Trusting in the 'Blessings' of God

Dear Fellow Children of God,

 

What injustice, what heart-wrenching loss, or what long-standing problem is causing you pain, grief, or trouble?  That’s not a very pleasant question, is it?  Nevertheless, everyone faces trials in this life.  And these trials are not just minor inconveniences.  These tragedies and losses can change our lives, seemingly for the worse.

 

So, as you consider your serious life challenge, or challenges, please also consider the following question.  “How is God using your struggle, disappointment, or pain to bless you?”  You might respond to me by asking, “What!?  How can this gut-wrenching trial be used by God?”

 

This year for my personal devotions I am again using the “Today’s Light Bible,” which takes a person through the Scriptures in two years.  As January concludes I am near the end of Genesis and reading about Joseph.  Now Joseph is a man who suffered injustice, loss, and trouble!

 

Joseph’s 11 brothers were jealous of him.  So, according to Genesis 37, beginning when Joseph was 17 years old, his brothers made life difficult, if not miserable for him.  They hated him, and sold him into slavery.  If that was not enough, Joseph became a slave in Egypt of a powerful official of the government.  But, he was falsely accused of sexual misconduct and thrown into prison.  Joseph spent time in prison until he was 30, according to Genesis 41:46.  In part, Joseph’s time in prison was because he was forgotten by people whom he had helped.  Therefore, for 13 years, from when he was 17 until he was 30, Joseph suffered injustice, loss, and trouble.  Notice, these were not inconsequential troubles.  Imagine what that kind of trouble would do to your life!

 

However, in his trials God had not forgotten Joseph.  In fact, God used the evil brought on Joseph by others to bless him.  As God worked in Joseph’s life, Joseph was released from prison and became the second most powerful man in Egypt, overseeing an effort to deal with an approaching famine.  Joseph saw GOD’S presence even in his suffering and pointed to the blessings of God as he named his two sons.  Please read Genesis 41:51-52 with me.

 

51 Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, "It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's household." 52 The second son he named Ephraim and said, "It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering."  Joseph saw God acting in his life to use the evil caused by others to bless him.  Notice, according to the names of his sons, Joseph says that it is God who made Joseph forget his trouble.  It is God who made Joseph fruitful.  Joseph testifies to God’s faithful goodness during his trials, in the way that he names his two sons.

 

I share this insight from my personal devotions as I prepare for worship this Sunday.  Most people attending a traditional liturgical church this week will hear Jesus speak what we call “The Beatitudes” from Matthew 5:1-12, at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount.  Jesus tells people they are “blessed” when they are poor in spirit, they are blessed when they mourn, and they are blessed when they are persecuted.  Who wants to suffer these trials?  Yet, Jesus is saying that, just like God used Joseph’s suffering to bless Him, God uses our real and significant suffering and loss to give us His love, to bless our relationship with Him. 

 

Do not be confused.  Please understand what I am not saying.  I am not saying that God causes these trials and heartaches.  God is not the source or the cause of evil.  Evil and sin are in our world through the efforts and temptation of our enemy, the devil, and because of our own weakness and rebellion against our Creator.  Yet, while God does not cause the evil in our lives, He does use our trials to bring us back to Him, to bless us!

 

This week I am again the volunteer chaplain at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center.  As I visit patients in the hospital, I have pamphlets which the hospital provides that I can share with these people.  One of those pamphlets shares Lamentations 3:22-23.  In the New American Standard Bible this Old Testament verse reads, “22 The LORD's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Thy faithfulness.”  This verse was written when the Israelites were in Babylon lamenting, regretting, crying, weeping, because of their exile.  Yet, they know that God’s lovingkindness never ceases.  His compassions never fail.  Even in their forced relocation God is with them and working to bless them.

 

God used the injustice and trials in Joseph’s life for good.  Jesus calls us blessed even when we mourn, or are persecuted.  Let me ask you that question again.  “How is God using your struggle, disappointment, or pain to bless you?” 

 

A Child of God, Trusting in the Blessings of God,

Pastor Jonathan

 

P.S. I visited with the Neslunds on Tuesday.  Kristine has been keeping baby Bjorn home to protect him from possible illness.  Nevertheless, this almost 19 month old miracle boy is growing and healthy!  Here is a picture. God is good!!  https://goo.gl/photos/dece2HxW2oujJKfB7

 

P.P.S.  In worship we continue to focus intentionally on God’s call to share Jesus. 

 

P.P.P.S.  I went fishing Monday and stood out in the 0 degree weather in the 20 mph winds Monday.  I got cold, but caught no fish.

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

****

 

ABOUT ‘THOUGHTS FROM THE PASTOR’ -   I am sending these e-mail messages, hopefully weekly, to all St. John members and friends whose e-mails I have.  (I am regularly adding new names of friends and members – in case you are just receiving this e-mail for the first time.)  However, if you don’t want to receive this e-mail, please let me know, and I’ll gladly leave your name off my list for this message.

 

 

****

How Am I Living for Christ?

Dear Fellow Children of God,

 

This past Thursday evening I was in a classroom at St. John as a new training class for Stephen Ministry began learning about serving in Jesus’ name.  Six students and 3 teachers gathered to grow in their ability to reach out as a Christian and intentionally help others in time of trial or need.  It was very encouraging to see this room full of people committed in their faith.

 

This class will include 20 sessions and 50 hours of teaching attitudes and skills of listening, of sharing God’s love and help, of confidentiality, of referring to professional help, and other topics.  At the end of each session the writers of these materials have developed a technique that helps focus this training by using a symbol called the Stephen Ministry Compass.   Those in training are asked how serving as a Stephen Minister requires them to be compassionate, full of faith, skilled, and trustworthy.  These are the words on the outside of this Stephen Ministry Compass.  

 

But, then they are asked one more question to focus their training and future service.  “How is Christ at the center of this work?”  You see, in the center of this compass is a symbol called the “Chi Rho.”  These are the first two Greek letters in the Greek spelling of the word Christ.  This symbol has been used to point to Jesus since early Christian times, when the Greek language was the common language in the region of the world where the Christian Church was being born.  Every week in training the students look back at what they have learned and focus on our Lord.  They consider how their service points to Christ and brings Him to this caring situation.

 

While this is an excellent tool to help new Stephen Ministers to consider how their caring service is distinctively Christian, this is also a great idea for all Christians.  What a good question to ask and what a good way to focus as we begin a day of work, chores, and activities, and as we wind down at night and consider what has happened during the day.  “How is Christ at the center of my life this day?” 

 

That is the call of our Lord which we receive many times throughout Scripture, that Christ is to be at the center of our lives and that we live to serve Him.  For example, in Colossians 3 we hear God’s Word say, “23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”  (Colossians 3:23-24)  God calls us daily to live our lives in service of Christ our Lord.  We can and should ask, “Do my actions and my words and my relationships point to Jesus’ love and His righteousness?”

 

However, in our consumer driven world today, many forget God’s call and see Him as just another product or tool to help in time of need.  Even those of us who follow Jesus can fall into this trap.  Do I need guidance?  Do I need help or strength?  Do I need forgiveness?  Do I need the promise of eternal life?  In today’s world people often forget God until such needs arise. Then they go to the shelf (or the church) and take what they need.  When life seems better God is put back on the shelf of their life until they think they need Him again.  But, this is not having Jesus at the center of everything we do.  Rather than living for God, this is rather using God for our purposes.  Instead of serving Christ as Lord, we can and often do make ourselves into idols.

 

Amazingly, even knowing our selfish hearts, God has not abandoned us.  When we have acted in self-serving ways, God gave of Himself.  The Father sent His Son from heaven to a world of sin and pain and death.  The Son, Jesus, the author of life, died on the cross and gave His life for people trapped in selfishness, sin, and death.  Jesus lived FOR US.  He died FOR US.  He rose FOR US.  In the face of our rebellious living for ourselves instead of living for our Creator and our Savior, God in contrast sacrificed to save us from ourselves.  “6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  (Romans 5:6-8) What love!

 

So, we can ask the question in our own lives.  “How is Christ at the center of my life this day?”  The truth is that we always need the direction and forgiveness and love of God.  And God gives us that love in Jesus.  So, we seek God’s grace and work to serve Him as the center of our lives.  23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” 

 

“How is Christ at the center of my life this day?” 

 

A Child of God, Called to Live for Jesus in Whatever I Do!

Pastor Jonathan

 

P.S. Tuesday morning brought a surprise at St. John.  It seems a plow backed into the wall of the church at Jamie’s office.  So, while insurance companies are working out the details, Jamie is now making her office in the Music Room / Stephen Ministry office.  Here are a few pictures.  https://goo.gl/photos/HQ5pJytQBRiu39kW9

P.P.S. I took some family fishing on Monday, January 16.  As the foot or more of snow fell that day we were getting bites on a local lake.  But . . . the BIG ONE got away!  https://goo.gl/photos/qc4bxxXQjc6RdsYh8

P.P.P.S.  For the next 3 Sundays we continue to focus intentionally on God’s call to share Jesus.  Using my doctoral work we will look at,

·       “Sharing Jesus – God’s Plan” - January 15

·       “Sinners and Saints – Sharing God’s Law, and Even more His Salvation,” - January 22

·       “Sharing Jesus Through Relationships” - January 29

·       “Witnessing and Sharing Jesus through My Actions.” – February 5.

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

****

 

ABOUT ‘THOUGHTS FROM THE PASTOR’ -   I am sending these e-mail messages, hopefully weekly, to all St. John members and friends whose e-mails I have.  (I am regularly adding new names of friends and members – in case you are just receiving this e-mail for the first time.)  However, if you don’t want to receive this e-mail, please let me know, and I’ll gladly leave your name off my list for this message.

 

 

****