If you are a news junkie (like me), you cringe when elections come around. Scandals and innuendoes about people running for office dominate the media. It makes you wonder why anyone would ever want to put themselves in that position. They all say they do it because they are working to make a better life for the people, but in the end, we find ourselves asking the question, "Are they really?"
It is hard to trust politicians. They often make promises they don't keep. It seems promises are made to win elections, not to help govern a free society. Even those politicians who appear to mean what they say at the beginning of their campaigns soon get caught up in politics as usual. Once the hard reality of the office hits the politician, there is a great deal of backtracking done. The complicated process or the opposite party gets blamed for unkept promises. It sometimes makes me wonder if a monarchy isn't better (just kidding).
Politicians aren't the only ones who have a problem with promises. We all do. Who among us could say they have kept every promise they ever made? There is only one person who ever lived who made good on all His promises. One of the most comforting things about being a Christian is that God can be trusted. He doesn't have a faulty memory. Some of His promises have already been fulfilled and some of His promises are for the future, but He has proven Himself trustworthy. He says what He means. He means what He says. We can count on Him.
I recently led a Bible study where we looked at a specific characteristic of David, the man after God's own heart. Through his psalms, we discovered many instances where he declared what he was going to do. It was nearly like David was thinking out loud as he said in psalm after psalm, "I will." His predetermined choices were to: praise God, sing praises to His name, not be afraid, worship in God's house, tell of His works, give thanks, trust Him, rejoice in Him, wash his hands in innocence, restrain his mouth, teach others God's ways, wait on God, lie down in peace, hope always, go in God's strength and many others. Even after making his predetermined choice to follow God, David still sinned. He always returned to God through repentance, however, and would then again state his intentions to follow Him.
One of the ladies in the class remarked, "We can choose to say, 'I will,' like David did, but what about the times when we don't follow through?" The general consensus of the group - the answer to that question - was, the more good predetermined choices you make, the more likelihood you will be faithful to Him in most of them. It is when we don't give thought to what we will do and just let life happen, that we are so susceptible to falling prey to being less than what He wants us to be.
Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God (I will praise His word), in God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me? (Psalm 56:3-4 NKJV).
About Me
- Stephanie B. Blake
- As I speak internationally to English speakers as well as through an interpreter, some of my greatest joys have been speaking to groups where participation from the audience is possible. Not only do I value the input of those in my conferences, but if they are actively involved (share testimonies, participate in prayer, read Scripture aloud), it is obvious that everyone is with me. I am interested in theological study, Christian writing, historical application of Biblical principles as well as writing as a craft and the current status of the publishing industry as a whole. As a result, I find myself following blogs of those whom I have learned to trust who contribute information in those fields. It occurred to me that blogs are the internet equivalent of audience participation in a conference setting. So, this blog is a result of that discovery. As much as possible (sometimes when I travel I do not have internet access), I will be making weekly posts of how everyday life is related to what God has revealed about Himself in His Word - maintaining one focus on that most important relationship. I would welcome your participation.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Street Cleaners and Foot Washing
This morning as I was walking to Bible study (all uphill!), it was a little difficult to keep consistent footing because there were so many leaves on the sidewalk. It had rained recently and walking on wet leaves can be a bit tricky. Halfway up the hill, I encountered public service people cleaning the sidewalk and street. It was a joint affair - one man sweeping the leaves, another behind him with a large water hose spraying the leaves from the sidewalk to the gutter and finally a big truck gathered the leaves from the curb and vacuumed them into the truck. After passing the workmen, my trek was much easier: the path was clean and there were no obstructions.
Starting my walk, I really hadn't thought about the leaves or the mud. I was just trying to work my way through them or around them. The pathway didn't really look dirty to me. In fact, I didn't think about it until after I had passed the workmen and was treading on clean pavement.
If you are a believer in Jesus, in the family of God, you have been cleansed from sin by the blood of Jesus. Believers still sin and should confess their sins, but God tells us He stands ready to forgive those sins and have us return to fellowship with Him.
Sometimes, though, like the leaves on my pathway, we hardly notice the things that need moving out of the way. We walk through those things or around them without giving it much thought. Everyday obstructions of the world become so commonplace we aren't even aware that our pathway needs a washing. Those obstructions can be anything: a sin, a worry, a disease, a concern about a loved one, a problem with our job. There is a constant need to check for things that need to be cleaned up in our lives: anything that might hinder us from following the Lord without interference. A clean, clear path is much easier to follow than one that has to be maneuvered around.
Just before His crucifixion, Jesus made this point to His disciples. He washed their feet. As He told Peter, they were clean already because they had bathed, but a foot washing is necessary to get rid of the world's dirt and grime. When we submit to Jesus for a foot washing, He can remove some things - such as sin or worry. Other things that are not in our control, but obstruct our path, we can simply give to Him to carry - such as ill health or a concern about a loved one. After all, He is the one who walks beside us as we travel.
We often come to Jesus in prayer and praise Him, thank Him, ask Him for guidance or direction and bring all kinds of concerns to Him. He delights when we do that. We should pray for all those things. Before we bring any of our concerns to Him in prayer, though, it would be a good idea to ask Him first if we need a foot washing. Is there anything in your life that would hinder you from walking a straight path for Him today?
Peter said to Him, "You shall never wash my feet!" Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me." Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!" Jesus said to him, "He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you" (John 13:8-10).
Starting my walk, I really hadn't thought about the leaves or the mud. I was just trying to work my way through them or around them. The pathway didn't really look dirty to me. In fact, I didn't think about it until after I had passed the workmen and was treading on clean pavement.
If you are a believer in Jesus, in the family of God, you have been cleansed from sin by the blood of Jesus. Believers still sin and should confess their sins, but God tells us He stands ready to forgive those sins and have us return to fellowship with Him.
Sometimes, though, like the leaves on my pathway, we hardly notice the things that need moving out of the way. We walk through those things or around them without giving it much thought. Everyday obstructions of the world become so commonplace we aren't even aware that our pathway needs a washing. Those obstructions can be anything: a sin, a worry, a disease, a concern about a loved one, a problem with our job. There is a constant need to check for things that need to be cleaned up in our lives: anything that might hinder us from following the Lord without interference. A clean, clear path is much easier to follow than one that has to be maneuvered around.
Just before His crucifixion, Jesus made this point to His disciples. He washed their feet. As He told Peter, they were clean already because they had bathed, but a foot washing is necessary to get rid of the world's dirt and grime. When we submit to Jesus for a foot washing, He can remove some things - such as sin or worry. Other things that are not in our control, but obstruct our path, we can simply give to Him to carry - such as ill health or a concern about a loved one. After all, He is the one who walks beside us as we travel.
We often come to Jesus in prayer and praise Him, thank Him, ask Him for guidance or direction and bring all kinds of concerns to Him. He delights when we do that. We should pray for all those things. Before we bring any of our concerns to Him in prayer, though, it would be a good idea to ask Him first if we need a foot washing. Is there anything in your life that would hinder you from walking a straight path for Him today?
Peter said to Him, "You shall never wash my feet!" Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me." Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!" Jesus said to him, "He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you" (John 13:8-10).
Friday, June 10, 2011
Twitter, Facebook, Blogging: Thinking Out Loud on the Internet
I do a lot of internet research searching Wikipedia or websites specific to the topic I am interested in. If I want a personal perspective, though, I check out the blogs. I appreciate those who are willing to share their expertise in a field. Some of the blogs I follow have to do with writing. The publishing world is changing so fast that the best way to keep up with it is to read an expert's blog on what happened in the industry yesterday or even today.
I view life from a Christian perspective, so I also research the people posting the blogs.That doesn't mean I only read blogs posted by Christians. It means I evaluate what I read by their experience in their field, and take their spiritual state into account as well.
If you follow the news, as I do, you know you should be careful what you post on Twitter, Facebook or your blog. What you say reveals who you are. Politicians and other public figures have discovered that posts are definitely not private: "your sins will find you out."
The tools the internet provides has allowed me to feel connected even though I am not in one place for very long. On Facebook, I might discover a relative has been in the hospital, a friend I haven't seen for a long time has a birthday, another friend had a death in the family or another friend needs prayer. In an instant, I can send an appropriate comment.
Blogs give bloggers an opportunity for even more individual expression that Twitter and Facebook since the words are limited only by the blogger's desire. I follow one person who intentionally writes a 1000 word blog every Thursday. Others are of various length, but research has revealed that most internet readers quickly scan a blog, so one of no more than 500 words has more of a chance of being read. Short paragraphs, breaking up the text with bullets, and using proper font make it easier to read. If there are no comments on your blog, don't despair. Experts say that over 90% of blog readers don't leave a comment.
One blog I follow is a daily blog on prayer. My friend who writes the blog told me, "This is really hard. I am always thinking about what needs to go in my devotional on prayer." Well, honestly, how cool is that? His thoughts are always on the subject of prayer.
The internet has given us the opportunity to think out loud in front of a world wide audience. What we think eventually comes out in what we say, and for those who are in our real world (not just our internet world), they know what we think shows us in our actions as well.
Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things (Philippians 4:8 ESV).
I view life from a Christian perspective, so I also research the people posting the blogs.That doesn't mean I only read blogs posted by Christians. It means I evaluate what I read by their experience in their field, and take their spiritual state into account as well.
If you follow the news, as I do, you know you should be careful what you post on Twitter, Facebook or your blog. What you say reveals who you are. Politicians and other public figures have discovered that posts are definitely not private: "your sins will find you out."
The tools the internet provides has allowed me to feel connected even though I am not in one place for very long. On Facebook, I might discover a relative has been in the hospital, a friend I haven't seen for a long time has a birthday, another friend had a death in the family or another friend needs prayer. In an instant, I can send an appropriate comment.
Blogs give bloggers an opportunity for even more individual expression that Twitter and Facebook since the words are limited only by the blogger's desire. I follow one person who intentionally writes a 1000 word blog every Thursday. Others are of various length, but research has revealed that most internet readers quickly scan a blog, so one of no more than 500 words has more of a chance of being read. Short paragraphs, breaking up the text with bullets, and using proper font make it easier to read. If there are no comments on your blog, don't despair. Experts say that over 90% of blog readers don't leave a comment.
One blog I follow is a daily blog on prayer. My friend who writes the blog told me, "This is really hard. I am always thinking about what needs to go in my devotional on prayer." Well, honestly, how cool is that? His thoughts are always on the subject of prayer.
The internet has given us the opportunity to think out loud in front of a world wide audience. What we think eventually comes out in what we say, and for those who are in our real world (not just our internet world), they know what we think shows us in our actions as well.
Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things (Philippians 4:8 ESV).
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Situational Awareness: A Life Principle
Situational awareness is a term familiar to pilots. Flight instructors teach their students that it is imperative to hone their observation skills: to be aware of everything around them at any given moment and in every circumstance. They must be prepared to react to anything unexpected in the flight path.
The same is true for operating any moving vehicle. When the operator loses focus or is distracted, he is no longer situationally aware and can put himself and others in danger. That is the reason cell phone usage while driving has been outlawed in many places.
Whenever possible, my husband and I try to start our day with a walk. He is the leader. I follow. I need to observe his every move. If he turns left, I need to turn left. If he crosses the street, I need to go with him. It is not as easy as it sounds because I have a tendency to lag behind. I have on occasion lost sight of him and for a brief moment, have a sense of panic. I need to keep my eyes on him not only because I want to walk with him, but because I often don't know where I am. God neglected to put a compass in my brain. Since I am also inclined to fall, I have to watch the ground and him at the same time. This morning, God provided a big stick for me to use as a walking stick and that did help a great deal. I was able to keep my balance and enjoy the surroundings a bit more since I didn't have to keep my eyes on the path every second. I enjoy the walks, but I do have to be situationally aware of my husband's leadership and my surroundings.
A believer also needs to be situationally aware. There are lots of obstacles on the path of life. In order not to be tripped up, it requires a constant focus on Jesus. As the living Word, He is our guide. It is up to us, though, to finely develop observation skills so that we recognize when we have deviated from the path He has chosen for us. It is possible to ask for help and get back on the right path again, but when we realize we have lost sight of Jesus, there can be a moment of panic. His written word can serve as a rod to guide us. As we hold it dearly in our minds and our hearts, it is easier to keep our eyes on Him.
The Lord is my shepherd. . . He leads me beside the still waters. . . He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His names's sake. . .I will fear no evil; for You are with me: Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me (Psalm 23:1,2,3,4).
The same is true for operating any moving vehicle. When the operator loses focus or is distracted, he is no longer situationally aware and can put himself and others in danger. That is the reason cell phone usage while driving has been outlawed in many places.
Whenever possible, my husband and I try to start our day with a walk. He is the leader. I follow. I need to observe his every move. If he turns left, I need to turn left. If he crosses the street, I need to go with him. It is not as easy as it sounds because I have a tendency to lag behind. I have on occasion lost sight of him and for a brief moment, have a sense of panic. I need to keep my eyes on him not only because I want to walk with him, but because I often don't know where I am. God neglected to put a compass in my brain. Since I am also inclined to fall, I have to watch the ground and him at the same time. This morning, God provided a big stick for me to use as a walking stick and that did help a great deal. I was able to keep my balance and enjoy the surroundings a bit more since I didn't have to keep my eyes on the path every second. I enjoy the walks, but I do have to be situationally aware of my husband's leadership and my surroundings.
A believer also needs to be situationally aware. There are lots of obstacles on the path of life. In order not to be tripped up, it requires a constant focus on Jesus. As the living Word, He is our guide. It is up to us, though, to finely develop observation skills so that we recognize when we have deviated from the path He has chosen for us. It is possible to ask for help and get back on the right path again, but when we realize we have lost sight of Jesus, there can be a moment of panic. His written word can serve as a rod to guide us. As we hold it dearly in our minds and our hearts, it is easier to keep our eyes on Him.
The Lord is my shepherd. . . He leads me beside the still waters. . . He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His names's sake. . .I will fear no evil; for You are with me: Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me (Psalm 23:1,2,3,4).
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Home: Here and Heaven
I have a passport issued by the United States of America and my husband and I have a house there. However, for most of each year, we travel overseas on mission assignments. He jokingly says we live in the airport.
Our home is wherever we are. We really just leave our belongings behind in a house that we call home, but that house does have our mark on it. We set up housekeeping temporarily in different locations around the world, some longer than others. No matter how long we plant ourselves in any one spot, however, we are still essentially living out of a suitcase.
If we are fortunate enough to be in a place where we come and go for a period of time and have a small kitchen to be able to cook in, I often go to the refrigerator or the cabinet searching for some item that is not there. It is actually in my home in the states.
As happy as I am to do what we do, occasionally I get homesick – for the familiar security of the surroundings we call home. There is a sense of renewal and refreshment when I walk into the doors of our home: a sense of belonging. There, I am joined again not only with our stuff, but our memories.
Along with you, my heart has broken for those who have lost their homes to earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, and tornadoes this year. Many whose families survived the tragedies commented on what remained was what was really important. If all the family members were without injury, they counted their blessings and did what was necessary to start over.
I have tried to imagine what it was like for Jesus while He was here. How hard it must have been for Him to be away from the security of heaven. Although He is the creator and owner of everything on earth, He was treated like a stranger. He left his Father and the comforts of his home to live among many who didn’t understand his language. When He spoke about his home, He was often misunderstood. Eventually, of course, He was crucified because of his description of his relationship to the Father and his rightful place in heaven. His sacrifices were many. Among them was the temporary condition where He identified with those who had no home. He literally had no place to lay His head.
The more I travel and meet Christian brothers and sisters all over the world, the more I contemplate my eternal citizenship. Some places we return to again and again. Some places we have a single temporary assignment. Each time I am introduced to more of my Christian family, when we leave, I do not say “good bye,” but “I will see you again,” as we will spend eternity together.
Among the things I would like to say "thank you" to Jesus for was His willingness to leave His home for a time so that those who of us who believe in Him could be home with Him forever. Heaven will be home because that is where Jesus is.
In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also (John 14:2-3).
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Falling Down and Getting Up
At present, my husband and I are ministering in France. I love shopping for groceries in France. A car is not necessary. You can walk to the local market or easily take a bus to a favorite store. As I was leaving my favorite discount store yesterday with a buggy of groceries on one side and a full bag of groceries on the other shoulder, I tripped on a piece of jutted pavement and fell flat on my face.
Instantly, three French gentlemen stopped their vehicles and got out to check on me. Had any one of those men been walking beside me when I fell, I am sure he would have tried to catch me; however, I was already on the ground. One of them extended his hand to help me up. Although I told him I was OK, the other gentlemen had to make sure themselves. Although slightly embarrassing (I am now toting a black bruise on my chin), the response of these men reminded me that chivalry is not dead.
I couldn't carry on a conversation with any of these men since I don't speak French. All I could say was "Merci." Although they were not angels and it is doubtful they are Christians since there is a very small percentage of believers in this country, that brief encounter was a reminder of some Christian principles.
In our spiritual lives, we often stump our toes and wind up in a spot we did not plan on. Being unaware of obstacles in our path, sometimes we trip and fail to carry out the will of God in a given situation. We may sin by "commission" or "omission," but the sin would have been prevented had we been carefully watching for rocks in the road.
It is our responsibility to be aware of the possibility of stumbling and guard against it. Once we fall down, it is more than embarrassing. It might be some time before the bruise of the fall disappears. It might be so obvious that it affects our witness. However, when we fall, we need to get up and move on. If we have stumbled because of sin, certainly we need to ask for God's forgiveness and do what we can to rectify the situation and ensure it doesn't happen again. We might be required to go back and move the rock out of the way so that others will not stumble.
Sometimes in the moving on process, we need help from our brothers and sisters in Christ. They can extend a hand, lift us up and help us get back on the path again. God puts the responsibility for sin squarely on the shoulders of the sinner, but one of the ways He provides restoration is through the support of members of His family. It is good to remember that we can be on either side of this situation. Sometimes we fall and need help. Other times we watch our brothers or sisters fall and need to lift them up. That's part of being a family.
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. . . For each one shall bear his own load (Galatians 6:2, 5).
Instantly, three French gentlemen stopped their vehicles and got out to check on me. Had any one of those men been walking beside me when I fell, I am sure he would have tried to catch me; however, I was already on the ground. One of them extended his hand to help me up. Although I told him I was OK, the other gentlemen had to make sure themselves. Although slightly embarrassing (I am now toting a black bruise on my chin), the response of these men reminded me that chivalry is not dead.
I couldn't carry on a conversation with any of these men since I don't speak French. All I could say was "Merci." Although they were not angels and it is doubtful they are Christians since there is a very small percentage of believers in this country, that brief encounter was a reminder of some Christian principles.
In our spiritual lives, we often stump our toes and wind up in a spot we did not plan on. Being unaware of obstacles in our path, sometimes we trip and fail to carry out the will of God in a given situation. We may sin by "commission" or "omission," but the sin would have been prevented had we been carefully watching for rocks in the road.
It is our responsibility to be aware of the possibility of stumbling and guard against it. Once we fall down, it is more than embarrassing. It might be some time before the bruise of the fall disappears. It might be so obvious that it affects our witness. However, when we fall, we need to get up and move on. If we have stumbled because of sin, certainly we need to ask for God's forgiveness and do what we can to rectify the situation and ensure it doesn't happen again. We might be required to go back and move the rock out of the way so that others will not stumble.
Sometimes in the moving on process, we need help from our brothers and sisters in Christ. They can extend a hand, lift us up and help us get back on the path again. God puts the responsibility for sin squarely on the shoulders of the sinner, but one of the ways He provides restoration is through the support of members of His family. It is good to remember that we can be on either side of this situation. Sometimes we fall and need help. Other times we watch our brothers or sisters fall and need to lift them up. That's part of being a family.
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. . . For each one shall bear his own load (Galatians 6:2, 5).
Thursday, June 2, 2011
South Africa Women's Conference
One of my speaking engagements in South Africa was a women's conference in Cape Town. The other conference leaders quickly became new friends. The theme chosen by Sandra Johnson was "Sister, the Master is Asking for You." Lizz Rickert began with a beautiful song, "I look to You, Lord."
Sandra, the first speaker, had taken the theme from the passage in John 11:20-30. After Lazarus had died, and Jesus arrived, Martha ran out to meet him, then came back for Mary, stating "Sister, the Master is Asking for You." Sandra emphasized that when Jesus calls for us, it is part of a family affair.
Laticia Sives, a local pastor's wife, then spoke of the passage in Matthew where Mary had anointed Jesus with perfume. Are we doing that today?
Luann Rickert reminded us all that we need each other and we all have a gift. Her scripture came from 1 Corinthians 12:1-11. The Master is calling all of us to service.
Caroline Schiesl, a friend of many years, spoke next about how Mary and Martha were so different but God looks on the heart. She asked pointed questions: "Is Jesus really Master? Do you have a willing heart?"
I closed with a look at different women of the Bible that had been sought out by God: Eve, Hagar, Sarah, Ruth, Hannah and Mary, the mother of Jesus.
It was a blessing for me to be a part of that conference and meet Christian women serving in South Africa. Many of them made sacrifices to be part of the conference. As has been the case in every country, I have come away enriched by the examples and dedication of the people I met.
I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world (Romans 1:8).
Sandra, the first speaker, had taken the theme from the passage in John 11:20-30. After Lazarus had died, and Jesus arrived, Martha ran out to meet him, then came back for Mary, stating "Sister, the Master is Asking for You." Sandra emphasized that when Jesus calls for us, it is part of a family affair.
Laticia Sives, a local pastor's wife, then spoke of the passage in Matthew where Mary had anointed Jesus with perfume. Are we doing that today?
Luann Rickert reminded us all that we need each other and we all have a gift. Her scripture came from 1 Corinthians 12:1-11. The Master is calling all of us to service.
Caroline Schiesl, a friend of many years, spoke next about how Mary and Martha were so different but God looks on the heart. She asked pointed questions: "Is Jesus really Master? Do you have a willing heart?"
I closed with a look at different women of the Bible that had been sought out by God: Eve, Hagar, Sarah, Ruth, Hannah and Mary, the mother of Jesus.
It was a blessing for me to be a part of that conference and meet Christian women serving in South Africa. Many of them made sacrifices to be part of the conference. As has been the case in every country, I have come away enriched by the examples and dedication of the people I met.
I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world (Romans 1:8).
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