Brian G. Bettes Brian G. Bettes

MISS THE MARK

I went to my daughter’s school awards ceremony a couple of days ago. I was struck by the fact that there was a “B” honor roll, and that there was an honor roll for each semester. Are we really telling kids that they can do less than stellar work for only part of the year and still be on the honor roll? In my school growing up, if you didn’t maintain a straight “A” report card all year long, you didn’t make the honor roll. When did we start telling our children that all they have to do is be slightly above average, and they get honored for that? 

by Brian G. Bettes

I went to my daughter’s school awards ceremony a couple of days ago. I was struck by the fact that there was a “B” honor roll, and that there was an honor roll for each semester. Are we really telling kids that they can do less than stellar work for only part of the year and still be on the honor roll? In my school growing up, if you didn’t maintain a straight “A” report card all year long, you didn’t make the honor roll. When did we start telling our children that all they have to do is be slightly above average, and they get honored for that? 

That reminds me of when schools were passing out “Participant” trophies. Really? We give out a trophy for just showing up, being there, and participating? Is that what our society is lauding as achievement; to just show up and join in? There was a TV commercial a few years ago that flashed several middle-school-aged kids up on the screen who said things like, “I aspire to reach middle-management someday,” and, “In life, I want to be an average achiever,” and, “I can’t wait to grow up to succeed at mediocrity.” The commercial was using “demotivational statements” to make the point that nobody really plans to fail, yet that is exactly what will happen if a person fails to plan, and then doesn’t follow through and execute. 

People don’t end up in lives they are disappointed in because they didn’t try. They end up there because all they did was try. In other words, they were headed in the right direction, but when upsets and challenges arose, because their mentality was to just “try,” they gave up when the going got tough. They simply accepted mediocrity and “settled in.” They were aiming in the right direction at their target, but they didn’t demand the absolute best out of themselves, so they became content when they hit the target, but missed the mark.

Is this the standard God has set for us? 

Being a Christian isn’t about becoming a better human being—a better “us.” God is not limiting His vision to a “new and improved” you and me. Being a Christian is about becoming like Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father. God’s goal for us is not just to make us better people, but rather, to make us into Him, what He is now, which is pure righteousness, with the purpose of reproducing Himself; Him created in us.

Like a refiner watches to see a perfect image of himself come clear in the silver he is purifying, God is intently watching us to see His perfect character, His perfect Divine Nature, His image within us, come clear and reflect back to Him when we are “finished” (1 Corinthians 15:49; 2 Corinthians 3:18). This cannot be accomplished if we are consistently just slightly off, missing the mark. 

God expects that, over time, with study of His Word to get to know His mind, repentance from those character flaws His Word reveals to us, using prayer, fasting, meditation, and fellowship with other of His children who are like-minded as tools, we will learn to consistently hit His mark of righteousness. Understand, we don’t have any input into where the mark is set. God alone tells us what the mark is (2 Corinthians 10:5). We are to be holy as He is holy, and purify ourselves as He is pure (1 Peter 1:15-16; 1 John 3:3).

In Scripture, 220 times in the Old Testament, and 37 times in the New Testament sin is defined as “miss,” or, “miss the mark.” Missing the mark means we were aiming for the target, and usually hit somewhere on the target. But the “mark,” or what we call the bullseye, is what we are aiming for and missed. Nobody I know intentionally misses the mark when aiming at it. The objective is not to see how close we can get to the mark, but intentionally miss it.

I have heard some say, “Is just hitting the target so bad? I mean, I was aiming in the right direction. That should be good enough, right?” In target practice, hitting the target only shows you how much you need to adjust, or improve, in order to hit the mark. So no, hitting the target is not a bad thing, but it isn’t the goal. However, it isn’t the standard that is expected in a shooting event. In a shooting event, it is the one who consistently hits the mark the most that wins the prize. 

Spiritually speaking, the analogy is the same. God says when we aim for His righteousness, and we don’t succeed at hitting it; we miss the mark. To carry the analogy further, hitting the target of righteousness, and maybe even hitting close to the mark, is good, but that is not what He is expecting, yea, demanding of us. Hitting the target, but missing the mark only shows us how much we need to adjust our thinking, and our actions, in order to be like Him; to hit, or perfect, His holiness within us (2 Corinthians 7:1). That sweet spot where we are right on the mark with God and His righteousness is what we are aiming for, and what we need to learn to consistently hit.

This is about an attitude more than anything else. Matthew 7:21-23 sheds some light on this. Here we have people who did many things in Jesus’ name, thinking they were pleasing Him, or hitting the mark. They were shooting at the target, but they missed the mark. As a result, He said He did not know them and sent them away.

As I have said previously, understand that Jesus did not die so that sin could be accepted in any way, shape, or form. Jesus died because sin is completely unacceptable in God’s realm; there is no place for sin whatsoever. As a result, the only way we can approach our Father is through the perfection of Jesus Christ. 

Note Romans 8:1: “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” However, just because we are not condemned doesn’t mean we can have a cavalier attitude toward sin, or stop striving for His perfection within us. No, indeed, quite the opposite. Missing the mark of His character only shows us how much more we need Jesus living in us by the Holy Spirit. That is the process that will change us to be like Him (Galatians 2:20)!

Having a lackadaisical attitude toward sin is a sin. Thinking, “I don’t have to (insert whatever we don’t want to work that hard at removing from our character here). It doesn’t really matter to God. The Father will forgive me because Christ’s sacrifice covers that.” Being lazy in our approach to removing sin and worshipping God is a sin (1 John 1:7-10). 

If we do not show the highest regard for Jesus and our Father, we are attempting to lower Them to our level, our standard of thinking. Instead, we should be lifting Them up to the highest level of honor that They deserve, then striving to become like Them ourselves. Look at how the angels who surround Them treat Them (Revelation 4:8-11). Are we better than they are? We must be careful not to be stubborn and proud before the Great and Holy God! We must be fully committed to remove sin from our lives, to become perfect as He is perfect. As long as we draw breath, our responsibility to Them is to continuously strive to no longer miss the mark.

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Brandy Webb Brandy Webb

Love Yourself to Love Others Better

I know some people, me included, that struggle with truly loving themselves. I am not meaning that we hate ourselves. We just struggle with loving ourselves by liking who we are instead of wishing to be something else. Some of us also struggle with loving ourselves by not forgiving ourselves when we make mistakes. Instead we rehash the mistakes over and over, wishing we could go back in time and have a “do-over.” There are also some of us that struggle with loving ourselves because we are afraid that we will end up becoming prideful and start having the worldly self-love of caring about themselves more than we care about anyone else or esteeming oneself above others.

by Brandy Webb

I know some people, me included, that struggle with truly loving themselves. I am not meaning that we hate ourselves. We just struggle with loving ourselves by liking who we are instead of wishing to be something else. Some of us also struggle with loving ourselves by not forgiving ourselves when we make mistakes. Instead we rehash the mistakes over and over, wishing we could go back in time and have a “do-over.” There are also some of us that struggle with loving ourselves because we are afraid that we will end up becoming prideful and start having the worldly self-love of caring about themselves more than we care about anyone else or esteeming oneself above others.

What we need to learn is how to have Godly self-love. Godly self-love is liking who God created you to be and projecting that onto others. It is not prideful; nor is it self-condemning to the point where you have a prideful humility. It is being grateful for how God made you, you as a unique beautiful person that He is using to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. 

Love Yourself to Love Others Better

Love Yourself to Love Others Better

Jesus tells us to love our neighbors as ourselves (Mark 12:31). Well, we can’t love our neighbors correctly if we can’t love ourselves correctly. The word “love” in these two scriptures is the Greek word agapoa (ag-ap-ah'-o G25) and “means to welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly.” Thayer’s and Strong’s state that agapoa is from the word phileo (G5368), which goes even further, “to approve of, to like, to treat affectionately or kindly, to welcome, to be fond of”…and so on. Therefore, we not only should treat those we come in contact with, “our neighbors,” with kind affection, but we must treat ourselves that way also.

So, since I find this hard to do sometimes, I started thinking about what I needed to change in order to teach myself how to love myself, so that I can love others better. And these three things popped first into my head:

  • Stop negative talk and thought. Jesus states that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Luke 6:45). Well, I am tired of my heart being so negative. I need to start holding every thought captive in Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5), and start letting His words of truth and love to fill my heart and mind. There is a lot of power in our words. God created man in his image, and He created everything through the Word. Therefore, since we are His creation, our words also hold power. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits” (Proverbs 18:21). Who wants to eat dead fruit? We need to speak words of life, even to ourselves. When we do this it will change how we speak to others, and therefore spread the light of life around us and inside us.

  • My next thing was I must learn to forgive myself. I realized if I can’t forgive myself, then I may not get forgiven. That may sound harsh, but Jesus stated that we have to forgive others, and when we do not forgive, we will not be forgiven (Matthew 6:15). Well, I believe this can apply to forgiving oneself also. I am belittling His sacrifice when I don’t forgive myself. I am saying to Him, I am unforgivable and that is wrong. For love keeps no records of wrongs (1 Corinthians 13:5). Therefore, in order for me to love myself, I must destroy all those records in my head. For as far as the East is from the West so my sins are removed from me (Psalm 103:12).

  • The third thought was that I need to be grateful for how God made me, and to realize He knows I am not perfect. I know that is actually two points in one, but they work together. In Psalms 139:14, David, a man who made mistakes, was flawed, states that “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” He understood that even though, he was imperfect, he was still “fearfully and wonderfully made” by God. We are all part of God’s creation, and we must remember that when He created man and woman, He saw that all He had made was good.

I am realizing that the old saying that “you can’t love others, if you can’t love yourself” has some truth to it. Yet, it would be a better saying that “you can’t love others at your fullest if you can’t love yourself” because I do love others, but I believe I could love them better if I learn to love myself better. If we are quick to criticize ourselves, we are most likely quick to criticize others. If we are constantly thinking and talking negative about/to ourselves, we are most likely thinking and talking negatively about others also. In other words, how we treat ourselves will affect how we treat others. Therefore, learn to love yourself because you know that you are loved by your Heavenly Father and Messiah, and then project that love unto others.

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Brian G. Bettes Brian G. Bettes

UNLEARNING THE WORLD

 have often heard it said that the most difficult thing about learning something new is unlearning what we already know in the first place. The willingness to jettison long-held ideas and beliefs, even when confronted with clear evidence to the contrary, is indeed difficult. Why is that?

In the Bible is a story of a man who, though incontrovertible truth of God as the only true and living God was presented to him, his unwillingness to unlearn what he believed to be truth destroyed an entire nation. 

by Brian G. Bettes

I have often heard it said that the most difficult thing about learning something new is unlearning what we already know in the first place. The willingness to jettison long-held ideas and beliefs, even when confronted with clear evidence to the contrary, is indeed difficult. Why is that?

In the Bible is a story of a man who, though incontrovertible truth of God as the only true and living God was presented to him, his unwillingness to unlearn what he believed to be truth destroyed an entire nation. Though history is unable to identify this ruler clearly (there are at least nine possible candidates), we know him simply by the name of Pharaoh. God presented him with 10 different opportunities to acknowledge Him as the God of heaven and earth who controls all things, yet Pharaoh refused to accept that information. As each plague worsened the socio-economic status of Egypt as a nation, Pharaoh should have gotten the picture, but he didn’t.

Much is made of the God’s words where He stated that He hardened Pharaoh’s heart, as if He made Pharaoh into an unwilling pawn for His purposes (Exodus 4:21). However, when we consider the history of Egypt and its Pharaohs, we see a man who is was already proud, stubborn, and very self-willed long before the plagues began. I do not deny that God did indeed do as He said and “hardened his heart.” But we must also realize that God was only working with what was already there. Pharaoh was not a humble man, and God did not make him into something different.

Studying the account about Israel in Egypt shows that Pharaoh already had a “chip on his shoulder” about the Hebrew people who were overtaking his land (Exodus 1:8-10). Yet the more he punished the children of Israel, the more they multiplied (Exodus 1:11). By the time God, who claimed them as His people, showed up demanding their freedom, Pharaoh had become so exasperated that he had already ordered all male children to be killed at birth (Exodus 1:15-16)! He was already struggling with “the Hebrew problem” and what to do with them. However, letting go of his slave labor base was not an option he appeared to be pondering. There is no way Pharaoh was ready to just hand them over. Once God claimed them as His possession, the stage had already been set for a “showdown” of power and control between this man and God. As God so often does, He simply used an existing situation as an opportunity to show His greatness, His power, and for His glory (Exodus 9:14, 16).

When Pharaoh was presented with irrefutable proof that God was indeed who He said He was (by destroying every single god of Egypt one-by-one), and that Israel was indeed His possession, his unwillingness to unlearn what he knew and humbly accept the evidence in front of him became his downfall. The nation of Egypt literally collapsed under the weight of the undeniable evidence that was presented to Pharaoh.

The reason for Pharaoh’s inability to unlearn his world? Romans 8:7 says that the carnal mind is hostile against God, and doesn’t want to accept or obey Him. Read through Romans 1:18-25 slowly and carefully sometime. These verses explain how mankind is blinded because of his unwillingness to unlearn what he knows to be error by forcibly pushing the truth of God out.

There is another king who, many years later, took a part of this nation into captivity due to their disobedience to God. Interestingly, God chose to show His greatness and power to this man as well. Even more fascinating is that, after severe trial and losing everything for a time, this king showed a willingness to unlearn his world, and accept the evidence presented to him by God.

In 597 BC, king Nebuchadnezzar took Jerusalem by siege, hauling a large part of the residents of the city to Babylon as captives. A young man named Daniel was among them. Through this young man, God would work with this king to reveal Himself to him. What is astounding, and rather impressive, is though Nebuchadnezzar was the most powerful man in the world in his day, and a very proud man indeed, unlike Pharaoh, he was able to accept the irrefutable proof of God’s presence, and His power as ruler over all the exists.

This did not happen without some hard humbling, as seen in Daniel chapter four. It required seven years of his life, living like a beast out in the field, for him to “get it.” But listen to the beautiful humility in some of the words he spoke after his humbling:

“…I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored Him who lives forever: for His dominion is an everlasting dominion…He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of earth…Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to abase” (Daniel 4:34-35, 37).

We see a very different man coming out of the humbling from the one that went into it. We see a man who was able to unlearn a world that, not only did he grow up in, learning many wrong concepts and beliefs, but being the great king that he was, he actually helped create some of that world. Yet, when God presented him with evidence contrary to what he had learned, he was able to unlearn the world around him.

What about us? How willing are we to unlearn the world that is pressing down upon us every day? We are told to unlearn the world, and to relearn God’s perspective (Romans 12:2). Do we love the world around us and want to drink in more of its ways—be more like the world we live in? Do we want to get so close to and act so similar to the world that there is no recognizable difference between how we live and how it lives? Do we try to fit God’s way into this world, or are we working to unlearn the world and live God’s way instead? Are we stubborn like the kings that God dealt with, or do we just not want to “get it,” hanging on to our worldly ideas, and rejecting God like Pharaoh? Are we so proud and bull-headed that God has to put us through severe trials like He did Nebuchadnezzar before we “get it”? God says for us to not be like the world (1 John 2:15; Revelation 18:4)!

Once we are called, converted, and given God’s Holy Spirit, we are to be humble, teachable, and to readily unlearn the world by accepting God’s truth as given in His Word (James 1:21). Yet sadly, when the truth of the Bible was being challenged from within the church, I saw many people who suddenly wanted to unlearn the truth and run to learn or relearn what the world teaches. They swallowed deception like cold water on a hot day! God and His truth were nowhere to be found. 

How steadfast are we to unlearn the falsehood that is everywhere around us in this world? How hard do we work at driving wrong ideas and beliefs away from us? How much do we want to learn the truth of God so it can be our compass that guides us through this life and into the next? How much are we willing to separate ourselves from and unlearn the world?

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Brandy Webb Brandy Webb

Stand Tall

 

I know that I have said this many times before, but I will say it again, life is hard sometimes. Maybe hard doesn’t have the punch it should, but I am a Christian blogger, so I will stay with the word “hard.” I don’t know anyone who hasn’t gone through at least one tragedy. In fact many people close to me are going through some type of trial. Some of the trials, on a scale of one to ten, maybe are only at a four, but I have people close to me that are going through trials that are beyond ten, in my opinion.

by Brandy Webb

I know that I have said this many times before, but I will say it again, life is hard sometimes. Maybe hard doesn’t have the punch it should, but I am a Christian blogger, so I will stay with the word “hard.” I don’t know anyone who hasn’t gone through at least one tragedy. In fact many people close to me are going through some type of trial. Some of the trials, on a scale of one to ten, maybe are only at a four, but I have people close to me that are going through trials that are beyond ten, in my opinion.

I have had my share of various trials and heartaches. I know what it is like to lose a loved one because of an illness and to lose a loved one completely unexpectedly. I also know what it is like to lose a close friend that should still be here, but as a teenager I didn’t realize how depressed they really were. Like I said, this life is hard sometimes.

So, how do we keep our joy? How do we still hold onto our faith when we see bad things happen to good people? How do we not give into despair like Satan wants us to do?

We hold to God’s Word. That is all I know to do. I do not have the answers to why bad things happen to good people. I do believe that one purpose of trials is to help our faith grow. Also, it helps us be merciful to others when we see them going through trials. Trials also make us realize we need God.

To some on the outside, they may not understand why we believe in God when the world is so messed up. I can’t scientifically prove to them that God exist. All I can let them know is that I have faith that He does exists, and that this world is just temporary. I know that I don’t understand a lot of things because right now I see through a glass very darkly (1 Corinthians 13:12). Right now, Satan is the “god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4). Yes, God still intervenes, but He also gives us free will. Therefore, evil people have just as much free will as I have. So, does this mean we should crawl in a corner and give into despair? NO!

We are to show the world the hope that is within us always. We know and believe that this world is not all there is. We know that one day there is going to be a “World Tomorrow.” We also must live out the Word of God. Instead of dwelling and meditating on what is on the news, we need to meditate on Philippians 4:8. Instead of worrying and fretting, we need to live our lives according to God’s will that is told to us in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

We have a job to do. We no longer must rely on others to do our job. All of us are to spread the joy, hope, love, and faith of the future Kingdom of God. We are not supposed to be waiting for someone else to do it. We all are to live out our faith according to the Scriptures. If we do, I believe, we will experience the peace that is beyond understanding (Philippians 4:7). We will be able to “walk on water” in the midst of the storm because we will be living lives that show others that nothing is impossible for God. Satan wants us to give in to despair. He wants us to grovel and give up. God wants us to stand tall with His strength no matter what, because we know that this life is only temporary, and one day we will live in eternal glory.

 

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Brian G. Bettes Brian G. Bettes

MADE TO BE LOVED AND TO LOVE

The Hebrew word used for ‘image’ in Genesis, ‘tselem’, means “resemblance,” or, “representative figure.” In Revelation 1:12-17, there is a description of the resurrected, glorified Jesus Christ. In that description, we see that He has feet, a chest, a head with hair on it, eyes, a voice, hands (the right one is specifically identified), a mouth, and a countenance. Other accounts in Ezekiel and Daniel further show that the “figure” of God is that of what we see when we look at a man.

by Brian G. Bettes

In Genesis 1:26-27, we are told that we have been created in the image of God, and according to His likeness. In order to understand this more fully, let’s explore a couple of things.

IN HIS IMAGE

The Hebrew word used for ‘image’ in Genesis, ‘tselem’, means “resemblance,” or, “representative figure.” In Revelation 1:12-17, there is a description of the resurrected, glorified Jesus Christ. In that description, we see that He has feet, a chest, a head with hair on it, eyes, a voice, hands (the right one is specifically identified), a mouth, and a countenance. Other accounts in Ezekiel and Daniel further show that the “figure” of God is that of what we see when we look at a man. 

Understand that John knew Who he was looking at. He had known Jesus as a human being, seen Him transfigured on the mountain, watched Him die, seen Him after His resurrection and touched His body, and watched Him ascend to Heaven. John knew Who he was describing. But in case there would be any doubt, Jesus clears that up for us. He says, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen” (Revelation 1:17-18). This was indeed THE glorified Jesus Christ talking to John. We were truly made “in His image.”

IN HIS LIKENESS

The Hebrew word used for ‘likeness’ in Genesis, ‘demuth’, means “similitude.” It is derived from a root word that means “compared to,” or, “to be like,” and is often translated as the word “thought.” The difference between being created in His image, and being created in His likeness, has to do with how we think and act, rather than how we look. In the first and second chapters of Genesis, we see God’s clear statement that He is a Creator. 

Mankind alone can plan, design, and build – create – in a limited fashion like God can. He was set apart from and above all other creatures on earth by being given the power of intellect and the ability to reason. It is through this means that God gave man “dominion” over all other creatures on the earth (Genesis 1:26). There is no other creature among the animal kingdom that has the thinking capability given to it in the same way God gave to mankind.

Being made in the image and likeness of God give us some incredible capabilities. I never really thought about this much before, but if we are created with a limited ability to be like God in a creative capacity, what other engenderment have we been given? If we look at the statements of what God says He is, we realize that, on some limited level, we have been given that same capacity. 

Romans 1:20 is very insightful with regard to how this works. It states, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead.” What this is saying is, all we have to do is look at what He made in creation, and we can clearly see Him, who He is, and what He is, even though He is invisible to us, by studying what He created.

Let’s look at one very important capability of this kind. 1 John 4:8,16 make a very clear statement. The statement in both verses is, “God is love.” If my premise is correct, then we have the capacity to love in the same way God loves, but in a very limited way. Better stated, our capacity to love properly in our human condition is incomplete. 

Humans, though they have a capacity to love, do not understand what love really is, nor do they know how to do it without God’s Spirit living within them. Even then, it is usually a process that takes a lifetime of unlearning previously learned, Satan influenced, worldly concepts of love. We have to be re-educated as to what love really is, and how to apply it. That instruction only comes from God’s Word (John 17:17). Just a few scriptures such as, John 14:15, 21, 23-24; 15:13-14; 1 John 4:9-10, give us a glimpse into the mind of God regarding love, and should help us to re-orient our own thinking to begin to accurately understand, then live out true Godly love in our lives.

In looking at what God created, we see that God is both sides of love. He is a giver of love, and a receiver of love. That we were made to both give love and receive love is made clear in that He created us in His image, both male and female – companions that both give and receive love. We were built with a need to give love out, and with a need to take love in. Notice that I have placed first, and therefore emphasis on, giving love out. That is the opposite of what Satan has broadcast to this world. The world focuses on the receiving, or getting, side of love. Get for me. I need love. I want love. I can’t find anyone who will love me and make me feel good. All popular themes portrayed by the endless propagandization of self - get for me! Satan has perverted God’s way of love – the way of giving. As per usual, Satan pushes everything in this world in the absolute opposite direction of God’s way.

God gave us an earth to live on (Genesis 1&2). God gave us life (Genesis 2:7). Before we ever sinned, knowing we would, God gave His only begotten Son for our redemption (Romans 5:8). God is giving us eternal life, through His plan of salvation (Romans 6:23). God is giving us an opportunity to be God – His very children – for eternity (Romans 8:16-17). God’s love, which is His way of living, is that of giving. God is Love, and Love is giving, not taking and getting!

We were created with the capacity to give love on a limited basis. Some people are naturally more selfless than others. Many serve the needy, the poor, the imprisoned, and the wounded. But all too often, even these “acts of kindness,” this giving, is done to get something in return. I want to acknowledge that this is not always the case. But after many years of being involved in these types of activities, I have seen it over and over again. Volunteering to be seen, to be recognized, or for any reason other than simply helping those in need can be very selfish. 

We must have the love of God in us, which is given when we receive His Holy Spirit. We were made to be like God in how we love, but we cannot do it properly without His Spirit to lead and direct us in our purpose. Let’s realize the weight of responsibility we have as followers of Christ – Christians – to fulfill our purpose of becoming as He is – to become love as He is. Yes, we were made to receive love. But we were also made to learn to give love as He does. We were made to be loved and to love.

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Brandy Webb Brandy Webb

God Likes Me

I have turned another year older this week, and I hope that I am a wee bit wiser. When I get close to my birthday, I find myself contemplating the past year. To be honest, since my birthday falls very close to Unleavened Bread, I start introspection at Passover and continue it until my birthday. 

by Brandy Webb

I have turned another year older this week, and I hope that I am a wee bit wiser. When I get close to my birthday, I find myself contemplating the past year. To be honest, since my birthday falls very close to Unleavened Bread, I start introspection at Passover and continue it until my birthday. 

Well, this year I have been working on believing a truth: God likes me. I know for some this concept should be pretty easy. And since I am a Christian, it should be easy for me, also. However, I am not perfect, and it is hard to look beyond my imperfections, mistakes, selfishness, etc., and truly believe without a doubt that God likes me no matter what. Am I the only one that struggles with this? As human beings we have a saying, “I love that person, but I don’t like them.” However, God not only loves me, He likes me.

Sometimes for me, I get so wrapped up in what God doesn’t want and forget what God does want, which is for all of us to know that He likes us. It is so easy to point to all the negatives about ourselves and about the world around us and overlook the positives. God is all around us in everything. Creation proclaims His existence. This life isn’t all there is, and He wants us to be with Him for eternity. In fact, He loves and likes us so much that He sent His only Son to die for us, so that we could be forgiven of all of our sins and have eternal life (John 3:16). There is no greater love than this for one to lay down one’s life for someone else (John 15:13).

I realize that I need to focus a lot more on God’s love for me, so that I can start seeing myself through His eyes. I am far from perfect, but isn’t it our imperfection that makes us realize how much we need Him in our lives? God didn’t call the perfect and the wise, He called the foolish, the weak, the lowly, and despised, so that we can only boast in Him and not in ourselves (1 Corinthians 1:27-30). He is the one that creates in us a beautiful work of art, and He wants us to accept His love and affection.

I look to David for comfort when I start beating myself up for this or that. He is known as a “man after God’s own heart.” He made some horrible mistakes. However, what I believe is one of the reasons why he is called “a man after God’s own heart” is because of his willingness to confess his sins, to repent, to seek God with all of His heart, and to try his best to walk according to God’s Word. Isn’t that what God wants? He wants us to repent, to forgive ourselves, to trust that He has forgiven us, and to walk according to His Word. He doesn’t want us to keep rehashing our mistakes, to speak negatively of ourselves, to be despondent, and hopeless. We are to live lives of faith, the faith that we are forgiven, the faith full of hope of things unseen, and most importantly the faith that we are loved and liked. Then, in turn we project this love, forgiveness, and hope onto others.

Therefore, this year, I want to live a life that knows that I am loved and liked by the Creator of the universe. I want to then love and like others with this Holy Love, to let go of the past, to move forward with hope, and to be joyful always, no matter what.

 

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Brian G. Bettes Brian G. Bettes

ENCOURAGING AND BEING ENCOURAGED

During the Days of Unleavened Bread, my wife, daughter, and I had the opportunity to visit with three different congregations, encouraging them, and discussing the meaning of those important days as we celebrated them. We have had the privilege many times to take such trips, with the stated purpose of giving a message of encouragement from the Scriptures, and to fellowship with the brethren.

by Brian G. Bettes

And when they had preached the gospel to that city [Derbe], and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith…” (Acts 14:21-22 KJV).

Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our brethren to every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing” (Acts 15:36 NKJV).

The above verses show that the apostle Paul understood the value of visiting the brethren to encourage them. In fact, Paul spent a great deal of his ministry traveling, visiting, and encouraging the brethren.

During the Days of Unleavened Bread, my wife, daughter, and I had the opportunity to visit with three different congregations, encouraging them, and discussing the meaning of those important days as we celebrated them. We have had the privilege many times to take such trips, with the stated purpose of giving a message of encouragement from the Scriptures, and to fellowship with the brethren.

As shepherd-elders of Christ’s people (some use the terms “ministers” or “ministry,” terms I attempt to avoid whenever possible due to the gross misunderstanding and misapplication of them), we have many responsibilities assigned to us by Him. We are called upon to:

  • be the “helpers (co-laborers or fellow helpers) of your joy” (2 Corinthians 1:24);

  • help Jesus in the “perfecting (completing/finishing) of the saints;”

  • do the “work (toil/labor) of ministry” (attendance as a servant, aid, service);

  • “edify (confirm or build up) the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12);

  • “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15);

  • exhort (call near, invite, invoke [by imploring or consolation], beseech, call for, comfort, desire, entreat), and confirm (further support, re-establish, strengthen) the brethren (Acts 15:32, 40-41);

  • provide “meat in due season” to His household (Matthew 24:45-46);

  • feed Christ’s flock (John 21:15-17; 1 Peter 5:1-2).

Our role is to work with Christ’s people very much like a shepherd would work with a flock of sheep; hence the moniker “shepherd-elder.” Though the above is by no means a definitive list of the duties of shepherd-elders, it is sufficient to the point being made here. We have a responsibility when we go out to visit, whether it be one person or a large congregation, to bring encouragement to, lift up, bring support to, and strengthen the faith of the brethren. We do this by preaching the truth of the Scripture to them, and also by fellowshipping in the Spirit with them (Philippians 2:1-2).

We have a certain duty to bring the joy of Christ’s salvation, and the ultimate plan and purpose of our Father through Jesus’ sacrifice, to the forefront of their minds. Doing these things always gives me a deep sense of gratitude for the opportunity to be an instrument that brings this message of hope to God’s people. It also fills me with an even deeper sense of humility as I replay God’s incredible purpose in my mind, and speak the words to others. There is nothing quite like the realization in the core of your being that the Great God of the Universe is working to reproduce Himself in each and every child He has called—that’s you and me.

One other critical thing we are to do as shepherd-elders is to encourage the brethren to have a closer relationship with our Father and Brother, through the Holy Spirit. I find it nearly impossible to give a message anymore without pointing to God’s incredible purpose in creating us, which is to recreate Himself. The way He is doing that is through His Holy Spirit in us. 

Since this hope is given to us by “the love of God [that] has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:5), and, we are to transform our minds from the old man by renewing the spirit our minds (Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:20-24), God is extending His very Self, His Divine Nature, into us in a very personal way to make this happen.

As shepherd-elders, we have a responsibility to point the brethren toward, and even “nudge” them if possible, into a deeper fellowship with Jesus and our Father. Why? Because fellowshipping with God in the Holy Spirit is the key, in fact it is the ONLY way, for us to have sin removed from us, and His Righteous Divine Nature created in us. John understood this and pushed the saints of his day toward fellowship with God, and with one another (1 John 1:6-9).

What I find most interesting about these trips is, though we are there to encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ, how much they always “return the favor” by deeply encouraging us. Paul understood this concept, stating to the Roman congregation when he said to them, “…that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you” (Romans 15:32).  

God’s Spirit living in each of us encourages His Spirit within the other. God, by His Spirit, extends Himself into His entire family and unifies us into one heart, and one mind, when we fellowship using His Spirit (Ephesians 4:4-6). We encourage one another by sharing Him whom is within us, with one another. It is an amazing and very powerful circumstance that occurs when we open ourselves up to doing this.

As stated at the beginning, it is a truly a privilege for my family to be able go out and visit congregations, and to fellowship with God’s children. In these interactions, we always pray beforehand that we can bring God’s love, His hope, and His encouragement into the lives of those we will be visiting. We feel very blessed when, through this process, we are uplifted and renewed in our own spirits by the love and fellowship reciprocated to us by His people. When we arrive home, we always thank our Father in prayer for the opportunity to be encouraging, and be encouraged.

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Brandy Webb Brandy Webb

Speak No Evil

I have a friend that tries to live his life by the motto, “Speak evil of no one. Speak good of everyone.” It is a very good motto to go by, and it is also Godly. Paul tells Titus, “Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men” (Titus 3:1-2, emphasis mine).

by Brandy Webb

I have a friend that tries to live his life by the motto, “Speak evil of no one. Speak good of everyone.” It is a very good motto to go by, and it is also Godly. Paul tells Titus, “Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men” (Titus 3:1-2, emphasis mine).

What I really find interesting in these Scriptures is that Paul tells Titus to remind God’s people to speak evil of no one after he tells them to listen to those who are in authority. He is not meaning those who are in authority in God’s church; he is meaning worldly authority. In verse 3, Paul points out that we can’t speak evil of these people because we were once “foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another” before we were called. Therefore, we cannot judge others and speak ill of them because we were once one of them, and the only reason we know differently is because of God the Father, not because we are smarter.

Now, we are not to speak evil against others within the ecclesia also, but I wanted to point out the emphasis here is showing we aren’t to speak evil of anyone even those outside the ecclesia. We live in a world that is full of people that love gossip, contentions, and strife. However, we are not to be like them, and I realized that if we, as Christians, fully strived to never speak evil of anyone, those on the outside would find it hard to have something to say against us.

Refraining from evil speaking will set us apart. Just look around you; evil speaking is everywhere. Speaking ill of someone is the norm. It’s what the news thrives on, especially for ratings. It is all over social media. It is how people let out their frustrations. Yet, it should not be found in the ecclesia.

We are to live “such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse [us] of doing wrong, they may see [our] good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us” (1 Peter 2:12). One good deed is to not speak evil of anyone, but to speak well of others.

I know it isn’t easy. Sometimes my carnal flesh really comes out of my mouth. There are many times that I have been ashamed of the things that I have said, and I have had to repent for them. I think that is why this scripture in Titus really struck home with me. This is the season of reflection. The season of removing sin out of our lives, and ill-speaking of others is a sin. I must strive to purge out the old leaven, so that I can be a new lump. For this is why “Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Corinthians 5:7-8). So, let us remove the sin of evil speaking of others as we continue to strive to walk on the path of righteousness.

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Brandy Webb Brandy Webb

God’s Desire

God desires none to perish (2 Peter 3:9). He desires all to come to repentance and to accept Christ as their Savior. He desires us to love Him with all our heart and soul (Deuteronomy 6:5; Joshua 22:5; Mark 12:30). He desires us to love our neighbor (Leviticus 19:18; Mark 12:31). He also desires us to forgive others (Matthew 6:14-15), to serve (Galatians 5:13), to edify each other (1 Thessalonians 5:11), and many more Godly characteristics.

by Brandy Webb

God desires none to perish (2 Peter 3:9). He desires all to come to repentance and to accept Christ as their Savior. He desires us to love Him with all our heart and soul (Deuteronomy 6:5; Joshua 22:5; Mark 12:30). He desires us to love our neighbor (Leviticus 19:18; Mark 12:31). He also desires us to forgive others (Matthew 6:14-15), to serve (Galatians 5:13), to edify each other (1 Thessalonians 5:11), and many more Godly characteristics.

I don’t have all the answers—in fact, my knowledge is very small—but these are some of my ideas of characteristics that God desires in us. I guess, in the days leading up to the Passover and Unleavened Bread festival, my thoughts began turning more introspective of my conduct, and seeing if I am living a life that God desires for me to live. One major point hit me while I was studying, and that is, God does not desire us to get distracted and wrapped up in the cares of this life. The Messiah warns us to not let the things of this life/world weigh us down, for it can cause us to miss the day that He returns (Luke 21:34-36).

I know that life does stress me out sometimes with the news, economy, finances, etc. It is hard to not give into the carnal mindset of “How can I fix this?” However, I am reminded about the fact that when the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for forty years, God sustained them the entire time. God provided for all their needs the entire time. Their clothes lasted the entire time. They had food and water. They had protection, and all of this was provided by God. They did not provide anything of themselves. God took care of all of their needs.

God does not want us to get wrapped up in the cares of this life. He doesn’t want us to give into envy, selfish ambitions, worry, anxiety, stress, and anything else that is not of His Spirit. He wants us to trust Him. He wants us to be like a child. Children have this innate ability to trust their parents. I know from my own experience with my own children, how much they trust me with their lives. Children trust us that we will take care of them. I know that they aren’t old enough to be responsible for themselves. However, God, our Heavenly Father, is way more willing and able to take care of us, and He wants us to realize that. He wants us to trust Him to lift us up when we fall. He wants us to trust Him to carry us through the tough times. He wants us to trust Him to be there when we need Him. He wants us to trust Him to take care of all of our needs, and to be thankful that He is there for us. 

Therefore, instead of wasting time worrying about the cares of this world, we should spend more time living out our faith. It would give us more time to edify others. It would give us more time to serve. It would give us more time to be joyful and thankful. It would give us more time to spend with our Father through His Spirit. It would also separate us from the ways of the world of gossiping, complaining, and stressing.

He desires a life for us where we are the salt of the earth and the light for the world (Matthew 5:13-14). I know it is not easy. I have yet to come close to practicing this on a daily basis. I know it is hard to overcome my carnal flesh. I know it is hard to be different. However, I serve a God for Whom nothing is impossible (Matthew 19:26); therefore, through Him I can overcome (Philippians 4:13). The truth is, God wants us to follow in the footsteps of the Messiah. He wants us to walk humbly with Him, to love mercy and justice, and to spread the gospel in a loving way that can help save the lost and uplift the downtrodden. So, we need to let go of the cares of this world, trust God in everything, and live out our faith, so that others can ask us what is the hope that is within us (1 Peter 3:15).

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Sharon Wilson Sharon Wilson

I Love To Tell the Story

At a recent Christian Women’s Conference, I had the opportunity to lead the “Get to know you” activities. It is always exciting to bring people together and learn new things about folks you haven’t met before or those you haven’t seen in a long time. The fact that you can get people to become vulnerable and share stories in a place they deem a safe environment is such a freeing experience. When people give a little of themselves, it creates a special bond.

by Sharon Wilson

At a recent Christian Women’s Conference, I had the opportunity to lead the “Get to know you” activities. It is always exciting to bring people together and learn new things about folks you haven’t met before or those you haven’t seen in a long time. The fact that you can get people to become vulnerable and share stories in a place they deem a safe environment is such a freeing experience. When people give a little of themselves, it creates a special bond.

After participating in this activity where stories of life were shared, I started thinking about how to connect this storytelling to getting to know God. If ever there was a safe place to share a little of ourselves and become vulnerable, isn’t it with God? He already knows us inside and out, so it is not like we have a story we can keep hidden from Him.

Doesn’t it seem like, when we confess our faults (weaknesses, mishaps, sins) to someone, we find them sharing their own right back (James 5:16)? It opens a line of communication that helps us bond as we realize we are all traveling the same potholed road to perfection.

Can we take this same approach with God? He doesn’t have any faults to confess. But therein lies the answer…He has no faults so we can count on Him guiding us to the smooth lane and helping us to avoid some of those potholes. For those of us who have children, isn’t that what we try to do? Tell them not to go down that road because we have been there and we know the painful lesson, so we help guide them to another path? We are God’s children (Galatians 3:26).

Getting to know God takes time and effort. He knows us already, but He wants us to get to know Him. He allows us, thanks to Jesus Christ and the torn veil, to come before His throne without condemnation when we share our stories, confess our faults and weaknesses. He answers us with forgiveness and love. He guides us to the smooth lane as He dialogs with us through His Word, revealing himself through His Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:10). We don’t have to worry about it being a lie or misleading. He also tells us to ask, to keep knocking, and then to wait on Him (Matthew 7:7; Psalm 27:14). God is there to help.

Getting to know one another is a privilege God gives us so we can encourage one another, exhort one another in love, and be there to help each other in a time of need (Hebrews 10:24). Allow yourself to be vulnerable enough to bond by sharing your stories with others.

More importantly, allow yourself to open up to God, get to know Him, share your stories with Him. You will be amazed at how much you can bond with God and Christ which will ultimately guide you to the smooth lane for eternity. No more potholes!

 

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Jeremy A. Brown Jeremy A. Brown

Are You Neglecting Your Gifts!

Are you using the gifts that God gave you to benefit His word? In the bible God says He’s given each of us a gift that we should use to not only serve one another, but to also serve God & His church! (1 Peter 4:10) Are you using the gifts that God has blessed you with to spread His word? All of us in the church have a gift or a few gifts that God has blessed us with that we can use to grow & spread His word. I guess the biggest question is why God’s people won’t put their gifts in to use for His church/gospel. Why do we give our all at work, but come to services & we’re happy to sit there not really participate?

By Jeremy Brown

Are you using the gifts that God gave you to benefit His word? In the bible God says He’s given each of us a gift that we should use to not only serve one another, but to also serve God & His church! (1 Peter 4:10) Are you using the gifts that God has blessed you with to spread His word? All of us in the church have a gift or a few gifts that God has blessed us with that we can use to grow & spread His word. I guess the biggest question is why God’s people won’t put their gifts in to use for His church/gospel. Why do we give our all at work, but come to services & we’re happy to sit there not really participate?   

God says we’re all one unified under the body of Christ, but some of us have been given more gifts than others according to our faith. (Romans 12:3-10) God says that man shouldn’t use these differences in gifts to put ourselves on a pedestal as men often do, but we should humble ourselves & realize that all members have a unique set of gifts given to us by God that we should use in serving one another with. Can you imagine how great things would be if we all took the time to explore our specific gifts & used that gift to earnestly served one another! We shouldn’t be giving more to our job, than we do to the God we say we believe in & that’s something I myself need to work on. Many times we give our all at work & just come to church hoping others will use their gifts not expecting to use our own. We have to realize we’re serving our great God & He blessed us with those gifts to not just serve ourselves, but to be of service to others. Why not use the gifts we were given to serve & praise the one who gave them to us?!

We have to give thanks to God for the gifts He’s bestowed on us through prayer & by using those gifts to serve others. Some of us have been blessed with great personalities, musical gifts, cooking skills, teaching skills, compassion, wisdom, leadership, a giving heart, or anything you may be good at. (Corinthians 12:7-11)  God says if we don’t use & practice with the gifts He has given us, we will lose them. (1 Timothy 4:7-16 & Matthew 25:14-30) We should constantly work on serving God & our brethren with the gifts God gave us, so we may benefit His word. If we give our employer our all, doesn’t our creator who gave us those gifts deserve more! 

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Brian G. Bettes Brian G. Bettes

THE GIVING AND THE BEING

This coming Sunday evening at sunset, many of us will memorialize the death of our Savior by taking the symbols of the New Testament Passover. We will meet, quietly and reflectively, to review the meaning of these symbols, and participate, by washing one another’s feet (John 13:3-17), eating unleavened bread, and drinking what amounts to a sip of wine (1 Corinthians 11:23-26), to commemorate the killing of Jesus Christ as the perfect, sinless sacrificial Lamb of God (1 Peter 1:19; 1 John 3:5), slain for the sins of mankind (John 1:29; Revelation 5:9).

by Brian G. Bettes

This coming Sunday evening at sunset, many of us will memorialize the death of our Savior by taking the symbols of the New Testament Passover. We will meet, quietly and reflectively, to review the meaning of these symbols, and participate, by washing one another’s feet (John 13:3-17), eating unleavened bread, and drinking what amounts to a sip of wine (1 Corinthians 11:23-26), to commemorate the killing of Jesus Christ as the perfect, sinless sacrificial Lamb of God (1 Peter 1:19; 1 John 3:5), slain for the sins of mankind (John 1:29; Revelation 5:9). It is the celebration of a very sobering, yet triumphant event. Jesus died so that the rest of us might have life - real life - eternal life (1 John 2:2; John 6:40)!

As we approach this very somber event, how deeply appreciative are we for the giving and the being of this incredible moment in history? What do I mean by that; the giving and the being?

During the event of Jesus’ beating, crucifixion, stabbing (by a spear in the side), and finally His death, there were two colossal decisions that had to be synchronized and in complete harmony with each other for the event to take place. The one we know as the Father had to be willing to give (let go of) the life of His only begotten Son – the giving! And, the Son had to be willing to be the sacrifice – the being! As incredible as this even was, it could never have occurred without complete oneness in thought and purpose.

Let’s think about how astounding this is for a moment. Scripture says that this event was established from the foundation of the world (1 Peter 1:19-20). That means the decisions were made and the course was set. How often do we as humans make a long term, future decision to do something that is really difficult and requires a great deal of personal sacrifice? How often has that decision involved the intentional loss of a family member, who has to be willing to give up their life for the cause. I’m going to venture out here and say, pretty much never. But if we did, how likely would we be, having the human nature that we have, to actually carry out that decision – both parties committing to it! Again, I am going to guess, pretty unlikely. And yet, that is exactly what happened with the Father and Jesus.

THE GIVING

The gift of a Savior, a perfect sacrifice to atone for the sins of mankind, came from the Father. Let’s review a few scriptures in this regard (emphasis added throughout):

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

“In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His Son only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we love God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1John 4:9-10).

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

And this is the will of Him who sent me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life…As the living Father sent me…” (John 6:40,57).

Do we fully understand the gravity of this action on behalf of us, His future children? Do we grasp that, what the Father was doing here would be considered the unthinkable within the human realm? Have we thought about the feelings of the one Being in the universe with all power having to tell His very own Son, when asked with tears streaming down His face if the cup could pass from Him, He had to tell Him quite possibly with a breaking heart, “No Son, this is the path and we must stick to it.” How many of us would have caved in right there? 

He then had hold back and not intervene as His Son was having the flesh ripped off of His bones from a beating few men lived through; watching as a “crown of thorns” was jammed down upon His head and hearing Him cry out in pain; watching as He had to try to carry His stake up the hill to his death place; watching as nails were driven through His hands and His feet, then he was lifted up to be supported by those nails; watching as He hung on that stake like a piece of meat out in the hot sun; watching as His only Son, His beloved Son, was ridiculed, humiliated and writhed in agony; yet not intervene? 

I tell you now, as a father, I personally could not have done that! I know I couldn’t! And yet, He did. He allowed it to happen, and He did so for a greater cause. That cause brothers and sisters…was for you and for me. He gave His only begotten Son for us.

Thank you, Father, for the giving of the Sacrifice.

THE BEING

Jesus, as our perfect, sinless Savior, had to be willing to lay down His life for our sins – for us! Once again, let’s review a few scriptures on this:

“…and I lay down My life for the sheep…Therefore My Father loves me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself…” (John 10:15,17-18).

“And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8)

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame…” (Hebrews 12:2).

“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 John 3:16).

Jesus was indeed willing to be that sacrifice for us. He predetermined, before the foundation of the world to be that sacrifice, and He followed through on His decision. 

There was a point where Jesus requested that if there was any other path that could be taken, if the cup could pass from Him, to please let it happen (Matthew 26:39,42). I don’t see this as Him wavering in His commitment to His “pre-foundational” decision, or to the cause for which He was committed. I do see a human being, which He was fully, looking down into the future and seeing the horrible pain He was about to suffer, and, knowing how much it was going to hurt, wishing He didn’t have to experience the physical side of it. Who wouldn’t? However, the real beauty in this scenario was the fullness of His willingness to surrender to the will of the Father, and by doing so, the cause for which He was doing it.

What an incredible God we serve. A God who can determine long before the foundation of the world what They are going to do, then, when it comes right down to that crucial moment of truth, Each One follows through on the individual commitment He made literally thousands of years before. As we partake of the Passover this year, commemorating this momentous event, let us make sure to be thankful for the giving, and, the being!

Thank you, Father, for giving the Sacrifice.

Thank you, Jesus for being the Sacrifice.

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Brian G. Bettes Brian G. Bettes

“UNFRIENDING” YOUR BROTHER

For those who are on Facebook, we know what it means to “unfriend” someone. On occasion, you will accept someone into your “inner circle” by accepting their friend request, only to find out that they are a person that you have little or nothing in common with. Maybe you knew them in college, but since you saw them last, 20-plus years ago, time and circumstances have led you down different paths.

by Brian G. Bettes

For those who are on Facebook, we know what it means to “unfriend” someone. On occasion, you will accept someone into your “inner circle” by accepting their friend request, only to find out that they are a person that you have little or nothing in common with. Maybe you knew them in college, but since you saw them last, 20-plus years ago, time and circumstances have led you down different paths. As such, your views on marriage, children, morality, politics, or just life in general are polar opposite. After reading their posts on your feed, you realize that, not only do you have nothing in common, but, you really don’t have the time or the energy to read their “ridiculousness.” The typical response? Simply “unfriend” them!

I understand that we all must be responsible with our time as it is indeed the most precious commodity we have. Few of us have the energy to waste on meaningless things that are constantly competing to consume it. I also understand there is a time to “unfriend” someone who continues to be vulgar, rude, offensive, or abrasive, even after asking them to not be so. However, I have couple of questions:

First, how quickly do we “unfriend” someone just because we don’t like the way they say things, and because it is easy? Do we at least try to engage them in a healthy manner first?

Next, do we take our “unfriend”ly Facebook attitude into our church congregations? Are we willing to “unfriend” our brother quickly and easily over petty misunderstandings, or even worse, because their personality is different than ours? Do we display that same attitude with others who are in a different church organization, or even denomination, than we are? 

Let’s face it. Not everyone we go to church with is someone we enjoy investing time in. Yet Jesus left us a command to love one another as He has loved us (John 13:34). Jesus loves all the disciples His Father calls and gives to Him to work with (John 17:20). 

There is no indication in Scripture that, of those who were at that final meal before His death and heard Him give the commandment to love one another, He was “just putting up with them.” No, Jesus loved all His disciples when He walked this earth, and He loves all His disciples today. Remember, He gave His life for us (John 15:13)! Do we follow His example, or do we pick and choose whom we will show love to, and whom we will not (1John 3:16)?

God calls a lot of different personalities. This is clearly shown by the disciples who were chosen to become apostles. It is an interesting study to delve into the background of each apostle as a guide to help see “what made them tick.” There is not the space here to do a full bio on each of them. However, here is an abbreviated look at some of the men the Father gave to Jesus to work with as His “advance leadership team.” 

Peter’s legacy is one of being passionate, bold, impetuous, very protective, and sometimes outright unpredictable (Matthew 14:28; John 18:10). On the other hand, Andrew his brother seemed to be more balanced and thought driven. He was a disciple of John the Baptist before being called by Jesus, but was early to recognize Jesus as the Messiah (John 1:40-41). Both were fishermen. 

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, named by Jesus the “Sons of Thunder” (Mark 3:17), seem to have been quick-tempered, fiercely loyal, yet very personable. Jesus appeared to have a particular affinity toward John’s personality as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 19:26). They too were fishermen. 

Thomas, who was thought to be a twin, was stated to be one who needed to see before believing (John 20:25). I have often wondered (jokingly) whether Missourians are descended from Thomas since it is named the “Show Me” state. Jesus identified Bartholomew, also known as Nathanael, as “having no guile” (John1:47). In today’s parlance, we would say he was straightforward, openly “tells things as he sees them,” and “pulls no punches.” 

Matthew was a tax collector, which was looked down upon by the Jews of the day (Matthew 9:9). Tax collectors were Jews who did the bidding of the Roman government by collecting taxes for them from their own people. Think about the kind of personality he must have had, and the abuse he must have been used to taking, to do that job. 

Then there was Simon the Canaanite, also known as Simon Zelotes, or, the Zealot (Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13). Zealots were a special breed of Jews. The Zealots looked at Roman rulership in Israel as an occupation of their land; therefore, they tried to incite the Jews to revolt against them and eradicate them. A Zealot would just as soon stab a Roman soldier in a dark ally and leave him for dead as look at him. This is the mentality that Simon Zelotes “brought to the party.” You can only imagine how well he and Matthew, the tax collector, got along at first.

I will not say much about the other apostles, other than to say, given the rest of the crew, I am sure each had his own special personality “quirks” that he brought to the mix.

My point is, God calls all kinds of people, from all kinds of backgrounds, with all kinds of different personalities into His Church. I suppose it would be nice if everyone thought like I do, or at least agreed that everything I say and do is right and wonderful. Umm…yeah…! I can’t even get my wife to agree to that, and she actually likes and loves me. Good luck with getting everyone in the Church to agree to that!

When we go to Church and fellowship with our spiritually bonded family, aren’t we being a bit unrealistic to ask that everyone be made in an image that is comfortable for us? If someone has different ideas, is too bombastic, too expressive, too serious, too dogmatic, or too quiet and demure for our taste, isn’t it a bit unrealistic to expect them to not be themselves anymore, just to please us? Is it too much to ask that we try to at least look at things from their perspective, and see if there is value in what God is teaching them, just as He is us through our own life experiences? 

Are we so selfish, and do we think so highly of ourselves, that when we “don’t like them” because of who they are, we simply “unfriend” them mentally, and avoid them physically (Romans 12:3; Philippians 2:3-4)? Or do we look at them as our Father who called them does, realizing they are a work in progress too, just as we are.

It is important to humble ourselves before God, recognizing what an incredible weight of debt was forgiven us, and what it took for that forgiveness to happen (Romans 5:8). Our Brother lost his life because of YOU, and because of ME! If we are willing to honest with ourselves, and most of us struggle to be this honest, but, we aren’t such a “hot item” ourselves (1 Corinthians 1:26-28). 

I once read a statement that said, “What other people think of you is none of your business.” How true! Why? It would be very discouraging if we knew what other people really thought of us most of the time. If we frame our actions around what other people think of us, doesn’t that lessen the focus of what we know about what God thinks of us and is trying to accomplish in us (1 John 3:1-3)? Have you ever found out what someone else thinks of you and realized that, because of something you said or did that they didn’t like, they, without knowing your heart, judged you as a person, imputing motives and intentions that were never there; and they did so in a way that really has nothing to do with who you are? I have had that happen to me recently, and it hurts—a lot! 

Have we ever judged someone else’s character based on what we heard about them (it’s called gossip, folks, and God hates it! Leviticus 19:16; Proverbs 18:8, 26:22)? Maybe what we heard is true; maybe it isn’t. If it is true, do we know whether that person repented whole-heartedly before God or not? If they have, they are clean before Him (Isaiah 1:18; Psalm 103:12), yet we are still sitting in self-righteous judgment of them when He is not. Have I done that to others in my lifetime? I am embarrassed to say, I know I have. Shame on me!

I would like to recommend that we pay close attention to our thoughts and attitudes toward one another. Let’s be kindly affectionate to one another as the Scripture says (Romans 12:10). Let’s make sure we are not usurping Christ’s authority as the only One to have been given judgment by the Father (John 5:22). It is pretty easy, and much more comfortable, to judge another Man’s servant than to judge ourselves, isn’t it (Romans 14:4)?

It doesn’t take much to fall into the trap of looking down our noses at others with “the stink-eye,” evaluating every step they take and every word they speak, measuring it against our own understanding of what we think a Christian should look like. Chances are, if that same ruler were applied to us, we wouldn’t measure up to our own standard (Matthew 7:2).

It is imperative we learn how to love one another with kindness, patience, gentleness, sincerity, and honesty, as Jesus does us (John 15:12). Do we think we will be a member of the Family of God, or a part of the Bride of Jesus, if we can’t even get along with our human brothers and sisters now in this life? Wouldn’t it be horrible if, because we have so easily “unfriended” our brothers and sisters today, that when Jesus returns, we are the ones to be “unfriended” by our Elder Brother (Matthew 7:23)?

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Brandy Webb Brandy Webb

There are No What Ifs

I find myself sometimes asking, “What if I had done so and so differently? Where would I be now?” Or “What if such and such didn’t happen?” Basically, I have a tendency to say “what if” as if I could go back and change the present outcome. It is all hypothetical nonsense, really. It also causes me to keep looking backwards instead of watching where I am going, which may cause me to “run” into something or miss out on things right now. The truth is, there are no what ifs, there is only what is.

by Brandy Webb

I find myself sometimes asking, “What if I had done so and so differently? Where would I be now?” Or “What if such and such didn’t happen?” Basically, I have a tendency to say “what if” as if I could go back and change the present outcome. It is all hypothetical nonsense, really. It also causes me to keep looking backwards instead of watching where I am going, which may cause me to “run” into something or miss out on things right now. The truth is, there are no what ifs, there is only what is.

My husband does not allow himself to ask “What if…?” He actually makes a point in saying he has no regrets. Has he made mistakes? Oh, yes. He is human. He doesn’t mean “no regrets” in a prideful way. He has no regrets because he likes who he has become today. Does he have things to work on? Definitely, and he knows that. But his point is that to regret things in the past, things that we can’t change anyway, is like not accepting God’s forgiveness and His work in our lives. God has really worked in my husband’s life to create a very wonderful young man. Many who would have known him in his teens would not have expected for him to have grown up and become who he is today. Therefore, he doesn’t regret his past because he has a testimony of how God can turn you around, and that God does forgive, God does heal, God does cleanse, and God does help you get back on the right path.

I have learned a lot from my husband’s viewpoint on his life. I realize that when I linger on the “what ifs” of my life, I am focusing on my regrets. Yes, I have made mistakes, but it is far more important to learn and move on from my mistakes rather than lingering and wondering what I could have done differently. Plus, having regrets is basically saying that I don’t like who I am today, and in a roundabout way, I am saying I don’t like how God has helped me to overcome and to grow. We may have plans for our lives, but God is the one to direct our steps (Proverbs 16:9).

I also have learned that when I linger in the past, I am trying to make sense of everything. However, I am not to lean on my own understanding. I must trust in God with all my heart, and in all my ways I must strive hard to acknowledge God because only He can make my path straight (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Truth be told, I don’t know when I honestly was supposed to go left instead of right, only God knows. Thankfully, though, when I do go in the wrong direction, He is able to set me in the right direction. I must just hold to the truth that for right now “we see through a glass darkly” and only know in part. However, sometime in the future, we will see “face to face” and fully understand all things (1 Corinthians 13:12). Therefore, let go of the “what if,” enjoy the “what is,” trust God, and live in love.

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Sharon Wilson Sharon Wilson

A Walk With God

In my morning walk today, thoughts just began to flow and by the end of my walk, I had tears streaming down my face. These tears were a mixture of humbleness and thankfulness, tinged with a bit of sadness and maybe even longing.

Sparked by a blog post and a Facebook post, I had been mulling over thoughts about coming out of a former church organization, the same one these people posted about.

by Sharon Wilson

In my morning walk today, thoughts just began to flow and by the end of my walk, I had tears streaming down my face. These tears were a mixture of humbleness and thankfulness, tinged with a bit of sadness and maybe even longing.

Sparked by a blog post and a Facebook post, I had been mulling over thoughts about coming out of a former church organization, the same one these people posted about. I realize my sadness is for those who have such negative feelings of those times. I know my circumstances differed from others but many of us now boast of the same freedom in Christ and of grace—but we walk a different path in our understanding of it all. I can only tell my own story.

I loved my early childhood. Days on a seventeen-acre ranch in Northern California filled with carefree summers. Playing in the irrigation ditch, riding my pony, coloring cattails, watching shooting stars at night from my sleeping bag in the backyard with my siblings. Playing Double Dutch jump rope with my sisters and neighbor girls. And who can forget throwing balls over the house roof with my brothers and sisters and hollering, “Ollie Ollie Oxen Free” and giving chase—unless, of course, it was, “Pigtails”? Fiddles, guitars, country music, homemade ice cream, hide and seek, all those fun times in life.

Those days also included a long journey each Sabbath, packed into a station wagon, to a church that was over two hours away. And then there was the Spring Holy Day Season where we ate unleavened bread and spent long hours in church. Also, a trip each Fall to Squaw Valley, California to keep the Feast of Tabernacles with thousands of others. I endured long travels and long sermons but I thrived on the activities and the people connection. But more than any of that, I witnessed the dedication of my parents to serve a God they were teaching me about by their example. Much of their example was shown by helping others, and serving in any way they could—sometimes to our childhood angst of having to cram more folks in an already packed car or stay after church even longer while my dad helped somebody out in some way. 

At the age of 7, we moved to Oregon, largely to honor the Sabbath where my dad’s work was concerned. We had some lean times, I am told, but my parents always made me feel rich in my soul. No more country life at that time, but a more concentrated effort on the church and I made some lifelong friends. Life was good from my perspective. I had a home, I had parents and siblings that loved me, and I had great friends and some wonderful experiences.

At the age of 12, my world came crashing down. My mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer. We prayed mightily and watched as my mother’s life shrunk away. On the night she died, God became so much more real to me. As I sobbed uncontrollably on my bed, my dad stayed on his knees by my bedside praying aloud that God would comfort me and help me to know that I would see my mom again in His kingdom.

That prayer of comfort was answered. At a pivotal age, I picked myself up and moved forward knowing that my God was very much alive and working in my life and would one day usher me into that kingdom to reunite with Mom. I also felt I had to do my part, to truly believe.

Fast forward. Fourteen years after that bedside prayer of my dad’s, he too lost his physical battle to a brain aneurysm, and one year later, my sister, at the early age of 33, succumbed to a brain tumor. Through years of maturing and learning, I realize that my parents and my sister’s faith had been perfected. I am still working on mine.

In having been a part of an organization that thought that it had the only truth and was the only true church, it took its toll on me when I determined to leave that group. Was I really leaving the truth by leaving that organization? Well, for one, that group decided to change its doctrines so I looked at it as them leaving truth. Some say they finally saw the light. I thought I had already seen that light as a child. The light of God and Christ. So, no I wasn’t leaving the one true church. I was leaving an organization. I did not leave God; nor did He leave me. 

God is the same, yesterday, today, and tomorrow. My comfort comes from Him. My understanding of grace became even more real. I am convicted of the truth—truth I gained or had revealed to me while attending that organization. I am thankful that my understanding has grown since leaving, and I hope to always be growing in grace and knowledge while I have breath in me. My discernment of the Scriptures has not led me to start keeping holidays and discard Holy Days. Nor has it led me to worship on the day I choose instead of the Sabbath God has set aside for rest in Him. I don’t eat whatever I want without regard to those things He established and designed as clean or unclean.  It has led me to grow in my understanding of the depth of God’s love and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the grace extended to me. It has enhanced the hope of reuniting with my loved ones.

Since God’s love is so great, the best I can do is show Him that love in return by doing what pleases Him. “If you love me, keep my commandments.” Why would I not? Christ came to fill the law full—full of understanding of Him. No, I can’t earn my way, and I don’t even know if I ever thought that I could. I just want to please the God who has comforted me all these years through trial and blessings and has sealed me until the day I can be reunited with Mom, Dad, my sister, and so many of my family and friends who have gone on before me.

I was never in a cult, as some claim; I was in Jesus Christ, who is risen, so that He could send the Comfort that I needed. Thy Kingdom Come!

 

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Brandy Webb Brandy Webb

Two are Better than One

My children wanted to have an unplugged camping trip on our property, meaning no devices, not even a cell phone. They scoped out the spot, planned supplies, put everything together, and set out yesterday to camp. They did have long range walkie-talkies so that I could stay in touch with them. It was so neat watching them go with their backpacks and tents. I am sure it made them feel very grown-up.

by Brandy Webb

9 Two are better than one,
Because they have a good reward for their labor.
10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.
But woe to him who is alone when he falls,
For he has no one to help him up.
11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm;
But how can one be warm alone? (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)

My children wanted to have an unplugged camping trip on our property, meaning no devices, not even a cell phone. They scoped out the spot, planned supplies, put everything together, and set out yesterday to camp. They did have long range walkie-talkies so that I could stay in touch with them. It was so neat watching them go with their backpacks and tents. I am sure it made them feel very grown-up. 

Well, my daughter, Jazmyn, had her friend with her. The two girls planned to sleep in Jazmyn’s two-person tent. My son had his own, and all the extra supplies would be in his tent since he was by himself. Everything went great until nightfall. My son learned the value of having a friend when darkness descended. He did not like the fact that he was alone. After a while when he just could not fall asleep, he trekked back home.

I realized two important things: two are better than one, especially when it is cold outside, and when we do find ourselves alone and afraid it is nice to be able to go “home.” Home was where Josh and I were. Asher knew he would not be afraid back in his house with his parents. He would not be alone either. Well, we have a heavenly Father and Brother that we can turn to when we feel alone and afraid. They should be our go to “home” place. 

Fear can unravel us and steal our joy. It is good to have someone there to help lift us out of our fears or help us conquer them, and that is exactly what God the Father and Jesus can do for us if we let them. David faced Goliath without any human help, but he was definitely not alone. Daniel faced hungry lions without any other person, but he definitely wasn’t alone. 

We do not have to walk this road of life alone. Yes, it is nice to have a physical friend, but sometimes we may find ourselves without the help of a human hand. However, it doesn’t mean that there is no one there to help us. So, when we find ourselves afraid and “alone,” we need to go to God and ask Him to give us strength. Hold fast to God’s words, “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).

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Brian G. Bettes Brian G. Bettes

LEANING OUT INTO THE WIND

The smoke stacks at the power plant I worked at were over 600 feet tall. We were building the coal-fired plant and we had to line the inside of both stacks with brick. There was a cable drawn elevator for hauling people, bricks, and mortar that went all the way to the top on the inside of the stack. One of the workers told me, “If you stand out on the edge of the stack on top, the wind is so strong that you can lean out into the wind and not fall.” Visions of what would happen if the wind stopped raced through my mind, but, I guess there was no real danger of that happening in Wyoming. I never tried it because I was not allowed on the elevator. But, crazy as it may seem, I always wanted to. As a young man, I was a risk-taker. It is amazing I have lived as long as I have.

by Brian G. Bettes

The smoke stacks at the power plant I worked at were over 600 feet tall. We were building the coal-fired plant and we had to line the inside of both stacks with brick. There was a cable drawn elevator for hauling people, bricks, and mortar that went all the way to the top on the inside of the stack. One of the workers told me, “If you stand out on the edge of the stack on top, the wind is so strong that you can lean out into the wind and not fall.” Visions of what would happen if the wind stopped raced through my mind, but, I guess there was no real danger of that happening in Wyoming. I never tried it because I was not allowed on the elevator. But, crazy as it may seem, I always wanted to. As a young man, I was a risk-taker. It is amazing I have lived as long as I have.

I was thinking about that the other day and asking myself, “How often do we do dangerous things with regard to sin, and think it is kind of fun, or get a thrill out of it?” Do we like to get as close to the edge of sinning as possible “without sinning” (or so we think), then “lean out into the wind,” hoping nothing will happen? Are we spiritual risk-takers? Or do we try to stay as far away from “the edge” of sin as we can get?

During this time of year, as I prepare for taking the Passover symbols established by our Savior, I have been focusing on sin and its effects in my life. Sin caused my Elder Brother and Savior, Jesus the Messiah, to have to die. Even one single sin by any human being was enough for Him to have to die as the sinless sacrifice, if that human was to be given eternal life. That gives me pause for thought. How cavalier am I with sin? Do I sometimes take the approach of, “Well, I know I am human, but Jesus died, so God will forgive me?” It hurts my heart to realize that I have made that statement all too often in my life. What about you? Are you casual with sin? 

Many times, I have heard people say (one of those people saying it was me), “Of course, we will never be perfect in this life.” That statement is offered up almost as if it is an excuse to not really put that much effort into fighting sin. Do we really want to eradicate sin from our lives? Or do we just “accept” that, because we are human, we don’t have to struggle mightily against Satan or overcome the world around us that is under his influence or our own human nature? Yet, are we not told to not love this world (1 John 2:15-17), and to come out of it so as not to partake of its sins (Revelation 18:4)?

Let’s talk about 1 John 2:16, which says, “Because everything that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pretentious pride of physical life—is not from the Father, but is from the world” (Coulter, emphasis mine). Most translations use the word “all” where this one uses “everything.” Same essential meaning, but I just like the emphasis that it places on everything; not some things, not a few things, not most things, but e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g that is of this world that is not of the Father. It is all encompassing and total. Nothing is left out. Then John goes on to identify, in three basic groups, what everything includes: the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life.

What we must ask ourselves is, are we in tune with our Father’s and Brother’s idea of what this means. We should be examining every area of our lives, asking ourselves whether we are striving to be righteous as They are righteous (1 John 3:7), or are we trying to get as close to the world, or sin, as we can without falling into the abyss?

What about our words? Does our speech reflect Jesus and our Father when we talk to others, or is it laced with profanity, course jesting, or maybe even sexual innuendo? Is our language clean and pure as Jesus’ was, or do we make excuse for, or even worse, not care much about what comes out of our mouths? I am embarrassed to say, as the old adage goes, “Been there done that.” There are no excuses one can legitimately give God as to why that kind of behavior is okay!

What about how we dress? Do we like, or even wear, tight-fitting or revealing clothing that leaves little or nothing to the imagination? Do we wear suggestive clothes that would cause members of the opposite sex to use their imagination? Have we bought into the influence of Satan regarding dress to where we think showing a lot of skin is okay? Have we bought into the societal thinking that, if we wear clothes that are suggestive, and members of the opposite sex have to avert their eyes, that the problem is with them; that we have no responsibility in that situation? This applies to both men and women. We have to ask ourselves whether Jesus Christ approves of what we are wearing, not what our friends or society around us thinks. Basing our thinking on what anyone but God thinks is what got this world in to the mess it is in. 

We should apply this mindset to every part of our lives; what we eat, how we interact with each other, how we drive…again, everything! Second Corinthians 10:5 says we are to cast down every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. Again—every thought. Not just a few, or some, but every thought!

Did Jesus play with sin? Did He try to get as close as possible to sin? When dealing with Satan during His temptation, though Satan was quoting Scripture and the words he used were true, Jesus did not buy into any part of Satan’s proposals, staying as close to the real meaning and intent of His Father’s word, and as far away as possible from sin (Matthew 4:4,7,10). No, I think the example we see is that He stayed as far away from it as He could. He left us a clear example of how we are to use God’s Word to live our lives (Hebrews 4:12). Satan is the father of lies, and is a master at twisting God’s words from truth into something that sounds good, but leads to death (Genesis 3:4-5).

When it comes to sin, if Jesus was not willing to stand on the edge and lean out into the wind, neither should we.

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Brandy Webb Brandy Webb

Growing Your Talents

This past weekend I attended the New Church Lady Women’s Conference in Lindale, TX. I also was given the opportunity to speak during the conference. The conference was great. It was uplifting and edifying. I always enjoy meeting new people and catching up with those that I already know. It is also a blessing to be able to visit and learn from each other. It is a rejuvenation for our Christian walk.

by Brandy Webb

Brandy with her mom and daughter at the New Church Lady Retreat

Brandy with her mom and daughter at the New Church Lady Retreat

This past weekend I attended the New Church Lady Women’s Conference in Lindale, TX. I also was given the opportunity to speak during the conference. The conference was great. It was uplifting and edifying. I always enjoy meeting new people and catching up with those that I already know. It is also a blessing to be able to visit and learn from each other. It is a rejuvenation for our Christian walk.

This year I realized something important, to not hold yourself back from using your talents. It was not from any particular speech, it was just from observation and my own participation. Let me just start with myself. I am not the best speaker in the world, and if you watch my speech you will notice I talk fast. I talk fast because I am nervous, very nervous. I have no speech class background, and sometimes I tend to compare myself to those that I admire because they are really good speakers. They seem relaxed and their speech flows fluidly without all the “so’s” that I end up saying. This comparison just adds to the nerves. However, despite the nerves and the knowledge that I have a lot of room for improvement, I still step out of my comfort zone and speak.

The truth is, if we all waited until we thought we were perfect at something before we did it, then nothing would get done. Plus, stepping out and using your talent, especially when it is still developing, allows God to help it to grow. It puts into practice the whole lesson that when we are weak, He is strong (2 Corinthians 12:10). What better way to see His strength work through us as when we go out and use our talents to serve others. Moses wasn’t a great speaker either, yet God helped him lead an entire nation out of slavery. Therefore, I must strive to not let fear stop me from using my talents. Plus, the more you use one, the more you find out that you may have other talents that you never knew existed.

Public speaking is just one of an infinite amount of talents out there. There is also the talent of organization, and that talent is vital when putting together a conference or anything that requires a group of people to come together. They are the ones that are behind the scenes making sure that things run smoothly like a well-oiled machine. Without their talent, conferences would not happen. You can’t have just speakers. You need those that organize location, food, pamphlets, registration, sound, etc. Many women this year used multiple talents to make sure things ran smoothly.

We are all wonderfully and fearfully made (Psalm 139:14). God has given us skills that He desires us to use in our Christian walk. Using our talents requires us to step out of ourselves. Fear will try to hinder us, but we have not been given the spirit of fear but the Spirit of “power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7). This conference was just one small moment in time where a group of people were able to use various talents from speaking, to singing, to organizing, to just listening, to comforting, to edifying, and to praying. May we all look around us always for opportunities to use our God-given talents, and pay attention to how God can make them grow.

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Brian G. Bettes Brian G. Bettes

SHOWING THE FACE OF OUR FATHER

Every boy looks up to his father, and when he is young, wants to be just like him. I believe that is something that God placed into boys. Boys want to be like their father, and girls want to be like their mother. Unfortunately, as boys become young men, and girls become young ladies, all too often they don’t want to emulate their parents. Why is that? Because Satan is trying to destroy the family, and because as humans we are imperfect.

by Brian G. Bettes

Every boy looks up to his father, and when he is young, wants to be just like him. I believe that is something that God placed into boys. Boys want to be like their father, and girls want to be like their mother. Unfortunately, as boys become young men, and girls become young ladies, all too often they don’t want to emulate their parents. Why is that? Because Satan is trying to destroy the family, and because as humans we are imperfect. 

Many parents today aren’t good role models, or are the role models of the wrong things, and thus emulating our parents may or may not help us. But like it or not, we still turn out to be a lot like our parents. In today’s world, which belongs to Satan, this can be either good or bad. But from a Biblical perspective, God intends that, once we become one of His children, we are to emulate Him.

Consider these words from Jesus who said, “If you had known me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.” When pressed further to see the Father by Philip, He said, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’” (John 14:7-9)?

Jesus made it clear that He and the Father were one during His stay here on earth. He also requested of the Father that His followers, including us, would be one with Them during our stay here on earth (John 17:20-21). But notice why He wanted us to be one with Him and our Father, “…that the world may know that You have sent Me, and loved them as You have loved Me” (John 17:23).

One of Jesus’ responsibilities while walking among men was to reveal to the world the Father (Luke 10:22); which He did (John 17:4, 6-8). If that was Jesus’ responsibility while on earth, and we now have the same Father, and we are to follow in His footsteps (1 Peter 2:21), what do you suppose our responsibility is now that we know the Father (John 17:18)?

When silver is refined to its purest state it produces a perfect image of the refiner on the surface. This is how the refiner knows that there are no longer any impurities, called dross, left in the silver. We are told that, because we are the sons of God, we are to purify ourselves as He is pure (1 John 3:2-3). The apostle Peter admonishes us to be holy as God is holy (1 Peter 1:15-16). Jesus told us that we are to become perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48). 

All of this indicates that we are to reflect the same holiness, the same righteousness that our Father is…note I did not say has, but IS! Our Father is righteousness and holiness. That is the “stuff” that He is made of. It is not just something that he has, like a possession that one owns. There is a difference. Is this what we are becoming? Are we becoming pure as He is pure?

At creation, God did not give animals any responsibility except to multiply (Genesis1:22). On the other hand, mankind was given three responsibilities:

  • be fruitful, multiply, replenish, and subdue the earth;

  • have dominion over the animal life (Genesis 1:28);

  • dress and keep the Garden (Genesis 2:15).

Animals were not given these responsibilities. Though they were to multiply, they were not given the responsibility, or even the capability, to subdue (tread down, subjugate), have dominion over (rule), or “dress and keep” (maintain) the earth. That is because animals were created for a different purpose than man.

We were created in God’s image, or resemblance (Genesis 1:26-27). But “looking like” Him (head, hair, eyes, mouth, arms, hands, chest, torso, legs, feet) is not the only likeness we bear of Him (Revelation 1:13-16 and many verses in Daniel and Ezekiel give a description of God’s form.) In addition, we were given a spirit that no other created creature on earth has—the power of intellect, or as some call it, the spirit in man (Job 32:8). This spirit gives us the ability to think, reason, gather information, evaluate that information, make decisions, plan, design, and build. In short, we were given, on a limited physical basis, God’s ability to create.

No animal on earth can design a house, or a building, or a city, much less build it once it has been designed. No animal can think and reason the way man can. That ability—that power of intellect—is unique to mankind, and it is a part of what it means to be made “in the image of God.” However, even with that special capability, we are not complete.

Mankind was created to become the very Sons of God, just as Jesus is the Son of God (Romans 8:16-17; 1 John 3:2). But for that to happen, man needed yet another Spirit. When God created man, He gave him the spirit of intellect, and along with it, free will. What does that mean? It means man can make his own decisions on how to live. However, God also gave him a choice. Adam and Eve could choose to live God’s way, or they could choose to follow Satan (Genesis 2:16-17). We all know that story, and we all know what they chose to do, don’t we? 

God never at any point gave mankind the authority to determine what is right and what is wrong. Those determinations have been left solely in the realm of God. However, man, influenced by Satan, decided to try to take that authority upon himself (Genesis 3:17), just as Satan tried to do once before (Isaiah 14:13). The result of that one bad decision has caused innumerable mountains of grief for mankind ever since. 

But God, knowing mankind would make that mistake, had created a way out for him (1 Peter 1:18-20). Once Jesus Christ came, through repentance from living a life against God, acceptance of Jesus’ sacrifice in place of the death penalty that is the sentence for sin, baptism as a symbol of burying the old way of life (“the old/former, man”), and the laying on of hands (Hebrews 6:1-2), mankind could receive the gift of God’s Holy Spirit. Upon these conditions, God places His Spirit within a repentant believer (Acts 2:37-39). 

That Spirit is a part of God Himself. Just like a human male sperm cell is a part of the father from whom it came, the Holy Spirit is a tiny part of God Himself (2 Corinthians 1:21-22). It is then, and only then, that the believer can start to understand, think, and little-by-little, act like God (1 Corinthians 2:9-14). The Holy Spirit begins to transfer to us the Divine Nature of the one and only Holy God (2 Peter 1:3-4). Over a lifetime of surrender, as God begins to test the heart through fiery trials, the continuously repentant believer can be more and more refined to think and act like our Father, just as Jesus did in the flesh (1 Peter 4:12-13). As God refines us, eradicating the “dross” of sin from our lives by surrendering to Him more and more, like the silver, we become purer and purer each day (Psalm 66:10). 

For us to be a part of His Family, God must be satisfied that we will want to only live as He lives, with no thought or desire for anything else. He must be satisfied that pure righteousness, which is what He is, is what we want for all of eternity (1 John 3:3). So only when He can “see His own reflection” in us, will we be ready to take on that incredibly awesome position of responsibility in His Family. God is composed of pure righteousness, and anyone who will be a part of His Family must also be composed of pure righteousness. As the Refiner, He is the only One who knows for certain when we are “finished.”  

The Bible says that Jesus is the “brightness of glory,” and, “the express image” of the Father (Hebrews 1:3). He is our example and we are to follow in His footsteps (1 Peter 2:21). As we become closer to our Father through Jesus our brother; and as we are refined by God to become more like Him, others should be able to see Him emanating out from us more each day. As Jesus said about Himself, we should be getting closer to being able to say, “If you have seen me, you have seen my Father.” As we draw closer to God by allowing His Spirit to live in and through us, we should be showing the face our Father!

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Brandy Webb Brandy Webb

What’s Your Standard?

It is becoming increasingly obvious that many people seem to have the inability to listen. Unless the news is exaggerating about how people are behaving these days, it seems that a lot of people want to be heard, but they are unwilling to calmly listen to the opposing side. This in turn creates a shouting match of chaos. The real problem is people want others to treat them in a way that they are unwilling to treat others. The idea of, you listen to me only and do not attempt to disagree.

by Brandy Webb

It is becoming increasingly obvious that many people seem to have the inability to listen. Unless the news is exaggerating about how people are behaving these days, it seems that a lot of people want to be heard, but they are unwilling to calmly listen to the opposing side. This in turn creates a shouting match of chaos. The real problem is people want others to treat them in a way that they are unwilling to treat others. The idea of, you listen to me only and do not attempt to disagree. This can only be described as a double and hypocritical standard. I know it comes to no surprise that the world is full of hypocrites and double standards, but we must make sure that as Christians we do not act the same way.

Think about it. How many times have we witnessed or been just as guilty to say that we are loving, but then a church split happens and old friends become new enemies? They discontinue speaking to anyone that stayed in church A because they left for church B or vice versa. How many times have we engaged ourselves in gossip, even though we know it is wrong? Don’t worry I am just as guilty. Maybe that is why Solomon describes “the words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels” (Proverbs 18:8a). When we are around a whisperer it is like resisting chocolate or whatever sweet you prefer. It is not easy, however, it is something we have to resist because a “whisperer separates close friends” causing discord (Proverbs 16:28b), and the “one who sows discord among brothers” is an abomination to God (Proverbs 6:19b).

The truth is, if we do not want to be hypocritical we must only look at ourselves and adjust how we are living, and make sure we are living lives that are pleasing to God. We will not have any excuses when we stand before the judgment seat. We won’t be able to say that it is the world’s fault, or so and so’s fault, or the temptation was too hard. No, we will have to answer for “every careless word [we] speak, for by [our] words [we] will be justified, and by [our] words [we] will be condemned” (Matthew 12:36-37). 

The standard of living we are to live is Christ’s standard of living. We are to be gentle and kind (Matthew 5:5). We are to hunger and thirst for the truth (Matthew 5:6). We are to show mercy and be peacemakers (Matthew 5:7, 9). We are to love our enemies and pray for those who are mean to us (Matthew 5:44). This is a very high standard. If we focus on how we are living and compare our lives to Christ’s, we will not make the mistake of being hypocritical, and our actions, which speak louder than words, may inadvertently plant seeds of faith around us. Therefore, let us not succumb to the shouting matches of chaos around us, but instead to make it our goals “to live quietly, to mind [our] own business, and to work with [our hands]…so that [we] may win the respect of outsiders, and have need of nothing” (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12).

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