"I'll pray; it won't help..."

Sometimes you hear the strangest things from fellow Christians....

I recently overheard two people, talking about a very sick family member. The one who's family member was dying, was clearly distraught. The other, a very well-respected leader, said "I'll pray; it won't help...."


Now here's the toughest thing.... He was exactly correct; his prayer was not going to help.

..... stunned silence (see graphic) .......

Let me explain. One of our biggest challenges as Christians is BELIEF. We may go to church, sing beautiful songs, perhaps recite a prayer or two (or three), and may even pray to a god (little 'g') who lives "out there". And as we examine our lives and the lives of those around us, guess what? Nothing happens. That's because performing all those 'religious' activities doesn't make us believers. And without belief, there is NO WAY God is going to work wonders in our lives. So when this person said "I'll pray; it won't help", he was exactly correct. HIS prayer was doomed from the start, because he didn't believe it was going to help!

Matthew 13:54-58 tells us of a time when Jesus the very Son of the almighty God, was stopped in His attempts to perform miracles, by the unbelief (NIV says "lack of faith") of the people he attempted to heal. Through their unbelief (lack of faith), they had turned aside the very power of God. The same is true today. God won't force us to believe in Him. But without belief, we've removed the opportunity to allow God to work in our lives (or as in the convesation I overheard, the lives of our friends and relatives). Without our belief, our prayers WON'T work, people around us WON'T be miraculously healed, and God's miraculous power will have been stopped cold.

But it doesn't have to be that way, thank God.


The Bible says. "...The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results." (James 5:16)


That's what the Bible says. How about an example closer to home, something you probably said/sang yourself. Do you remember this?

"How precious did that grace appear, the hour I first believed" ~Amazing Grace

Those aren't just pretty words. Ephesians 1:12-14 reminds us that at the moment we truly believe, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit (God's 'amazing grace'), as a promise, a guarantee, that He will give us the inheritance of eternal life with Him.

'You mean it's not about what church I sit in, or how big a cross I wear, or how many times I attend services in a week, or how much I gave at church, or how many fish bumper stickers I put on my car?' (that last one is supposed to be a humorous example, but I think you get the point)

The answer is no. The Bible tells us to believe. Simply believe. And at the point of belief, the very power of God, working through the Holy Spirit that takes up residence in us, WILL be with us, WILL enable us to have a powerful and effective prayer ministry, and WILL answer our prayers, including prayers to HEAL THOSE AROUND US.

Provided THEY believe too. (Remember, Jesus didn't heal those who didn't believe).

"Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" from Romans 10:17

It's not about pretty buildings. It's not about denominational groupings. It's not about where you were born, where you were baptized, or where you sit on Sunday (or Saturday, for you Adventists). It's not about the size of the church body. It's not about how many or how often you attend church. The Bible says, it's about hearing the word of God, and allowing that word to work a work of faith in you.

I leave you with this morsel to consider. In my 35 years living as someone who THOUGHT I was a Christian believer, I now see how difficult it was to hear the word of God through my personal reading of the scriptures alone. It was also difficult to hear the word of God when it was buried in man-made liturgies, incense, robes, candles (for the denominationalists out there), or even hopping, screeching, hankie-waving preachers (for the fundamentalists). God's word, the Holy Scriptures, brought to our ears through a preacher sent by God, work the power of belief and faith in each of us.

Lord, as it says in your word, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!". Give me that essential foundation of faith, and help my faith to increase, so that I become a more effective tool to bring your word and your amazing, healing grace to those around me. Help me, Lord, to walk truly live my belief in you, so that I may positively affect those around me, through your word and your power. Let your word convict me all the more, Lord. I'm putty in your hands.

I Believe. Now help me to believe all the more. Use Me, Lord!

God Bless each and every one of you!
-
Copyright 2009, by Scotty Ward

Fear is NOT Failure

This week has been very difficult: I allowed depression and fear to sneak in to my otherwise peaceful life, and it almost paralyzed me. At one point, my wife prayed over the phone while I just listened and cried.

But if we pay attention, God has a way of showing us why we're going through certain things. This was one of those learning examples. You see, I typically play the MP3 Bible in my truck as I drive, and for some reason, the Holy Ghost had me repeating - over and over again - 2 Chronicles 20, the story of Jehoshaphat, including the "neither know we what to do, but our eyes are on thee" phrase. It was pretty comforting, but this morning the Lord gave me my epiphany.

In verse 15, the prophet is telling King Jehoshaphat and the kingdom of Judah that the Lord says "... be not afraid or dismayed...", but I just passed right over the implication of a prophet telling a king not to be afraid. This morning, the first three words of VERSE 3, earlier in the chapter, hit me like a spiritual brick in the forehead:

"And Jehoshaphat feared..."

Yup. The king of Judah FEARED. And this isn't an isolated thing in the Bible. 1 Samuel 21 tells us that the great King David, a "man after God's own heart" was afraid of King Saul, but was even MORE afraid of the king where he fled, to avoid Saul. In 1 Kings 19:3, we read that "Elijah was afraid and fled for his life." Yes, it's true, God has not given us the spirit of fear, but sometimes the spirit of fear arrives nonetheless. Even the mightiest of KINGS and PROPHETS have times when their own fears can momentarily overtake them.

But right after the Lord showed me about the king's fear, He showed me how the verse continues, "and set himself to seek the LORD..."

God keeps on blessing us, even through our fears. If one day I'm feeling fear and someone exhorts me with the familiar Bible verse, "God has not given us a spirit of fear", I shouldn't consider my feelings of fear as some sort of failure or shameful event. Fear in itself is only a feeling. Even kings and mighty prophets had moments of fear. Rather, the feeling of fear should remind me of where my blessings come from, and to turn in that direction.

Psalm 31:12-14 - I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel. For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life. But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God.

May God richly bless you and yours, today and every day. Amen.

-
© 2009 Scotty Ward

How About THIS Bread?

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

~Matthew 6:33 (New Living Translation)



During a recent trip to our local supermarket, my wife and I spent a very long time in the bakery section. We had resolved on this trip to find breads made with whole grains, but also bread that seemed agreeable to those who only ate white bread in the past.


We went to rack after rack, examining bread based on the subjective (how soft and eatable it looked) as well as the objective (whether it was made with whole grain, i.e. more healthy). Time after time, we'd pick up a loaf clad in bright packaging, proudly showing it to each other, saying "this one probably has whole grains", only to turn it over and find it contained none. The bread packaging was downright unreliable; it seemed the bread companies went to great lengths to accentuate the "selling points" of their breads, such as "soft", "rich", "goodness", and even "100% wheat". But after about five minutes of turning loaves over, we discovered that regardless what the pretty labels claimed, the only way we could learn if the bread truly contained whole grain was to examine the ingredients label on the back of the package.

Proverbs 21:2 (Amplified Bible) Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs and tries the hearts.


If you consider it, the Bible is God's "content label" for our spiritual lives. The enemy and the rest of the world try to get us to "buy this" or "try this". And they sure make those sinful activities SEEM nice. Even Satan himself disguises himself as a beautiful, beautiful being to look upon (see 2 Cor 11:14). In his audio commentary, The late Dr. J. Vernon McGee says it nicely: "Satan is an angel of light, and if you could see him, if he made himself visible to you, you'd see the most beautiful angel you've ever seen." Satan (and sin) seem beautiful, desirable, and compelling. But human attractiveness is not how God measures His will for our lives.


There's a way that looks harmless enough; look again—it leads straight to hell. (Proverbs 16:25, The Message)


So if something LOOKS good, if it SEEMS pleasing to us, how do we determine if it's really what God wants for us? There's only one way. Open your Bible (just like you turn the bread over), and learn directly from the objective source of God's will for humanity, His Word.


Sunday School, Bible Study, Home Bible Study Groups, Personal Bible Study. All of these are extremely important to help you learn the appropriate course for your life, because it's only through God's Word that you will discover God's divine will for you. Everything else may SEEM pretty, noble, and even "spiritual" (whatever that is). But in the end, straying from God's word leads (as it says it in The Message) " ...straight to hell."


We have two choices in our lives: we can do what we think is best, or we can learn what God's Word tells us to do, and do that instead. Ignore the "packaging", the pretty claims, the hype and the downright desirability of an idea. God's word does not promise physical comfort in this life. It promises a course that leads to eternal life with Him.


So take your life's situations and desires, and compare them to God's Word (i.e. compare your thoughts and actions to the Bible). Ask Him if the spiritual "bread you're buying" actually contains the holy ingredients that are healthy for your soul.


His label will surely tell you the whole truth. Amen.


-
© 2009 Scotty Ward

BIBLICAL PRAISE

What does the word "Praise" mean? Does it mean the same thing to you as it does to the person "praising" beside you? How do you know you're truly "giving God praise", if you don't fully recognize what "praise" is?

An individual's definition may fall short of the actual Biblical use of the words we see as "praise". Yes, the Bible has numerous words in Hebrew and Greek that have been turned into "praise" in the English language versions of the Bible. Here they are: Examine them closely to see how closely your church's praise aligns with praise from the Bible.

First, we need to view the word PRAISE and determine what it means in English (the "roots" of words can be very helpful). The word "praise" is derived from the Latin pretium, “price” or “value” (Thus it may be defined generally as an ascription of value or worth).

Now, let's examine the Biblical words that were translated into our English (formerly Latin) word, "praise". It's very important to note that praise can describe a number of different things. The numbers you see are from Strong's Concordance.

OLD TESTAMENT
#1984, “halal” – to be clear, often of color; to shine (hence to make a show, to boast); to rave; to be clamorously foolish; celebrate, commend.

#3034, “yadah” – to use the hand; revere or worship (by extending the hand); praise, give thanks.

#8416 “tehillah” – from halal; laudation, a hymn, praise.

#2167 “zamar” – striking of the fingers; to play, make music, accompanied by the voice (hence to celebrate, give praise, sing forth praises).

NEW TESTAMENT
#133/134/136 “aino/ainesis/ainos” – a commendable story; the act of praising, thanking; a story of praise.

#1867/1868 “epaino/epainos” from #134 – to applaud, commend, loud, praise; laudation, praise, a commendable thing; (“epi”=toward or upon, unto).

#2127 “eulogeo” – to speak well of, to bless, praise; thank or invoke a benediction upon.

Did you notice general "themes" in the use of the word "praise"? I saw some. For example, praise is dynamic in nature. It's vocal, lyrical, and often with others. It often involves movement of the body. In some cases, it's loud and boastful, perhaps so much that it may seem "foolish" to others around you. But in the Biblical sense of the word, if you do the above, you're praising like they did in Biblical times.

All of the above uses of the word "praise" are literal Biblical examples for us, of what true, historic praise looked and sounded like. Now examine the praise in your church, and see how closely aligned (or widely variant) your church's "praise" is to Biblical "praise".

If the praise you partake in during your church services doesn't align with the Biblical use of the word..... well, let's just say an examination may be in order.

In Psalms 146-150, the word "PRAISE" was used 41 times! Now THAT'S PRAISE!

God Bless!

-
© 2009 Scotty Ward

Prayer A.D.D.?

James 5:16b (KJV) - The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

My prayers do make a difference, in my own life and the lives of those around me. But during time of prayer, I often find my mind wandering. I catch myself thinking on the day's activities, what I'm going to eat, running "dialog scripts" in my mind of what was said or what I plan to say, etc. It's like my mind wanders into and out of prayer, like prayer is just one of the items on my mental "to do list". My mind has a real problem staying focused. It's like I have 'prayer attention deficit disorder'.

Isaiah 26:3 (KJV) - Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

I searched for some understanding of this scripture, and the Lord had me to delve into the word "stayed". Here's what I found:

According to Gesenius' Lexicon, the Hebrew word we read as "stayed" means 'to place, or lay something upon anything, so that it may rest upon, and be supported by it. To lay the hand on anything, so as to lean upon the hand.'

So using this definition, I can conceive that this word describes the 'laying my mind upon the Lord, so as to lean on the mind, which is already placed on God'. See where this goes? The Lord wants us to keep our minds STAYED (placed) on him, so that when the time of trial comes, our minds are already prepared, so we can 'lean' on him!

Psalm 37:39 (KJV) - But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.

Lord teach me. Help me renew and refocus my mind toward you, during the good times and the bad times. When things are quiet and when they're in turmoil. I want to learn to 'place my mind on you', so later on when all hell is breaking loose, my mind has been prepared to lean on you.

Thank you for showing me my prayer isn't just arriving, isn't just kneeling, isn't just about the words. Its much, much more. It's also a time of training and preparation, because only YOU know what awaits me around the corner.

Teach me Lord. Teach me.

© 2008 Scotty Ward

Sorry, my Foot's at Home on the Couch

I posted a Twitter micro-blog over the weekend, which generated a question, so I thought I'd address it here. This was my Tweet:

Do you believe the Bible? Then church is where you should be (choose based on Biblical truths being taught, not denom).

Then I added a link that pointed to the following scripture:

Hebrews 10:25 (CEV)
Some people have gotten out of the habit of meeting for worship, but we must not do that. We should keep on encouraging each other, especially since you know that the day of the Lord's coming is getting closer.

Someone read the tweet and responded: "Where does Bible say to be in church? I read that God doesn't dwell in Temples made with hands."

First thing's first. The scripture they mention is not a reference to church or to the body of believers. The scripture is from 2 Corinthians 5:1, which does indeed mention "... an house not made with hands". But the scripture refers to the human body (tabernacle), and that if the tabernacle (human body) "were dissolved", the resurrection body "eternal in the heavens" would be our dwelling place. The Contemporary English Version clarifies this very nicely:

2 Corinthians 5:1-2 (CEV) - Our bodies are like tents that we live in here on earth. But when these tents are destroyed, we know that God will give each of us a place to live. These homes will not be buildings that someone has made, but they are in heaven and will last forever. While we are here on earth, we sigh because we want to live in that heavenly home.

So when I spoke of church in my tweet, I was referring to the body of Christ, the assembly of the saints, those called to "go and tell" the gospel.

Romans 12:4-5 (CEV) - A body is made up of many parts, and each of them has its own use. That's how it is with us. There are many of us, but we each are part of the body of Christ, as well as part of one another.

Which brings me to the (albeit humorous) blog topic. We are all one body in Christ Jesus, yet if some members of the body forsake (deliberately turn away from) the assembling together as that body in worship, then we are less of a body, and therefore less effective.

Romans 10:13-17 (MSG) - Everyone who calls, 'Help, God!' gets help. But how can people call for help if they don't know who to trust? And how can they know who to trust if they haven't heard of the One who can be trusted? And how can they hear if nobody tells them? And how is anyone going to tell them, unless someone is sent to do it? ... The point is: Before you trust, you have to listen. But unless Christ's Word is preached, there's nothing to listen to.

And no, the television, gospel radio, and internet streaming sermons are NOT substitutes for assembling. They are ways to OBSERVE, but none of them allows CONTRIBUTION on your part. Basically, you're "all take and no give", if these are your primary means of staying spiritually connected. And when left to his own, man will invariably stray. God speaks through the prophet Jeremiah in describing this sad situation.

Jeremiah 50:6 (KJV) - My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace.

Lord, help us to remember that we are connected, one to another, within the body of Christ. I need others just as much as they need me, because we are all of one purpose, and together we strengthen each other. Alone, we're just sheep, just prey for the enemy. Keep us together in worship of you and love for one another, Lord. Keep us connected.

Amen

© 2009 Scotty Ward

Wearing the Jersey....

"Wearing the Jersey Doesn't Make You a Member of the Team"
~ Anonymous

I'm a member of our Evangelistic Outreach team, sent by Pastor Hunt into the neighborhoods of Charles County to knock on doors and seek the lost souls. We don't go knocking on doors to find someone to "win over", but instead to offer people a helping hand, if they desire to be saved. In some cases, we pray with them at their door, but more often than not, the people we visit tell us they're not interested.

One Saturday morning, we visited a particular neighborhood, and as a door opened to me, (after introducing myself) I asked our usual question: "Do you believe in our Lord, Jesus Christ?" One woman's response was curious. As we broke the ice with the above question, her only and immediate response was "I'm _______" (Major Christian denomination). If I'm able to guess what she was trying to indicate with her answer, she seemed to be telling us "Yes, of course I believe. I'm a ________, and ________s believe, so I believe".

Well, praise God. I picked up on her cue, that she was at least affiliated with a section of Christianity, I said "Praise God. Where do you attend?" "Oh, I haven't been to church in years."

She didn't seem interested in a message of salvation through anything but HER church's denomination, which is entirely her right, but more curiously, she also didn't seem interested in attending worship services, Bible study, or affiliating in any way with the Body of Christ, even with her own local denomination.

Hebrews 10:23-25 (NIV) - Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

It seemed she felt everything was okay in her life because she was a member of a particular Christian denomination. She didn't speak of a private worship or prayer life, or of her own study of the scriptures. I got the impression she believed that by being a member of this denomination, that fact alone automatically placed her in right standing with God.

Philippians 2:12-13 (NLT) - Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

This scripture tells me that IF I'm operating in God's will, I'm seeking to do His will all the time, and I'm doing it "with deep reverence and fear". Nowhere in the scriptures (with the exception of the Israelites; the Jews) does God indicate that by being a member of this or that particular religious group (i.e. "wearing the jersey") you are nearer to a right relationship with Him.

Bottom line: It's not about my membership. It's about working on my own soul's salvation.

I pray this blog serves as a reminder to all the readers that your (and my) salvation is a personal matter between you/me and God, and you'll find all about it by staying in God's Word daily and by attending worship where Christ is glorified (Scotty's Personal Opinion follows: how can you tell if one or another denomination or service is "good"? First, pray and ask God to show you where to worship. Second, try counting the number of scriptures they use as part of their worship. If you see only a few scriptures mixed in with all the beautiful robes, processions, incense, and high-falutin' language (see Isaiah 1:12-13), you might want to pray about where you're at, and why).

Don't make the fatal mistake of relying on your affiliation with this or that particular DENOMINATION (see Hebrews, above) for your soul's salvation. And by all means don't rely on whether it FEELS right to you (see Proverbs 16:2). Work your own soul's salvation, with the scriptures as your guide. It takes work, but Jesus said he'll never leave us or forsake us. The Comforter (Holy Spirit) is with us to guide us to all truth. Denominations don't make the difference. Jesus does.

Have a wonderful and blessed weekend, and perhaps I'll see you at worship!

(Published Previously as "Salvation by Association?")
© 2010 Scotty Ward

What Lord? STOP clapping??

Romans 11:33 (NLT) - "Oh, how great are God's riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!"

A few years ago, when I was seeking the baptism in the Holy Spirit, I was doing all I knew to do for God. I was turning down my plate and fasting, I was tithing (for the first time in my life), and I was attending every service I could at our church. I would drive to Southern Maryland from Alexandria Virginia for each service (not a short drive), and even at that, I often arrived early and stayed late. I had my "mind stayed" on God; sure enough. So it's no surprise that I began to hear (or perhaps to HEED) that still, small voice a little more. And one message I heard caused me to scratch my head in wonder, and ask for a second opinion from our pastor.


You see, I had joined the Church Of God In Christ (COGIC), which is the largest pentecostal denomination in America. Their services are - to say the least - dynamic, musical, and vibrant. I take great pleasure in praising God in this fashion, standing near the front, clapping my hands, and singing along with the praise team or the mass choir.

Then one day, in the midst of all this, I heard a voice say simply "stop clapping." WHAT?? "stop clapping for one week". Nothing else. No explanation, nothing. But clapping is my ..... my "vehicle" for showing God my praise. It was one of the principal "tools" I used, to show God how much I love and appreciate him. How could I praise him WITHOUT clapping?

I was so confused, I spoke to my pastor, and his response was beautiful. "Well, if the Lord told you to stop clapping, then you'd better do what he said."

Now I was REALLY confused. But I decided that I'd do exactly what I had been instructed, no matter how silly it sounded to me.

So I stopped clapping. And the first couple days were positively excruciating. The music would start, the people would stand and begin to clap and sing, and I went right along with them. I'd stand, I'd sing too, but as soon as I put my hands together to clap, the words of instruction came back to remembrance, and I put my hands back at my side. It was tremendously difficult to NOT clap!

But then, after a few days of uncomfortable obedience, a wonderful thing happened! God had stopped me from using my hands to praise him, and I just HAD to show him praise. So if I couldn't use my hands in praise, what else could I use?

Psalm 51:15 (KJV) - "O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise."

Yep. By asking me to withhold the praise I had been giving God through my clapping, God allowed my spirit to discover a new avenue of praise. My MOUTH.

Hebrews 13:15 (KJV) - "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name."

And after that week, I again began to clap during the services. But this time, my clapping and toetapping and singing was accompanied by the "fruit of my lips".

Psalm 47:1 (KJV) - "O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph."

Nowadays, I tap my feet. I clap my hands. I dance, I jump, I even run. And now, in addition, because I was obedient to God's loving instruction, I can now praise him as loud as I like, with my voice. I can even shout my praise (and frequently DO).


Thank you, Lord. You taught me a valuable lesson. When you ask me to go somewhere or do something, I don't need to run your instruction through the "does that make sense to Scotty" filter. When you ask, help me to remain constantly obedient.

© 2009 Scotty Ward

Come On Home....

"...your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!"

from Luke 15:32 (NLT)

The parable of the prodigal son tells us just how far God will allow us to roam, but it also gives some wonderful insight on how patient and loving God is when we choose to return.

Psalm 139:16 (NLT) tells us: "You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed."

So based on the two scriptures above, we can see that:

1. The father KNEW the son would be asking for his inheritance
   
2. The father KNEW the son would waste it all in riotous living
   
3. The father KNEW the son would go hungry as a result of his own selfish actions
   

but best of all...

The father KNEW the son would eventually "come to himself", and return, asking for forgiveness.

Because God is all-knowing, he knows EXACTLY what we've been doing, and yet loves us enough to keep watching the road, awaiting our return. There's only one thing delaying this joyful reunion: Our own pride.

Proverbs 21:4 tells us that a proud heart is sin, and we know that sin separates us from God. Until you lay aside your own prideful thoughts and your own self-seeking paths, God will continue to stand and watch the road for you, expectantly waiting for you to turn from your own foolishness and re-join the family. He knows where you are; you know it too. But you haven't strayed too far; you're not entirely lost. The Bible assures us He's waiting for you to return. No matter how far you've gone, the return path to God is ALWAYS available.

Come on home. Visit God in a Bible-believing Christian church near you. And if you don't seem to be finding God at the church you visit, I invite you to give New Community a try.

He's waiting for you. God Bless.

© 2009 Scotty Ward

"What? No Bagels?"

Matthew 5:14-16 (New Living Translation; emphasis mine)
“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father."

God has given me so much throughout the years. He saved me at the age of 35, blessed me with the baptism in the Holy Ghost at the age of 45, and has given me the best wife in the world along with five children and EIGHT grandchildren! There's more, but suffice it to say, I'M BLESSED FAR BEYOND WHAT I DESERVE.

Which brings me to today's blog. I have, on a few occasions, bought bagels for the office. I've been blessed, so I pass those blessings on. But a few days ago I hadn't brought in bagels for the office, but instead bought one for myself, and was eating it in the breakroom. One of my coworkers entered, and his first statement to me was "So Scotty, no bagels?" I immediately got defensive. I said that I had bought bagels 4-5 times, so it seemed fair that someone else could buy the bagels this time. My snippy response was sensible, logical, well-reasoned, and FAIR.

But the Holy Spirit reminded me that the Lord doesn't play "fair", according to man's standards. He sent His only son to earth to walk among us and teach us about his Dad, and then to suffer the most humiliating of deaths as an absolutely innocent victim, in payment for the sins we brought on ourselves by our sinful nature. Fair? Absolutely not. But Godly? Yes, indeed!

Today's scripture taken from Jesus' "sermon on the mount" reminds me that my actions don't need to be fair, don't need to be balanced, and don't need to be appropriate. The Lord has been unfailingly GENEROUS to us, far beyond what any human could possibly call FAIR. And if I'm to be that "city on a hilltop" Jesus spoke about, shining God's light to the darkness all around me, human fairness shouldn't drive my speech or my actions. People are supposed to see Christians in action, and what these people observe is supposed to be so UNbalanced and so UNfair, that it causes them to spontaneously thank God themselves!

Next time, the bagels are on me. Perhaps I'll bring a bowl of fruit as well. And thanks for the lesson, Lord!

-
© 2009 Scotty Ward

I Don't Understand ...

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. ~Proverbs 4:7

We can learn a lot from our grandchildren.

Our pastor has been encouraging us to spend more time in God's Word. He even suggested we spend a little less time listening to gospel CDs and radio (if that's what we've been listening to), and obtain CD recordings of the scriptures to play.

I couldn't afford to buy a set of Bible CDs, so I found and downloaded a free MP3 narrated Bible from the Firefighters for Christ site, then burned it to 2 CDs, to play in my truck.

This past weekend, I was playing the CD while driving to the store with my 7-year old granddaughter, Kaylin. Romans 7 was playing. I was half paying attention to the speaker, but suddenly my granddaughter said "I don't understand what that means." I was somewhat startled, and asked her "..what are you talking about?" She immediately pointed at the MP3 player. She had obviously been listening to the narrator, and comprehending to the point where she heard a part she didn't understand, and asked me about it!

We were able to spend the next couple minutes talking about Paul's message, in which he speaks of the war that occurs between body and spirit. I believe she was enlightened, and I was greatly humbled.

I praise God for the small things, especially this small person, reminding me that I need to be more intentional in the way I listen to the scriptures, even if it's while driving to the store.

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© 2009 Scotty Ward

What's MY Role?

"Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. ~ Romans 12:4-8 (New Living Translation)

Let me tell you about three people I know (names have been changed):

Mel: Wonderful church leader, but filled with so much pain, he's had trouble talking about it to anyone but his closest Christian brothers. His ROLE as I saw it was to remind me of my own human frailty, and to help me remember the apostle Paul's writings, "for when I am weak, then am I strong".

Mandy: Contrary, argumentative, and sometimes just downright uppity. She'd ask the tough questions in Bible Study and Sunday School, and often the teacher didn't have an answer that satisfied her. Her ROLE as I saw it was to keep us teachers from getting sloppy. We were teaching the inspired Word of God, and Sister Mandy ensured we studied and prepared thoroughly, so we could address any questions or issues.

John: Such quiet serenity. He could sit in the pulpit and just WAVE his hand, and you could feel the power of his belief. His ROLE was to remind me that even the smallest of gestures offered in praise to God through faith, have tremendous value.

You may have heard this story before: A gentleman was walking through the countryside during the Middle Ages. He came upon two stonecutters, working in the shadow of a partially-completed cathedral. He asked the first "What are you doing?" The man's response? "I'm cutting this stone to be this high by this wide by this deep". Then he asked the second man, "What are you doing?", and this man's response was entirely different: "I'm building a cathedral". Only the second stonecutter seemed to be aware of where his work fit into the larger "picture" of the cathedral.

Take a look at the two cups shown in this blog. One is cute and durable, one beautiful and fragile. If I ask you "Which is better?", a precise answer is impossible, because each of these cups is especially suited to fulfill a specific role.

So today I'd like you to close your eyes and ask yourself, "WHAT'S MY ROLE" in the body of believers? What gift has God given me that is unique and particular just to me? And how can I use that unique and special gift, to help ensure God gets some glory out of my life?

Lord, I thank you for allowing me to recognize that I play a part in the successful accomplishment of your kingdom on earth. Please help me recognize my ROLE within the body of believers. Help me to understand how my ROLE, no matter how small, MAKES A DIFFERENCE, and without me, the body won't work quite so well. And Lord, give me the courage to walk into that role boldly and continuously, so you'll get the glory in all I do.

Amen!

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© 2009 Scotty Ward

Ding, Dong!

DING DONG! παρουσία (Greek word 'Parousia')

There you are at home, just minding your own business. Perhaps you're washing dishes, reading the newspaper, or watching TV. And then in a moment, Ding, Dong! your life suddenly changes. It's the Prize Patrol, and you've won a multi-million dollar jackpot!

Here's another scenario, but this time it's the state police, notifying you that your loved one has been involved in a terrible automobile accident.

In both cases, your entire frame of human reference moves from one state to another, in an instant. You've had no time to prepare for it; you can't avoid it. It just occurs.

Jesus spoke of the same type of event. The Greek word 'parousia' was what Jesus used to describe the "no-notice"; life changing" event, which will occur when He returns.

Matthew 24:27 (CEV) The coming of the Son of Man will be like lightning that can be seen from east to west.

And when Jesus returns, people will exhibit one of two emotions (besides surprise). One will be an overwhelming JOY, and the other will be the deepest sense of DREAD. Which will it be for YOU?

Lord, I thank you for your scriptures and the life of your Son, Jesus Christ. He spent his earthly life here, trying to help us learn and understand that you love us so much, no price is too great to pay for our successful return, even the sacrifice of His only Son. Help us to refocus on you today, and reprioritize our lives in such a manner that, when that inevitable event occurs and your Son returns to claim His church, MY reaction will be one of pure joy.

Amen.

-© 2008 Scotty Ward

Our Little Secret

Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
Matthew 6:1

At a church event this weekend, we had a typical offering, but this offering changed my way of thinking. At these church events, nearly 'everybody who's somebody' is there, with the bishop presiding. On this day, they asked for a certain amount from each person, and I was pleased to see that I had a mixture of large and small bills that added up to the amount they asked. They then asked everyone to lift their money as a dedication. I automatically put the big bill on the outside, because I was in a crowd, and I didn't want to seem "cheap".

Then I turned to look around me and my eyes caught those of a wise old mother. She just looked at me, but her kind, quiet eyes spoke volumes. I immediately turned the bills inside out, so the $1 bill was on the outside.

She seemed to ever-so-slightly nod her approval.

Lord, I thank you for the wise saints you've sprinkled throughout my life. May I never miss their teaching. And Lord, help me to remember that when I give, I'm giving to you. Please help me to put pride behind me, so that I can truly experience that right relationship with you.

Amen

-© 2008 Scotty Ward