“As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth.” John 9:1

Jesus, escaping for His life, stops to help a blind man. How do we know? The verse immediately preceding says, “So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out to the temples. As he passed by…” John 8:59 – 9:1

Ministry is not necessarily something we GO do. Going to the mission field is great. Going to help at the church breakfast for the homeless is great. Making a meal for a sick family is great. But there are many, many ministry opportunities “as we pass by.”

I cringe to think of the many opportunities that I failed to capitalize on because I was so focused on self. I didn’t even see the opening to speak a simple word of truth or hope except in hindsight.

Look around you today for opportunities to minister His grace, His love, and His truth … as you pass by.

Diane

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” ~ Matthew 19:26

Whenever I hear or read that statement of Scripture my spirit and my soul are encouraged. My spirit is quickened by the simple and pure communion of Spirit speaking to spirit, and as my soul is nourished or replenished I am once again reminded that my help, hope and strength do not come from myself and my paltry human resources. My help comes from the Lord, and therefore, all things are possible! It’s not a matter of whether or not it is possible or whether or not He can. I know He can, thus it is possible.

“…’If you can’?” Said Jesus. “Everything is possible for Him who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief. ~ Mark 9:23-24

The question, dear ones, is this: do you believe? Do you believe that God is sovereign in all and overall? Do you believe He wills to do and is able to do according to His good pleasure and whatever is for our good?

I don’t for a second doubt that most of us know what the truth is about God. Yet we find it difficult in the midst of it, to really and truly believe the words of Christ when He says, “everything is possible.”

So, dear sisters, if you find yourself in a hard and difficult place, my encouragement for you today is simple – believe! Yet, if the truth for you today is, “believing is too hard,” go to Father God and ask Him to help you overcome. He is always faithful to those whom He loves and who love Him. He will help you!!

Stephanie

As I was doing my exercises, I began to see sparkling lights on the wall and ceiling. Trying to discern what was causing them, I realized that as I moved my arms and hands my rings were catching the sunlight coming through the window. As I watched the colorful display, I thought about the fact that without the sun hitting them they did not transmit the beauty that I was seeing.

This made my think of my life ~ does it transmit the beauty of the Son within, shining forth to attract others to want to know what the cause is? The reflection of the sun on my rings got my attention ~ I pondered, does His reflection in my day to day activities draw attention to Him?

Jesus said in Matthew 5:14,16, “You are the light of the world…let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” And also Paul reminds us in Philippians 2:14-16, “Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life…” We do not have to do this in our own strength though, “… for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (vs. 13). Another place Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). As He lives within us and His “light of life” is reflected by us in and through our lives, we will bring glory to God the Father and the Son.

Consider the following Scriptures and be challenged and encouraged to keep on “shining” and “reflecting” Him ~ for Him, by Him, through Him:

2 Corinthians 4:5-7 “For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”

2 Corinthians 3:18 “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

Lord, Let it be so ~ Amen.

DeEtta

“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” Luke 6:32-36

What difference does Christ make? As a believer/follower of Jesus Christ, what difference does it make that you are indwelt by the Living Spirit of God?

“If you love these who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.” (6:33) Do you love the unlovely? Do you love that person that gives you a hard time at work or the one that has hurt you with gossip? Do you love any differently than the unregenerate sinner?

“And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.” (6:33) Are you serving and helping those that don’t appreciate it or have a sense of entitlement? Are you doing good to those that are not easy to do good for? Do you do good any differently than those that don’t know Jesus Christ?”And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount.” (6:34)

Do you lend or give away things only to those whom you trust will repay or return it or the favor? Are you as generous with the stingy-hearted and ungrateful person? Do you lend or give any differently than the unsaved sinner?

“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” (6:35-36)

Diane

I recently had hernia surgery. I waited so long that it had become very large. I thought it would be a great opportunity for a little nip/tuck in the tummy area. Let’s face it, three C-sections and a few other procedures had left, well, let’s say a bit more of a pooch than I’d like. As I was considering my hernia surgery I began to research plastic surgeons. Before I made an appointment for a consultation with a surgeon, I thought I’d better consult with “The Great Physician.” I prayed, asking God to show me His will where my plans were concerned. As soon as I prayed, I heard God speak to my spirit; “Others may, but you may not, Kim.” I began to question what I KNEW I had just heard God say. “Was that really the Lord speaking to me? Maybe I hadn’t heard right?” So…with a heart full of doubts and a mind set on a flat tummy, I went to see a plastic surgeon anyway! I really had it all figured out. I could have both procedures done at the same time and might even get a portion of the plastic surgery covered under our insurance. If only God would give me His blessing! Can you believe it? It turned out that none of it was covered under my insurance and it would cost much more that I could afford to pay.

Why God? Why do I have to have a scar on my stomach? Everyone else does this sort of thing. Then I thought about my vanity – Mirror, mirror on the wall…

It says in 1 Peter 3:3, “your beauty should not come from outward adornment such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead it should be that of your inner-self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit is of great worth in God’s eyes.” I began to realize that in this area of my life — my appearance — God wanted to use a scalpel on my heart and not my tummy!! God showed me where I truly had to trust Him enough to obey Him. When God says “No,” I need to say, “Yes, Lord.”

Kim Peterson
Women of Character Graduate

Mark 13: 32- 37 “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. Therefore stay awake-for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning- lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”

In the hecticness of life, it is natural and easy to lose sight of our destination. We forget most days, weeks, months that Jesus is coming back.

THIS IS NOT ALL THERE IS TO LIFE.

The aroma of life, of busy mornings, quick lunches, soccer games, laundry, shopping, class projects, Sunday sermons, vacations, bills, lawns, shoveling snow, tragedy, weddings, stubbed toes, etc., lull us all into a trance – a cocoon of sorts – that this is our home – We are snuggled up inside our cocoon we call life. We are warm and comfortable and rarely look beyond our shell AS IF THIS WERE OUR HOME.

LADIES AND GENTLEMAN ~ THIS IS NOT OUR HOME.

Jesus is coming back.

Don’t allow the aroma of life to lull you to sleep. Stay awake. Flee the tentacles of life that can drag you into complacency or apathy. Heed Christ’s warning. STAY AWAKE.

Diane

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” Mark 13:31

In a world when so much seems unstable, uncertain, chaotic, and ever-changing – the reminder that there are stable factors that do not change cannot be thwarted, and that give perspective – and stability to life and circumstance. They remain forever.

God never changes.

“But he is unchangeable, and who can turn him back? What he desires, that he does.” Job 23:13

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8

God’s Word never changes.

” …since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” 1 Peter 1:23-25

“Forever, O LORD, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.” Psalm 119:89

When life seems to be getting out of control and chaos seems the norm rather than the exception, stop and rest in the truth that God and His word NEVER change.

Diane

Recently, I heard my nephew speak publicly about his gratitude and love for his mom. It was a touching moment well deserved. My sister has been a single mom for many years. She has worked hard and loved, cared for and provided for her children. This speech was a toast at her recent wedding.

My mind, unfortunately, went from this touching toast to stinking thinking. My sister does not yet walk with Jesus and I am sure her children do not either. I began to lick my wounds. After all, I do follow Christ so why not my children? One I don’t think ever accepted Christ as his Savior and the other has walked away from her faith. I began to feel exactly like the people in Malachi 3:14-15. “You have said, ‘It is useless to serve God; What profit is it that we have kept His ordinance, And that we have walked as mourners before the Lord of hosts? So now we call the proud blessed for those who do wickedness are raised up; they even tempt God and go free.'”

Have you ever been there? Why do the unsaved seem to have it all and here I am waiting and wanting? I love the Lord, walk with Him and serve Him so don’t I deserve to see my children walking with the Lord? It is easy to think that there is no point. Why remain faithful? At times it seems easier to just give up.

The grass may seem greener but I am reminded that without Christ, what is their future? My sister heard those words of love and gratitude that all mothers long to hear. But what will Jesus say to her one day? Her children? My children?

I can only remember that this world is not all there is. So, what’s in it for me while I wait to hear good news? In Christ I have a hope and a future. One day there will be no more sorrow or tears. I look forward to an eternity with Jesus. What’s in it for me is not just what I get in this world. This is not my home.

For right now I have a trust that a mother’s prayers will one day be answered and that God loves my children more than I do. You and I do not have the short end of the stick. God is at work. Malachi 3:16-18 says that in the end He knows those who fear Him and those who don’t. He calls those who fear Him “His own” and “jewels.” He discerns between the righteous and the wicked. He knows who serves Him and who does not. As ones who fear God and seek to obey Him we will be tempted to give up because we do not see the results we want.

Do not envy those who face a Christ-less eternity and seem to have it all here and now. Next time, as we wrap up our walk through Malachi, we will see that there is a day coming and there is much ahead for those of us who fear the Lord.

Kathy withers

About 8 years ago I found myself believing that God owed me some blessings. I went to church, taught Sunday School, did my devotions. Then my world crashed and I had a very hard reality check. I believe that God allowed a number of personal heartaches into my life so that, out of His love and mercy, He could build a new foundation built on Christ and His truth. A lot of what I was “doing” was for my own edification and because I wanted to have a “blessed” life. When God took a sledge hammer to that foundation I was confused and challenged. I was confused about things I had been taught and beliefs I believed. This was a time that I needed to understand who God really was and what the Christian life was really about.

Don’t ask me what Bible I had been reading but I thought verses like, “I promise you a rose garden,” “Thou shall not suffer trials,” and “No tribulation shall come near you or those you love” were really in there! Somewhere along the way I picked up faulty thinking and lies. In Malachi 3:13 the people in that day had picked up similar faulty thinking. They, too, wanted to know what profit there was in serving God. They thought their service was useless and that they did not benefit enough from their hard work. In other words, they asked “What’s in this for me?” They became focused on themselves rather than dying to themselves. They watched how those who were prideful and wicked seemed to gain more than they did. They lost sight of God, they lost their fear of God and they began to complain. Where had all the blessings gone?

As you consider your circumstances, what is your attitude? Are you thinking you don’t deserve to be in the position you are? Do you think that you deserve more or better? Do you stand in the middle of your living room, shaking a fist at God and ask why He allowed ______? I did. Then God asked me to choose to trust Him and know Him for who He really is. I had to give up on my faulty thinking and dig for truth and begin to trust in the Jesus of the Bible, not the one I had made up or distorted in my head.

There is a huge difference between knowing Jesus Christ and making Him up as you go along. Is He Lord and Savior or in the same realm as Santa Claus and the tooth fairy? Are the words “give me” and “I want” staples in your vocabulary? Do you serve Him, love Him, and follow Him only for the blessings or regardless of the blessings?

Kathy Withers

Kathy Serves in Guest Services and is married to her husband, Dave. They have two adult children, Michael and Kerri.

I would like to carry over from yesterday’s Victory Call regarding the heart of generosity.

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.”
2 Corinthians 8:9

Reflect upon the gospel in this verse: that Jesus left heaven and all the glories of eternity past and was born in a stall and His newborn body laid in a manger full of straw. Through His sinless, perfect life and sacrifice we are offered the free gift of eternal life. We become rich through His poverty. What a picture of generosity!

“As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.” 1 Timothy 6:17-19

God is the provider of everything you and I enjoy. It seems rather foolish to be stingy with that which isn’t ours to begin with.

You know when I find it easy to be generous? Silly as it sounds it’s when I somehow profit from that generosity. It is easy to be generous, for example, with my children and grandchildren because I get to enjoy their surprise and delight. I find it more difficult to send a check to a foreign missions project because I don’t see the direct impact of my giving. So, bottom line, I’m self-serving in my generosity (or seeming generosity).

Timothy speaks not primarily of financial generosity, but “rich in good works” and “to be generous and ready to share.” In one sense, it can be easier to be generous with our finances than generous with ourselves. Are we generous only when it serves us somehow? Are we generous in our service? Are we generous in sharing?

I can’t close today’s Victory Call without commenting on vs. 19 of 1 Timothy 6, “that they may take hold of that which is truly life.” We are far too easily duped into thinking (aloud or silently) that “she who has the most toys ($$ or things) in the end wins.” We might not be so foolish as to actually admit that, but are we living as if we believe that? Holding fast to what is “ours”?

I think Timothy’s point is that it is not in holding onto our money, time, and gifts that gives us true life but rather in the generous giving of all those things that we will take hold of that which is truly life.

Diane