Giving the Gift of Gentleness

Fragile! Handle with CARE! Valuables. Breakables. Do NOT bend!

Gentleness is a demonstration of love and patience. Psalm 103:10 says “God does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities." Matthew 1 sets the stage for how God is going to put gentleness into motion by giving two important names to the baby born to Mary: Jesus: “He saves” and Immanuel: “God with us.”

The baby Jesus grew up and became a man. The values that he learned as a child would be put to the test. One of the most important attributes of Jesus’ ministry that would be tested to the very core was his gentleness. However, gentleness is one of the least talked about or even noticed abilities of his ministry.

There are three stories in the Gospels that give us a glimpse of how effective Jesus was in dealing with sinners and those who proclaimed self-righteousness.

The Well Water Woman - John 4: Through Jesus' unbiased and non-prejudiced attitude, He demonstrated the power of gentleness by treating her like a real person and not being judgmental even though he knew about her five marriages and living arrangements with the live-in boyfriend.

The goal was salvation, not condemnation!

Jesus, Lawyers, Pharisees, adultery - John 8: Gentleness? Yes! To a woman who had an affair? Yes! Sinner? Yes! Stoning rights? Yes! Were the law keepers and Pharisees sinners? Yes!

This scene of sinners is a teachable moment for those of us who are hard-nosed, judgementalist who think they have a market on rightness, holiness, and their own parking spot reserved for them when they get to heaven. Sounds harsh and with no evidence of gentleness, right? This is why it is so important to watch how we talk and treat others the way we want to be treated

Matthew 7 and 25 makes it clear that all judgment is reserved for Jesus, not us. Next time someone falls into sin, use it as a teaching moment, not a condemning episode.

The taxman and Jesus - Luke 19: No one likes a thief! The mentioning of the IRS will send chills down our spines. For Zacchaeus, he was the kind of man that took more than his share. He was disliked and avoided by everyone; well not everyone. Almost everyone. It is the Jesus factor. Jesus invites himself over to Zach's house.
That's right, the Messiah himself is now going to audit the taxman

This was no ordinary audit with calculators and spreadsheets, it was a soul-to-soul, heart to heart conversation about right living, not taking more than your share, and being fair and honest.

It had to be gentleness that broke through the barriers of Zacchaeus' obsession for money. He made a promise to Jesus that he would give money to the poor and repay those whom he cheated out four times the amount.

No recording of bad-mouthing the taxman. No condemning the thief. A simple conversation that resulted in Jesus saying to Zacchaeus, "Today salvation has come to this house."

gentleness was the means that opened up the opportunity for conversations, which led to restoration.

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian

Stepping Stones for Spiritual Growth

Our spiritual lives grow deeper when we our focused and taking steps to mature. If you are like me, it hard to be consistent in using the tools that equip us to battle sin, get along with others, and/or be faithful to the vows made to God. Most people do not wake up in the morning and say, “I wonder what sin I can do today.” When we were born again, we did not set out to live a mediocre spiritual life. But, in the busyness of our days, focus gets blurred and the steps to maturing gets steep and hard to climb.

There are four things that are key to spiritual growth that will enable each person to be a spiritual Christian each day.

Daily Worship – Worship is a 24/7 lifestyle: Revelation 4:8 "Day after day and night after night they keep on saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty—the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.” When God becomes the center-piece of our lives and we see Him as the glorious and majestic God of heaven, it is then we worship with a heartfelt attitude toward Him. Worship is focusing on God: Psalm 95:6 "Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker." Being God focused means that we see clearly the richness of God, the power of God, and the gentleness of God. Our view of God will inspire us to worship Him with humility and reverence.

Daily Prayer – Prayer is an opportunity to Adore God: Psalm 8:1-2, "O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens. You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength,...." God has given us everything to sustain us in life. Prayer is an opportunity to Admit our sins: 1 John 1:9,"But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness." Prayer is an opportunity to Appeal to God: 1 Samuel 1 is a powerful prayer chapter of a woman who makes an appeal to God for a child. Hannah is a story that demonstrates persistence, faith, and integrity.

Daily Bible Study – God's Word is not just words, but food: Matthew 4:1-11, "...not live by bread alone, but on every Word...." Regular bible intake feeds us spiritually. God's Word helps us grow-up: 1 Peter 2:1-5, "...may grow up in your salvation...." God's Word will help us mature as Christians. God's Word equips us: 2 Timothy 3:10-17, "...be thoroughly equipped for every good work" The Scriptures teaches us how to live.

Be Spirit-Led – Galatians 5:16 says that if we live by the Spirit, we will not want to be involved in things that take us to places that isn’t God honoring. Spirit-led people keep right focus, right living, and right relationships.

When our days are filled with worship, prayer, God’s Word, and the Spirit leading the way, a change will come about in our lives that no power of evil can over come us. And, No amount of distraction can detour us from our purposed life.

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian

Good News for a Broken World!

Gunfire. Roadside bombs. Suicide. Drugs. Abductions. Financial meltdown. Poverty. Bankruptcy. War. Rape. Divorce. Tsunamis. Earthquakes. Tornadoes. Hurricanes. Drunk-drivers. Drive-by shootings. Murder. Hate. Cancer. Disease. Racism. Homeless. Layoffs.

Broken?

Hearing the news their son has been killed in Afghanistan has shattered lives. Homes have been destroyed by wildfires. A trusted financial advisor has swindle every last dime. A baby girl has been taken from her crib…where is she? The doctor said, stage-4 cancer; no cure.

Broken?

Any relief? Yes! When? The pain hurts. The burden is heavy. The days are long. When will the shooting stop? When will I get a job? I just want my life back! Help! Somebody…Help!

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG)

To be broken is to be shattered. When we are hit with adversity, we are shattered into a thousand pieces. Our heart hurts and the pain cuts deep. However, we are not a lone. Never alone! God assured us, “I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you.” Hebrews 13:5 (MSG)

God is in the reassuring business. Isaiah 40 says that he energizes those who get tired and for those who wait upon God get fresh strength…they run and don’t get tired. (MSG)

The gunfire may never stop and drunks may never stop driving. Cancer may not be cured and wildfires may rage on. However, we have a God who will get us through the difficult days and the painful nights.

Healing is God’s specialty. Comfort is a God promise. Hope is ours to keep. Strength is given freely. And, rest is on the lap of our Father.

Broken? Good News! God can fix it!

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian

Good News for Imperfect People!

God is Love! God loves his kids unconditionally; no strings attached. He loves us for who we are, not for what we do. He loves us when we are not at our best and when we struggle with sin and when we lust with our eyes and when we say bad words and when we lie and when we cheat and when we are unfaithful to our vows of right living. Disappointed? Yes! Angry? Yes! Despite all of our acts of rebellion, he never stops loving any of us.

God’s desire for us is to be our very best and to live out our faith that is attractive. God’s intent for us is to be Spirit led, prayer driven, and faithful to our vows of right living. We are a blessed people to have a God who still loves us even though we struggle with sin.

God’s love is demonstrated in many ways. He creates a day for us to enjoy, play, and laugh. He provides for our needs and gives us resources to sustain us in life. He gave us his Son, Jesus so that our sins would be redeemed and his Spirit to indwell us so that we will have the strength to keep our vows of right living.

We do not have to be perfect to get God’s love. Because of our imperfect ways, Romans 5:8 says, “God demonstrates His own love for us in this, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” God’s sacrificial love is evidence that his love runs deep for each of his children. John tells us “God so loved the world that He gave us His Son…” The gift of his Son is proof that God isn’t just a God of talk, but of action.

It is good news that our sins are forgiven. I John 1:9 says, “…He is faithful and just and will forgive us of our sins and purify us from all unrighteous.” Forgiveness is often not our way, but it is always God’s way. Isaiah 43:25 says, “I will blot out your sins and remember them no more.” God is not a grudge holder, nor will he ever bring up our past after he has forgiven us.

God is love! He loves us for who we are and not for what we do

Remember, Be God Controlled,

Brian

Salty and Lit Up!

Surrendering to God is a spiritual process. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:14 – “The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolish to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

World without the Spirit:
The early bird gets the worm
No pain, no gain
There is no such thing as a free lunch
Demand your rights
Get what you pay for
I want people to get what they deserve – nothing more, nothing less.

Spiritually immature Christians have a negative affect on the world. Jesus said in Matthew 5:13-14, You are salt! You are Light! A NO Salt life means: “ A Christian life with no flavor.” A flavorless Christian life is tasteless, not Spirit-controlled, and it suffers from the “ME” syndrome.

The world with the Spirit:
Forgiveness (Not keeping our sin in his memory bank)
Love (He loves us for who we are, not what we do!)
Grace (Not earning our way to heaven)
Mercy (Not getting what we deserved)

In order to make a lasting impact in the world, every aspect of the Christian life must be seasoned with the flavor of Jesus. A Salt life means: “a tasty flavored life” If something doesn’t taste good; it generally isn’t eaten and thrown away. Christians have the responsibility of ensuring our life is tasteful so that it will cause someone to want to come back for seconds and thirds and fourths!

Jesus also said that we are the light of the world. Light helps others see what Christian values are all about. In order to help others see the value in having a relationship with Jesus, we must be lit up with love, joy, peace, kindness, and goodness. We must demonstrate godly values of mercy, grace, and forgiveness.

When the world puts the spotlight on Christians, they will see an attractive Spirit-filled person whose true beauty is spiritual and real living is tasteful, enjoyable, and reproducible.

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian

What Do You Do When You Fail?

Failing at something is a normal part of life. Babies do not learn to walk the first time they stand on their two little feet. A baby fails many times before she discovers the art of walking. Baseball player do not hit home runs or get on base every time they swing the bat. Archer’s do not hit the bulls-eye every time they let go of the bow. And, Christ- followers do not live perfect lives, nor do they resist the devil every time they are attacked.

God is not calling us to be perfect in anything that we do. However, He does call us to be faithful and resilient to being our best no matter what it is.

George Washington, the first president of the United States lost 2/3rd of the battles he fought in during the Revolutionary war. Despite the losing battles, his focus was not to give up and doom the young nation to failure. It was in the lost battles that Washington learned lessons and resolved not to repeat them in the next battle. Because of the resiliency of Washington and his fighters, they won the war.

During Babe Ruth’s career, he was considered one of baseball best players. Even to this day, Ruth is known as one of baseball’s best. His career lasted for 21 years. Ruth hit 714 home runs. However, Ruth didn’t get on base every time. Out of 10,617 plate appearances, Ruth struck out 1,330 times. It was not the failed plate appearances that made the headlines, but rather, the home runs.

Thomas Edison failed over 10,000 times. It is not the failures that are remembered about Edison, but rather, it is the light bulb that we use everyday. Edison went on to have over 1,000 inventions during his lifetime.

R.H. Macy failed 7 times before his store in New York caught on.

English Novelist John Creasey received 753 rejection slips before he published 564 books.

Do you get the point? I like the statement that was in the Wall Street Journal, “Worry about the chances you miss when you don’t even try.” It is not about failing that should ultimately be of concern, but rather, about how one reacts to failing.

Thomas of the bible is remembered as “doubting” Thomas, a man who failed to believe that Jesus was alive. While Thomas failed in believing that Jesus was alive, there is so much more about him than a momentary lack of faith. Upon seeing Jesus, he left his failed faith and became a spiritual leader that was willing to do what it takes to be a Christ-follower. John 11:16, "Then Thomas said to the rest of the disciples, let us go, that we may die with Him.”

Living the Christian life can be hard, demanding, and painful. Failing happens. Going against God’s best for us, happens. Sinning happens. However, those who will not get mired up in the spiritual failings and make the necessary changes will not live in failure, but rather in victory! Romans 6:22 says that we have been set free and that we have benefits that lead to holiness and eternal life.

Failings will happen. It is what you do after failing that will make all the difference in the world.

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian

Yes dad, I trust you!

The water was murky, deep, and swarming with all kinds of river creatures. Black River is its name. Located near the town of Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. My dad was born and raised in that little town before moving to the big city of St. Louis to work for the General Motors Corporation.

Many of my childhood memories take me back to Walnut Ridge. I remember the days of traveling in our green with brown paneling station wagon to see grandma. Before grandma moved into town, she lived deep in the woods. We drove on dirt roads for miles. There were watermelon and rice farms as far as the eye could see.

The scenery was a still frame. Farm houses. Outhouses. Dilapidated schoolhouse. And, an old white church house that use to be the gathering place of worshipers for the little community in the woods.

Many of our trips to see grandma would be spent on the banks of the Black River. It was as primitive as you can get. No RV’s. No electrical hook-ups. No bathhouse. It was camping as rough as rough can be. Thinking back to those days, I never remember anyone complaining about how rough it was.

The Black River was the center of our entertainment as kids and a place where I learned to trust. In order to play in the river, we had to know how to swim. One day, my dad decided he was going to teach me. He said, “I needed to trust him and not be afraid”. He picked me up as high as he could and asked me, “are you ready?” I said, “ready for what?” The next thing I know, I am flying through the air and seeing the water underneath me. I heard myself screaming in one moment and gasping for air the next. I’m kicking my legs and wailing my arms. “HELP!” I cried! My dad said, “It’s ok, I’m right here.” He picked me up and I held tightly to his neck. “I don’t ever want to do that again,” I said. But, I heard my dads voice say to me again, “trust me.” He picked me up as high as he could and said, “ready?” I said, “No!!!!!” Apparently, he didn’t hear me because I was flying through the air again. Gasping, kicking, and gasping. It was in the Black River that I not only learned how to swim, I learned how to trust.

Trusting in someone takes time. There are many who have been disappointed, abused, and/or neglected. To tell someone to trust in a God whom they cannot see and that He will never disappoint, abuse, nor neglect anyone has to be tested and approved over time.

I believe that the more we trust God and allow ourselves to be vulnerable and open to Him, the more we develop a deep trust in Him. Psalm 50:15 says “I want you to trust Me in your times of trouble so I can rescue you and you can give Me glory.” (LB) The psalmist said in Psalm 13:5, "But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me." (NLT).

Throughout Scripture, God has promised to meet our needs and always be there for us. Whether the needs are: Emotional. Financial. Physical. Spiritual. Relational. Or, just everyday needs. In fact, one of the Hebrew names for God is Jehovah Jirah, which means, “I am the God who provides for you.” Genesis 22:14. Paul said to a group of Christians: “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 (NLT)

Life can be like being thrown into the Black River for the very first time: Gasping and kicking and gasping. Life isn’t easy, people will disappoint us, and some will even be abusive. However, God is always faithful to providing us with the resources we need to live physically and spiritually.

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian