roll up our sleeves, and serve God and others.
HOPE NUGGET: For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).
While many tonight are marking the end of the year and celebrating the start of a new year surrounded by friends (or strangers) in an atmosphere of noisemakers and fireworks and loud music, I’m comfortably relaxing at home in my recliner. The calm and quiet of this evening has provided me with the opportunity to reflect on the past year. It’s been a good year. A blessed year. In countless ways. That doesn’t mean though that the year wasn’t without its problems. It had its share of troubles. For me and for you.
Today, on the final day of the year, not all is well and not all is perfect. Some of you are carrying great burdens. Some of you are facing major trials. Some of you are not in a celebratory mood. Your burdens are weighing you down. Though my burdens and concerns may not be as great as some of you, I too carry them into the new year…. The concern of a beloved family member in his illness… Disappointment… Important decisions to be made… Heartache for a close friend and her family… An unspoken situation which is affecting dear friends… Sadness… Anxiety… Weariness… Stress… A host of trials facing family and friends….
Though the year included grief, illness, sadness, and even though some of these troubles are left unresolved, my Hope is in The One who is able to carry my burdens. As a follower of Christ, I can trust the promises given by God to the people of God. If you’re a follower, you can trust those promises of help too. If you’re not a follower, if you haven’t repented of sin and turned to Him as your Savior, I urge you to do it now. Don’t enter another year, don’t go into 2020 without having made the choice to follow Christ. Choosing to follow Him doesn’t mean escaping all trials, but it does mean having the burden of sin removed and it does mean having access to the multitude of promises of God found throughout the Bible.
May 2020 be a year filled with the Love, Forgiveness, Peace, and Hope of Christ for you and yours.
HOPE NUGGET (1 Peter 5:7): We are told to cast our anxieties (or cares) upon the Lord which literally means that we throw them upon Him. He is able to carry the burden for us AND He cares THAT MUCH for us!
God, what is it that you want me to do? I asked that question nearly 2 years ago and referred to it as “the most important question of 2018.” I was seeking God’s direction in my life for what He wanted me to do and for how He wanted me to devote my time in ministry and in the work of the church. I had been leading a weekly Young Adults ministry which I truly enjoyed with young adults who I love. After putting thought, prayer and counsel into the decision, the Young Adults ministry came to an end and I became involved in a ministry which was in need of volunteers. This new ministry was not one that I felt particularly called to, but I chose to make the change because of the need for leaders. God has certainly brought about plenty of blessings as a result.
Now with 2020 just around the corner, the most important question to be asked hasn’t changed. It’s still: “God, what do You want me to do?” We’ll all have decisions to make and important questions to ask of ourselves. What is it that God is leading me to do? Will I sincerely seek Him in prayer, asking for His guidance and direction? How will my decisions impact others? Will I seek advice and counsel from the godly? Will I get my advice from those who will be honest with me or only from those who tell me what I want to hear? If I only follow advice given by those who tend to tell me what I want to hear, I can be assured of having limited growth and will likely not be stretched or challenged to improve.
As our sons were growing up (and as proud parents who dearly love them and think highly of them), we encouraged and affirmed and supported them in their pursuits and interests and talents. We also though realized the importance of being direct and honest with them about their shortcomings. Sometimes it caused hurt feelings, sometimes it wasn’t very well received, but we knew that truly loving our sons meant that unpleasant discussions were sometimes necessary. It was up to us as loving parents to give honest advice and counsel to the best of our ability without just making it easy on ourselves by telling them what we knew they wanted to hear. It’s funny now that as our sons are in their 30s, they sometimes advise me. Yes, I respect, appreciate and give consideration to their advice and counsel. Every now and then, I’ll hear one of them say, “Moooommmm…” I’m definitely aware that I fall short of knowing everything, and that from time to time I need to rely on a little nudge from others to be redirected. It’s a great blessing to have wise and godly friends and family. It has been to my benefit when I’ve been willing to “Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you [I] may gain wisdom in the future” (Proverbs 19:20).
In just a few days, 2020 will be here. A new year. A time when many of us look at making changes and improvements. If we’re wise, we’ll seek God for direction and we’ll accept guidance from an abundance of counselors (Proverbs 11:14). What changes do we need to make? What can we do to improve? How can we be more of a blessing to others? Are we to do what’s easy? Are we to do what’s safe? Are we to do what’s most pleasurable? Sometimes, perhaps. But above all, we are to do what He leads us to do. Sometimes for the sake of filling a need. Sometimes for the sake of others. Sometimes setting aside our own yearnings or desires. Sometimes following a path that isn’t laid out beautifully and sometimes following one that is a bit rough and not completely clear. God, what is it that You want us to do? For those of us who love God and who are called according to His purpose, may all things work together for GOOD in 2020 and beyond. (Romans 8:28)
HOPE NUGGET: Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life. [Proverbs 4:13]
The term “beauty” usually brings to mind that which has an aesthetic quality or is pleasing to look at. “Beauty,” as defined by Webster’s College Dictionary is the quality of a person or a thing that gives pleasure to the senses. Upon researching the Internet for articles on beauty, there was an abundance of information on beauty and how to attain beauty. The majority of this information had to do with the outward beauty that has been defined. Beauty though, involves much more than outward appearance alone. Beauty can be found in the depths and the innermost being of a person.
Our society is inundated with information and images that force the idea that beauty relates solely to the external and physical qualities of a person. My research on the Internet is a perfect example of this. After searching through dozens of websites concerning beauty, it was difficult to find any that had to do with beauty other than from the standpoint of physical beauty. At vogue.com, you’ll find “everything you need to know about the latest beauty trends and styles.” Walgreens.com provides the ability to shop for beauty products and supplies, stating that you can “make the season bright” for someone by purchasing “makeup, fragrance and more.” Articles like these are typical of what is available while searching for “beauty” on the Internet.
While difficult to find alternative sources to the usual viewpoint on beauty, there were a few that did offer a different definition to the meaning of the word. The book entitled Beauty by the Book written by Nancy Stafford points out that real beauty has more to do with who we are. Ms. Stafford writes that “Inner beauty – knowing who we really are – is the message closest to my heart because it’s been a lifelong search and a long, hard journey to reach the point where I really believe and feel that I am worth something, that I have value, that I am beautiful.” If a person feels that they have value, it is likely that they may recognize beauty as being much more of an inward quality than an outward quality.
The Bible also speaks on the subject of beauty. There are references made to physical beauty, however in the verses of Romans 10:15 and Isaiah 52:7, it is clear that beauty is seen as actively serving. It might sound strange, but the Bible also has some important things to say about our feet. In a search, I found 100 Bible verses having to do with feet. The verse in Romans was written by Paul, an apostle of Christ and was referencing a statement by Isaiah, an Old Testament prophet. The verse in Isaiah says: “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!'” This is the ultimate example of beauty: having “beautiful feet” by sharing the good news of God’s love with others.
Our family is acquainted with several missionary families who I would put into the category of being beautiful people. They may not appear to be beautiful by the standards of the world, but are beautiful to those who have benefited by their sacrifice and commitment to serving. A couple with their three teenage sons who live in Bolivia and work teaching English and sharing God’s love with the people there are beautiful people. A young adult couple with four children living in Papua New Guinea for the purpose of sharing the Gospel of Jesus and working side by side with the PNG natives are beautiful people.
Many celebrities who are deemed as “the most beautiful people” are not necessarily those who would fit into the previous category, yet they are elevated and held to a high status simply due to popularity and good looks. I believe that it is more important to have beautiful feet than a beautiful face. If we would learn to be more concerned with “serving” and less concerned with “self,” the obsession with beauty that we witness daily would surely diminish. Society would have us believe that we must measure up to those images that we see on television or in magazines. Ms. Stafford says “This I know: Real beauty isn’t what we see in magazines or on movie screens, and it doesn’t depend on the opinions of others or the changing tastes of culture. True beauty is seeing ourselves as God sees us, reflected in the mirror of His Word.” If we depend on the opinions of others to determine whether or not we are beautiful, we are assured of being disappointed sooner or later. Our looks will change; we will grow older, maybe fatter, maybe grayer, or maybe balder. Those characteristics should not be the measures used to determine real beauty.
The constant bombardment of images from television, books, magazines, billboards and the Internet has helped to keep the concern for beauty always before us, and a constant reminder of the expectation to look beautiful. It is difficult to escape its influence and to somehow not be affected by the pressure to improve. The way that beauty is viewed is different for each person. Some tend to focus more on those outward features, while others are able to look beyond and see the value of character and actions as contributing to the loveliness of an individual.
The church I attend, Grace Fellowship, holds a weekly prayer meeting. Once a month, rather than gathering for our meeting within the church walls, we take our prayer meeting to the streets of our small community. Sometimes our group of pray-ers stays together and sometimes we divide into smaller groups. We spend the hour walking the streets, stopping to pray for the occupants at each home. Sometimes during those walks, we have the opportunity to talk with the folks who are outside. Sometimes they ask us what we’re doing so we let them know that we’re praying for them. By doing so, we are sharing the love of Christ and perhaps opening the door for the Gospel message to be shared.
Beautiful feet on Brown Street in Everson PA
My experiences in life, such as my interactions with missionary friends and prayer times with my church family, have influenced the way I see beauty. I am more inclined to see beauty in those who sacrifice by giving of themselves than I am in those who are photographed and paraded before us because of their appearance. I have been privileged in knowing a number of people who I would say have beauty emanating from their lives. These are people who give of their time, talents, and treasures and live every day making sacrifices for the betterment of others. They are those who pray, serve, and share the Gospel of Christ. They are those who have “beautiful feet.”
HOPE NUGGET: Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. [Proverbs 31:30]
Thanksgiving 2019 is over, but as the weekend nears its end and December begins, I’ll carry with me the words of the Lord from scripture that were impressed upon me this week. As Thanksgiving day approached and as I began to think about its meaning, and as I thought about that first Thanksgiving feast shared by the English colonists and the Wampanoags almost 400 years ago in 1621, the simplicity of the holiday came into focus. Thankfulness — an important, but very simple act. The realization that blessings and provisions from God abound around each of us every day. The understanding that even though we may work hard to provide for ourselves and our families for our basic needs, those needs are ultimately met by God. Every blessing we possess and enjoy is a gift from God. 🎵 Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. 🎵
But how can we, and should we, show thankfulness to God for His many blessings? That question led me to narrow down to a few basic directives given in the scriptures. Thankfulness is not just in saying the 2 simple words “thank you,” but it’s in living out a life of thankfulness each and every day. It’s in being sincerely grateful to God for His bountiful blessings, not just on this holiday, but every day that He gives us breath. If the realization occurs that our greatest blessing is God Himself, the desire to express sincere thankfulness naturally follows. Sincere thankfulness requires action. For this Thanksgiving week, I chose a simple biblical directive on which to reflect for each day of the week.
Sunday: Worship God.
[WORSHIP = an act of reverence or homage]
Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! (Psalm 95:6)
Monday: Serve God.
[SERVE = to work for, to labor in behalf of]
Only fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things He has done for you. (1 Samuel 12:24)
Tuesday: Obey God.
[OBEY = to comply with, to follow commands of, to submit to authority of]
You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him. (Deuteronomy 13:4)
Wednesday: Love God.
[PHILOTHEIA = love for God….associated with worship and devotion towards God]
And he [Jesus] said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. (Matthew 22: 37-38)
Thursday: Thank God.
[THANK = to express gratitude to]
I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. (Psalm 9:1)
Friday: Praise God.
[PRAISE = to extol in words or song; to magnify; to glorify on account of perfections or excellent works]
Through Him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name. (Hebrews 13:15)
Saturday: Follow God.
[FOLLOW = act according to the lead or example of]
You shall follow the LORD your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him. (Deuteronomy 13:4)
HOPE NUGGET:
🎵 Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning. Give me oil in my lamp, I pray. 🎵
Thirty-two years ago today, my sweet nephew Daniel entered the world and forever changed our lives. At his sixth month in utero, it was determined that Daniel had hydrocephalus, often referred to as “water on the brain.” Hydrocephalus is a condition in which there is a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the cavities (ventricles) deep within the brain. The excess fluid increases the size of the ventricles and puts pressure on the brain. The diagnosis of hydrocephalus meant that brain damage would most likely occur during development due to the pressure caused by the fluid buildup.
As can be imagined, receiving this news about their baby was devastating for my sister and brother-in-law, a young and newly married couple. Daniel was indeed born with severe brain damage which led to a host of disabilities. Daniel had a feeding tube and a colostomy and was unable to walk or talk. He was completely dependent upon his parents for his full care. When he was just a year old, Dr. Ben Carson – yes, That Ben Carson – performed surgery on Daniel. He informed Danny’s parents, Leslie & Cy, that the corpus callosum was not formed. The corpus callosum is the bridge between the left and right sides of the brain that allows information to pass between the two halves.
Cy, Leslie & Daniel
Happy 1st Birthday, Daniel!
Being born with brain damage and an unformed corpus callosum though didn’t stop Daniel from learning, even learning sign language! Daniel loved music, toys with lights and sounds, and interaction with those around him. The sillier a person was when they played or interacted with Danny, the better he liked it! He laughed so hard sometimes that tears streamed down his cheeks. Daniel’s life brought blessings to our family that we would not have known without him.
If you ask Cy and Leslie how they did it – how they handled caring for a highly-involved child for 12 years, how Cy held down a job the entire time, how they managed numerous surgeries and extended hospital stays, how they took care of a second son born about 5 years later, and how at the age of 12 years they said their final goodbye on this earth to their dearly-loved firstborn son, they would say that God gave them strength through their dependence on Him. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever [Psalm 73: 25-26]. They would say that Daniel was a blessing and never a burden. They would answer without hesitation that they would willingly do it all over again.
Brothers with their loving grandparents
Danny & his baby brother with their cousins
Despite the many challenges that came during his 12 short years of life, Daniel’s joy was infectious and his laughter was contagious! He gave and received more love & happiness than many people do in a lifetime. He was a pleasant boy and it showed even on his worst days, even on the many days when he was very ill. It’s hard to find a picture of him without a smile on his face! You will always be loved, Daniel!! HAPPY 32ND BIRTHDAY IN HEAVEN!!
HOPE NUGGET: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. [Lamentations 3: 22-23]
“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” These words from Isaiah 40:31 were the last words that I spoke to my mother-in-law on July 30, 2011. Her husband, 5 sons, 4 daughters-in-law and grandchildren had gathered around her hospital bed to say final goodbyes. One by one, we took turns at her bedside to express our love and “see-you-later” to her. As I stood there, already grieving what I knew would be a great loss, the verse from Isaiah played over and over in my mind. I had asked God to give me words that would comfort Margaret. She was a woman of faith. A woman who passed on a heritage of faith to her children and through them to her grandchildren.
Mom and Dad Huff and their boys
Why am I writing a blog post about her today? It’s not the anniversary of her entry into heaven. It’s not her birthday. She came to mind today, I believe, because this is the first day of November, Thanksgiving month. The month which is associated with thankfulness. I’m thankful for Margaret. Thankful that we had so many years with her. I’m thankful for the influence of faith that she had on her family, the greatest gift that she could have left for us. My husband has said more than once that he would not want to disappoint his mom. I’m certain that the desire to honor his God-fearing (and God-loving) mother influenced his decisions and kept him on the “straight and narrow.” I’m also certain that her influence affected his own decision to follow and serve Christ.
A joyous memory: the trip to Niagara Falls
Our family hasn’t been the same since that day when God welcomed her into His presence for eternity. In spite of the hole left in our family and in spite of our continued grief, we will joyfully celebrate this 9th Thanksgiving without her. We will celebrate, knowing that she is with her Father in Heaven, with her Savior Jesus. How do we know where she is? Through hope. The hope of Christ in God’s promise to those whose faith is placed in Him. The hope that she had in knowing that she was redeemed by the one who died for her so that she would have eternal life. It is the same hope on which I hang my hat as well.
My favorite photo of Margaret, a spunky redhead
HOPE NUGGET: Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. [John 5:24]
Fellow believers in Christ, does it seem like you’re getting nowhere when trying to make a difference in the Kingdom of God? Is it harder and harder to remain a Christian and to stand for righteousness in a society whose moral compass is disintegrating farther and farther away from the principles of God’s word? Are you discouraged by dwindling numbers in your church congregation? Do you feel like walking away and starting new somewhere else or do you feel like throwing in the towel altogether?
It could be that you are right where God wants you to be. Have you considered that His desire is for you to be completely dependent upon Him? Perhaps you need to know that it’s not by your might or power, but by the Spirit of the Lord that moves mountains (Zechariah 4:6). Zerubbabel was given the task of leading the first group of the return of Jewish people to Jerusalem after their exile to Babylon. After the return, he was appointed governor and oversaw the Temple construction. It had been about 70 years since Solomon’s Temple had been destroyed. Zerubbabel and the people faced their fair share of challenges and disappointments, but the Temple was completed and dedicated with much rejoicing. Even though Zerubbabel’s temple was smaller in size than Solomon’s, “The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,” said the Lord (Haggai 2:9).
The church fellowship I attend in a small town in southwestern Pennsylvania has diminished in size over the years. Our congregation has faced challenges and disappointments that we never would have expected. In our place of worship where services were attended in recent years by 100-plus worshippers, the average attendance has dropped into the 20s. It can be quite discouraging, especially for those of us still there who had experienced the times of numerous activities and successful outreaches with more than enough enthusiastic volunteers. The church prospered and grew and it seemed as though God’s blessing was upon it.
Grace Fellowship Church of Everson….come visit us!
Despite the low numbers and despite the many changes that have occurred in a relatively short period of time, our small church is mighty. We are mighty in our faith and in our commitment and service to God. Within the past few weeks alone, we have shown love and compassion not only to those within our congregation, but to many outside of our church and in our community. God reminded me of some of those specific ways in which He is working in and through our fellowship of believers: *supporting members of our congregation at the passing of a family member by donating funds in memory of their loved one to an organization which makes and gives wigs to cancer patients free of charge, *visiting with an elderly congregant who is hospitalized, *donating to keep our community’s Christmas lights up and running (THE MOST BEAUTIFUL Christmas lights of any small town in the USA!), *paying the heating bill of neighbors in town (strangers to us) who were in need, *purchasing items for 20 gift bags to be given to Pediatric ICU patients in a nearby hospital this Christmas, *donating to a fundraising campaign for our local library, *having a prayer walk to pray for specific homes in our community, *participating in a pro-life community event. And besides holding weekly worship services, Sunday School classes and prayer meetings, we minister each Wednesday evening to boys and girls who attend our Awana children’s program!
Besides all of that, there’s much more that we’re involved with on a regular basis, such as supporting missionaries in the U.S. and abroad and monthly layette donations to a local crisis pregnancy center. We have not allowed our size to discourage or to dissuade us from being the hands and feet of God. He has remained faithful to us and continues to give us the strength and the hope we need to be His servants and to be used as He chooses. Maybe you’re in a similar situation or maybe even in a larger congregation that needs encouragement because you think you’re too small to make a difference. That’s just not true. If you are faithfully following Christ in obedience, staying true to the word of God, and seeking Him in prayer to use you and to use your particular body of believers, He’ll take care of the rest. Let Him have His way. Remember that it’s not by your might or power, but by the Spirit of the Lord.
Our small community in Everson Pennsylvania has the most wonderful display of Christmas lights! Grace Fellowship Church members help to hang the lights each year and help to keep the lights burning with our donations.
HOPE NUGGET: And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. [Galatians 6:9]
You can revoke our tax exempt status. You can attempt to silence us. You can try to pressure us into rejecting long-held and orthodox teachings of Christianity which are woven throughout the Bible. You can try to force our doors to be closed. But The True Church, God’s Church, will never be stopped; it will never be quieted. Why? Because God can’t be stopped. He will preserve His Church and He will preserve His word until HE declares that the end has come.
Around the world and throughout history, many attempts have been made at shutting down Christianity, but to no avail. Currently in China, there has been a severe crackdown on Christianity by the Chinese government. The police have confiscated Bibles, Christian schools and a seminary have been shut down, hundreds of house churches have been closed, and pastors have been detained and threatened with imprisonments. Some Christians have gone into hiding. The government has even gone so far as to rewrite the Bible, saying that they will establish a “correct understanding” with their new state translation. It’s an all-out war against Christianity. History has repeatedly shown that when The Church faces persecution, growth occurs. The official figures from the Chinese government state that there are about 44 million Christians in the country. According to Freedom House, a U.S. human rights group, this number is closer to 100 million if those belonging to “underground” or “house churches” are included. Despite the severe crackdown, the number of Christian converts is increasing.
Have you ever heard of King Jehoiakim? His story can be found in the Bible, in the Old Testament book of Jeremiah. God had commanded the prophet Jeremiah to write down the words that He gave to him on a scroll. When Jehudi, Jeremiah’s scribe, read the words from the scroll to King Jehoiakim, the King used his knife and began cutting off pieces from the scroll and throwing them into the fire. Eventually the entire scroll was consumed in the fire. It didn’t end well for King Jehoiakim who ultimately faced judgment from God… “Therefore thus says the LORD concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah: He shall have none to sit on the throne of David, and his dead body shall be cast out to the heat by day and the frost by night. And I will punish him and his offspring and his servants for their iniquity” [Jeremiah 36:30-31]. As for the lost scroll and the words of God? They were re-written by Jeremiah’s scribe at the command of God and were preserved.
At a recent event in the United States, this question was asked of a Democratic presidential candidate: “Do you think religious institutions, like colleges, churches, charities…should they lose their tax exempt status should they oppose same-sex marriage?” His answer was stunning, yet was not a real surprise to those who have been paying attention to the cultural shift: “Yes.” Is this what the citizens of the United States of America want for our country? Will it be okay with our population if the First Amendment is trampled upon? Do the citizens know and understand the words of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution? [Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances].
The authentic church will not surrender to the demands of the government when those demands are in direct conflict with the teachings of the Bible. The authentic church will not be silenced in sharing the truth of the Gospel of Christ. The authentic church will remain obedient to the commands of Christ even if it becomes difficult. Even if it is financially difficult. Even if broken relationships result. Even if hard times come, like they have in China for followers of Christ. The true and authentic church of Jesus Christ will remain, without compromise, in obedience and in steadfast service to Him.
HOPE NUGGET:
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. [1 Corinthians 15:58]
Hanging My Hat on Hope 