From His Heart

[Judy Harder]

A Breath of Refreshing Air

"For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother."  Philemon 1:7

Have you noticed how many people there are walking around stressed, depressed, and burdened down?  Lots of folks you and I rub shoulders with every day are facing the turmoil of rumored lay-offs, dreaded disease, marital problems, blended family strife, financial hardship, spiritual doubts, emotional disillusionment, and the list goes on.  No one ever said that life was easy, because it certainly isn't.  And many are cracking under the weight of it.     

Maybe you are reading this thinking, "Pastor Jeff just described me.  I am so stressed and burdened right now ... and I don't know what to do."  Well, Jesus gives a great invitation to those of us who are worried, worn out, and beaten down, "Come to Me all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).

The Greek word for rest (anapauo) is the same word translated refreshed in Philemon 1:7.  Interesting.  You see, the Lord wants to give you rest from your weariness, and He wants to refresh your soul and give you a new lease on life.  He is truly a wonderful Savior.

PARTNERING WITH JESUS

In addition, the Lord wants to use you to be an ambassador of rest and refreshment to weary, worried souls.  He wants to lift your spirits so that you can lift the spirits of others.

Philemon was a person like that.  He had been saved and changed by God's amazing grace.  The Holy Spirit was at work in him, and all could tell.  Paul had great love and admiration for Philemon because everywhere he went he was refreshing and encouraging heavy hearts.  He was letting the Lord shine through Him.  He was making such a difference as he cast his own burden on the Lord and partnered with Jesus to lift the burdens of others.

HOW ABOUT YOU?       

Are you like Philemon?  Do you cast your burdens on Jesus and let Him use you to help unburden others?  You would be amazed at the impact you could have if you would simply ask God to make you sensitive to the hurts and cares of people ... and the opportunity you have to refresh their hearts with a word of hope and compassion. 

Isaiah 50:4 says, "The Lord God has given me the tongue of disciples, that I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word."

Recently, my wife talked to a friend who is going through terrible, ongoing bouts with vertigo.  God gave Debbie a word to give to her ... and it made such a difference.  After talking to Debbie for a few minutes, she really did feel encouraged and refreshed in her faith.  How cool is that!? 

Will you pray, "God, please give me a sensitivity to see burdened people as You see them.  Give me a word for the weary one that would encourage, refresh, and bring renewed hope to that discouraged soul.  I want to be a breath of refreshing air.  Use me, Jesus, to make a difference today."

  Love,
Pastor Jeff Schreve
From His Heart Ministries
www.fromhisheart.org

[Judy Harder]

It Takes Practice

"The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you."  Philippians 4:9

I'm a bad golfer.  I like to play, but I never score well.  Years ago, when I was beyond bad (I've improved a ton to get to bad), I was playing with my boss at Nalco.  Greg was a very good golfer.  At hole 12, I humbled myself and asked him for some advice for my game.  He told me to sell my clubs.  How rude ... but understandable.

As anyone who plays golf knows, the secret to getting good is that dirty little eight letter word
P-R-A-C-T-I-C-E.  You will never consistently hit the ball on the course unless you hit tons of balls on the driving range.  Practice is essential to playing good golf.

Practice is also essential to the Christian life. Paul told the Christians in Philippi that they needed to take what he had taught them and modeled for them ... and put it into practice in their daily lives.  You see, it is not enough to know the truth.  You must start applying the truth to your life in order to receive any benefit from the truth.

MARRIAGE COUNSELING

Debbie and I have been teaching and counseling couples in marriage for many years.  We know what the Bible says about making marriage survive and thrive.  We can give you chapter and verse on loving leadership, godly submission, conflict resolution, sexual intimacy, and the like.  And you know what?  Our own marriage is not benefitted one iota if we fail to put these truths into practice.

A few years ago, we were driving to Rogers, AR to lead a marriage conference there.  Rogers is about a five hour drive from our home in Texarkana, TX.  Debbie was driving, and I was napping, and we somehow ended up in Oklahoma.  Now, I'm not great with directions, but I knew something was seriously wrong.  Debbie claimed that our wrong turn was my fault since - get this - I was sitting in the navigator's chair.  I tried to explain that I was sleeping, but to no avail.  I was mad, and she was mad, and it was "game on."  We didn't speak to one another for hours ... and we were driving to lead a marriage conference!  (#Hypocrites!)

Well, the good news is we were both convicted, apologized for getting mad, forgave each other and made up that night, a day before the conference started.  (#Nolongerhypocrites!)   

What is the point?  Jesus said, "If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them" (John 13:17).  Blessing is not in the knowing of God's commands, it is in the doing of God's commands, applying and practicing His Word in daily life.

HOW ABOUT YOU?

Are you putting God's Word into practice in your life?  You know to forgive those who hurt you, but are you doing it?  You know to seek first the kingdom of God in your life, but are you doing it first thing in the morning?  You know the Lord loves a cheerful giver, but are you cheerfully giving?  You know the Lord wants you to walk by faith and not by sight, but are you looking around instead of looking up?

If you will put God's Word into practice in your life, you will see the blessings flow ... and "the God of peace shall be with you."

[Judy Harder]

The Problem With Forgiveness

"Then Peter came and said to Him, 'Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him?  Up to seven times?' and Jesus said to him, 'I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.'"  Matthew 18:21-22

Let's face it, forgiving those who offend us is not an easy thing to do.  When we feel that we have been used, abused and unjustly treated, the human inclination is to desire revenge.  When someone hurts us or someone we love, we naturally want to hurt that person back.  It's true for me, for you, for everyone.     

Peter knew about this inclination, and he asked the Lord about the limits of forgiveness.  No doubt, Peter thought he was being quite magnanimous when he said, "Up to seven times?"  Surely, he expected Jesus to applaud his graciousness.  After all, the rabbis taught that you only had to forgive three times.  But, Jesus didn't applaud Peter.  Instead, He burst his bubble and presented him with the challenge of unlimited forgiveness. (Seventy times seven was His way of saying there is no cap on forgiving your brother.)

Furthermore, Jesus added to this subject by saying these startling words, "But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive the wrongs you have done" (Matt. 6:15 GNB).  Whoa!  Talk about a heavy statement.  If you don't forgive, you cut yourself off from God's forgiveness.

HOW CAN YOU FORGIVE?   

If forgiveness is this critical, and it is, then how can you and I forgive when someone intentionally (or unintentionally) does something that hurts us deeply?  Let me offer some encouragements to help you forgive that person (or persons) who did you wrong and caused you pain.

1.  Focus on your own forgiveness.  Matthew 18:23-35 is a great parable that speaks of the need to forgive from the heart.  In that parable, Jesus tells of a servant who owed his master 10,000 talents, an incredible sum of money that could never be repaid.  We are that servant.  We owe a sin debt to God that we could never repay, but Jesus paid it for us when He died on the cross.  As you and I focus on the awe of our own undeserved forgiveness, it helps us to forgive others who have really done very little to hurt us, comparatively speaking.         

2.  Exercise faith.  If you wait until you feel forgiving toward that one who lied about you, betrayed you, abused you, or stabbed you in the back, you may never forgive.  Obeying God's clear command to forgive is not dependent on feelings.  It is dependent on faith.  By faith, forgive that one who hurt you, release that one from the natural inclination for revenge and retribution.  Let go of the offense and the "pound of flesh" due you.  Give that offender over to the Lord, and let Him deal with that person as He sees fit.  Vengeance is His, and He will repay.     

3.  Be good to yourself.  Newsflash: Holding a grudge against someone who hurt you doesn't hurt that person, it only hurts you.  A bitter, unforgiving spirit does not punish the person who offended you, it punishes you and those whom you love.  It's like drinking poison, hoping the other person will die.  Listen, be good to yourself.  Put down the bottle of poison and release the offender from the jail of your heart.  By not forgiving others, you shut off the flow of God's love and grace in your life ... but forgiveness brings it back.   

4.  Be a blessing to others.  Paul exhorted Philemon to forgive his thieving, runaway slave, Onesimus.  Paul said if Philemon would forgive, it would refresh Paul's own heart in Christ (in addition to Philemon's).  Forgiveness is a God thing that always brings with it the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Jesus, the ultimate forgiver.  As Mark Twain so aptly said, "Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it."  Has someone crushed you?  Do the divine thing and forgive them.  If you do, the sweet fragrance of forgiveness will bless God, bless you, and bless others.


Love,
Pastor Jeff Schreve
From His Heart Ministries
www.fromhisheart.org

[Judy Harder]

Are You Working for the Right Kingdom?

"But He [Jesus] turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind Me, Satan!  You are a stumbling block for Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's.'"  Matthew 16:23

Wow!  What a stern rebuke Jesus gave Peter.  It is especially startling because it came on the heels of Jesus blessing Peter for giving the right answer to the critical question, "Who do you say I am?" (Matt.16:17).  Peter went from hero to zero in the matter of a few short minutes.  What was the problem?  He was focused on the wrong kingdom and the wrong agenda.

When Jesus began to talk about His suffering and death, Peter was appalled.  He thought that was a bad stump speech that needed to be discarded immediately.  His rebuke of the Lord (can you imagine rebuking Jesus?) communicated this, "Listen Jesus, You are the Messiah!  The Messiah goes to a throne, not to a tree!  You are headed for a coronation, not a crucifixion.  Quit talking about death and the cross and resurrection, whatever that means."  Because Peter was setting His mind on man's interests (he had plenty to gain personally from Jesus taking the throne ASAP), he was doing the work of Satan and becoming a stumbling block to the Lord.

IT HAPPENS TODAY       

I recently had the unpleasant experience of working with a couple of guys who had the same problem as Peter.  They were so focused on what was expedient for the kingdom of self, that they could not nor would not see what was good for the kingdom of God.  Tragically, they missed the will of God by a million miles because they were all wrapped up in the pitiful little kingdom of me, myself, and I.  That fleshly, selfish kingdom is always ruled by human reasoning and the fear of loss.  Those in that kingdom walk by sight, not faith.  They lean on their own understanding, rather than trusting in the Lord with all their hearts, as the Bible clearly commands (Prov. 3:5).

SEARCH YOUR HEART

Be honest, for which kingdom are you working?  Are you really "all in" for the kingdom of God?  Are you seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness?  Are you willing to make decisions at work or at home or at church that may cost you personally so that Jesus Christ may be glorified?  Are you seeking godly input to help you make wise, Holy Spirit led choices ... or are you listening to the voices of the faithless, who will back you up in your quest to continue being king of your domain.

Let me encourage you, as I encourage myself.  A life lived for the kingdom of self, with its focus ]on self-promotion, self-preservation and self-gratification is not worth living.  If you exalt the kingdom of self, you can rest assured you will be humbled in very short order - just ask Peter.  The kingdom of self is always destined for destruction.

Right after He sternly rebuked Peter, Jesus added these sobering words, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.  For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it" (Matt. 16:24-25).  May you and I willingly and gladly lose our lives for the sake of Jesus Christ and His glorious kingdom.  If we do, we will find a life in Him that is far beyond anything we could ask or think ... and it will last for all eternity.

  Love,
Pastor Jeff Schreve
From His Heart Ministries
www.fromhisheart.org

[Judy Harder]

My Bodyguard

"But the Lord is with me like a dread champion."  Jeremiah 20:11

I have never been much of an animal person. Debbie loves animals, and I love Debbie. So we compromised. Currently, we have three dogs and a cat. They all live inside. (I wonder how many we would have if we had not compromised!)   

A couple of years ago, we purchased a tiny, three-pound Chihuahua named Lola-Belle.  I quickly nicknamed her Lil Pup.  With her arrival into our home, my heart toward pets changed.  I am crazy about Lil Pup.  She is so cute and so fun and so incredibly little.  I just look at her and marvel at God's creative handiwork.  How can a full grown dog be so small? 

Although Lil Pup thinks she is a Doberman, the truth is she is weak, frail, and in need of protection when other dogs are around (or other cats and even some good-sized kittens).  On more than one occasion, I have had to come to the rescue of Lil Pup, as the other pets were starting to get ticked-off with her antics.  As much as I am able, I will look out for Lil Pup.  My heart for that little dog compels me to protect her.

GOD'S HEART FOR YOU
Sometimes we forget how much God loves us.  Sometimes we fail to see the great heart He has for our protection and defense.  Isaiah said, "For You have been a defense for the helpless, a defense for the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat" (Isaiah 25:4).  God protected His "Lil Pup" named Jeremiah.  He was his "dread champion."  And no one messes with the dread champion! 

Are you hurting today?  Are your enemies closing in on you?  Does life seem to have you in its jaws, thrashing you about?  Do you feel as if God has forgotten your name, your address, your situation?  Does it seem like curtains for you?  Cry out to God!  Cast all your worries and cares upon Him "BECAUSE HE CARES FOR YOU" (1 Peter 5:7). 

Listen, my friend, you are Lil Pup times a zillion to God.  You could not be more precious to Him!  He will be there in your hour of need.  He will defend you in your time of danger and distress.  Draw near to God and know that He will draw near to you in response (James 4:.  Call to Him and know that He will answer you (Jeremiah 33:3). 

PRAYER
Dear God, thank You for being a God who truly loves me, who truly cares.  Thank You that You do know all that is going on in my life, and You have my back. Forgive me, Lord, for all the times I have believed the lie that You have given up on me or have forgotten me.  Help me to be aware of Your presence in my life.  I trust You and Your protection.  My life is in Your hands, and I know that You will see me through the worst of situations.  Thank You for the unfathomable privilege of being Your Lil Pup.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

  Love,
Pastor Jeff Schreve
From His Heart Ministries
www.fromhisheart.org


P.S.  We'd love to pray with you. Just leave your  prayer request on our PrayerWorks link.  You can even receive an alert e-mail when someone has prayed specifically for your request.

Jeff Schreve is Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church in Texarkana, Texas. He and his wife Debbie have been married for over 20 years and are blessed with three wonderful girls. Jeff began From His Heart Ministries, a radio and television ministry, in January of 2005. This ministry is completely listener/viewer supported. It continues only through the faithful and generous gifts of people like you. Pastor Jeff takes no salary from this ministry. All gifts go to further the broadcast.

[Judy Harder]

Regardless of the Circumstances

"Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am."
Philippians 4:11

I love the true story of Fanny Crosby, the beloved hymn writer of yesteryear.  When Fanny was a baby, she developed inflammation in her eyes.  A quack doctor prescribed the wrong treatment, and as a result, young Fanny went blind.

Fanny easily could have become a bitter person.  She easily could have viewed life through the jaded lens of resentment and anger over what had happened to her.  She could have been a constant whiner over the injustice inflicted upon her.  But she refused to fall into that trap.  Regardless of her circumstances, she chose to be thankful and content.  In fact, she penned these encouraging words:

"Oh what a happy soul I am,
Although I cannot see;
I am resolved that in this world
Contented I will be.
How many blessings I enjoy,
That other people don't;
To weep and sigh because I'm blind,
I cannot, and I won't."

THE 33 PERCENT RULE

Sue Enquist, the legendary softball coach of the UCLA Bruins (1989 – 2006), was known for the 33 Percent Rule.  In her way of thinking, you can divide people into three categories.  The bottom 33 percent of people always whine and complain.  These are the folks that suck the fun out of anything and everything.  The middle 33 percent have an attitude that fluctuates from good to bad depending on circumstances.  They are good to be around provided all is going well for them.  The top 33 percent choose a positive attitude regardless of the circumstances.  No matter what they are facing, they are joyful, hopeful, and thankful.   

Fanny Crosby was in the top 33 percent.  What about you?

AWARE AND FIGHTING FOR IT

It is easy for me to slip into the middle category of the 33 Percent Rule.  If I am not sensitive to what is coming out of my mouth, I can let negative circumstances make me negative.  But, if I will stop and take the time to see that God is over every circumstance, I can choose to thank Him for the adversity and look to see what He is going to teach me through it all.

Every trial is a test.  Every hardship is an opportunity to thank God, trust God, and grow strong in your faith.  The storm on the Sea of Galilee certainly looked as if it were going to sink the disciples and send them to a watery grave.  They awoke Jesus to inform Him of their impending doom.  He calmed the sea with a word ... and rebuked the disciples for their lack of faith.  And those disciples grew spiritually as a result of it all.  The adverse circumstances were simply a vehicle to help them see Jesus more clearly, as Lord of all.                                 
Will you take inventory of your life today?  Are you living with contentment, regardless of the circumstances?  Are you choosing to rejoice and praise God even in the face of adversity?  If not, you can start today.

PRAYER

Dear God, please forgive me for whining and griping about my circumstances: my bad job, my terrible boss, my back-stabbing co-worker, my evaporating finances, my bad health, my troubled marriage, my _____________________.  Lord, I know that You are over every circumstance and situation.  You have allowed this trial to come to me to help me grow and shine for You.  I choose to face my difficulties with a song and renewed faith, knowing that You will see me through as I trust You.  Thank You, Lord.  Regardless of what happens today, I choose by faith to make it a great day!  Amen.

[Judy Harder]

Now, Let's Not Get Carried Away . . .

"But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.  Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished , it brings forth death."
James 1:14-15

Have you ever gone on a diet?  Let me tell you from personal experience, it is no fun.  The first three letters of the word explain it best: D-I-E.  A diet is dying to yourself and what you want to eat in the hopes of losing weight.

For me, a low carb/no carb diet has proven effective.  The only problem is that within a day – sometimes hours – I start craving carbs.  Pizza, chips and queso, desserts and other carb taboos start calling my name: "Hey, Jeff ... just take a little bite.  It won't hurt you.  After all, you are not THAT fat.  Come on, Jeff.  You know you want to."

Have you ever had temptation do that to you?  Have you ever had temptation call your name to get you to indulge the flesh or delight the eyes or build the ego?  If you are like the rest of us humans, the answer is yes.  We are tempted to lust, lie, cheat, steal, brag, hate, gossip, slander, etc.  Temptation is an inescapable part of the human condition.

THE TEMPTER IS AT WORK

The devil is called "the tempter" in Matthew 4:3.  Like a master fisherman, he loves to dangle the delicious, "forbidden" bait before our eyes.  To be sure, the forbidden bait looks so good and so satisfying – just as it did to Eve.  But, if you bite, you find the bait has a hook in it.  The sweet pleasure of illicit sex quickly fades as the painful hook of guilt, shame, disease or an unwanted pregnancy come into being.

Every temptation has a hidden hook in it.  The devil is not your friend who wants to bring happiness and fulfillment to your life.  He comes only to steal, kill and destroy.  Anything he offers will eventually wreck and ruin your life.  Like the unsuspecting fish, we will enjoy the bait for a short time, and then find ourselves hooked and cooked, gutted and grilled.  And it's true every time.

HOW TO BE VICTORIOUS?             

1.  Remember that God loves you and wants what is best for you. When God gives us commandments, they are always for our benefit.  Every NO command is God's way of saying, "Don't do that because that will hurt you."

We told our kids, "NO!" to putting their hand on the stove because we knew they would burn themselves.  We love our kids and gave them rules and commandments to help them, not hurt them.  God does the same thing with His kids.

Disobedience is a step in the wrong direction.  It will not bring lasting satisfaction, only lasting pain, sorrow and regret.  If you doubt that, just ask Tiger Woods.       
             
2.  Remember that God's ways are right in every situation.  Psalm 119:128 is a KEY verse to remember when fighting temptation: "Therefore I esteem right all Your precepts concerning everything, I hate every false way."  The devil tells us that this "forbidden fruit" will make us happy.  What a lie!  It will really make us miserable.  Like eating a huge helping of Cotton Candy at the fair, taking the devil's bait will taste good for the moment, but as your stomach aches and your life begins to fall apart, you will wish you could go back in time.

Listen to me, my friend: God's ways are right EVERY SINGLE TIME!  You will never go wrong obeying Him.  Every time you are tempted, recognize there is a hook there in that temptation and remind yourself that God's ways are right.  God's ways bring lasting peace, joy and happiness.     

3.  Depend upon the Lord's power to help you escape.  1 Corinthians10:13 tells us, "No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it."  What is the way of escape?

When you are tempted with the sins of the flesh – lust, laziness, overeating – the way of escape is accountability and a hard run.  Flee immorality.  Don't fight it, flee it.  It is too strong to fight.  If you are on a diet, don't go to an all-you-can-eat pizza place and say, "I'll just have a salad."  That will never work.  And get an accountability partner who will help you and pray for you.

When you are tempted with sins of the soul – greed, fame, revenge and getting more and more – the way of escape is to exercise faith (see 1 John 5:4).  God is the One who satisfies, not fame, fortune, or a pound of flesh.

When tempted with the sins of the spirit – direct attacks from the enemy who will tell you that God doesn't love you anymore, that God is finished with you and will not answer your prayer, and that you need to curse God and die – the way of escape is to fight!  "Resist the devil and he will flee from you" (James 4:6).  Fight the devil's lies with the sharp sword of the truth of the Word of God.  God's promises thwart the lies of the enemy.

Victory over temptation can be yours as you trust Him, do what He says, and fill your heart with His love and grace.

[Judy Harder]

The Incredible Power of Forgiveness

"And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him.  So shall my Heavenly Father do to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart."  Matthew 13:34-35

I recently read the fascinating book UNBROKEN: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption.  The book chronicles the life of former Olympic track star Louis Zamperini and a harrowing story of survival on the sea and on land as a POW in Japan.  Louie's epic story has several themes, the main one being the power of forgiveness.             

By the grace of God, Louie made it through the war.  However, he returned home a troubled, tortured, and psychologically damaged soul.  Rarely could Louie ever sleep without his dreams turning to nightmares, reliving night after night the unspeakable torture inflicted upon him as a POW.  Louie was filled with hate ... and that hate was destroying his life, his wife, his family and his future.

ENTER JESUS AND HIS GRACE

When all hope seemed lost, Louie was found.  God spoke to his heart at the 1949 Billy Graham Tent Revival Crusade in Los Angeles.  Louie, attempting to slip out during the invitation, ended up doing an about face and came to Jesus in brokenness, repentance and faith.  He received the Lord's grace, mercy and love.  He was forgiven, and his life would never be the same. 

Louie came home from the crusade and promptly poured all his alcohol down the drain.  He believed the truth that he was indeed a new creation in Jesus Christ ... and that truth set him free.     

As one who had now been so graciously forgiven, Louie understood that he must in turn forgive those who had been so unbelievably terrible to him.  And when he made the choice to forgive, lo and behold, his nightmares ceased.  The war was truly over for him.  Hate was swallowed up by love, and the incredible power of forgiveness washed away every vestige of bitterness he had held for so long.

MAKE NO MISTAKE

Bitterness will destroy your life.  It is a cancer of the soul that eats away at everything the Lord wants to do within you.  The real prisoners in life are not those behind steel bars.  They are those who live in the self-made prison of unforgiveness.

Listen, I don't know what abuses and atrocities you have experienced in life, but God does.  He knows, and He cares ... and He calls you to forgive so you can truly live.

Corrie ten Boom, the godly saint who survived the horrors of a Nazi death camp, astutely commented that unless her fellow survivors made the choice to forgive their brutal captors, they would forever be incarcerated in the prison of bitterness and hate.

DOING BUSINESS WITH GOD AND OTHERS

Have you received God's forgiveness so graciously and freely offered to you through the death, burial and resurrection of His Son, Jesus?  If not, do what Louie Zamperini did in 1949.  Repent and receive Christ as Savior and Lord.

Are you holding a grudge?  Are there people in your life who have wounded you ... and you refuse to let it go?  You are only hurting yourself.  You hold the key that unlocks the prison door of bitterness.  By faith and God's grace, insert the key.  Forgive those offenders.  Leave the dungeon of death and enter in to the wonderful world of forgiveness.  You'll be so glad you did.

[Judy Harder]

             
ALL THE OLDER LADIES

"Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips or enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subjects to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be dishonored."  Titus 2:3-5

A few years ago, Beyonce had a famous song that was a shout-out to "All the Single Ladies."  Today, I want to shout-out to "All the Older Ladies."  (But all the others can read too!)

I talked to a friend of mine the other day who is 75 years old and struggling with a number of physical issues.  She told me, "Jeff, getting old is hard.  Your body just starts to fall apart.  Everything is either stopped up or leaking!"  How true.  Getting old is certainly not for cowards.

But God has a plan for older people ... especially older ladies.  You see, one of the great things about God is that He is a God of purpose.  When His purpose for your life is fulfilled, then and only then does He take you home.  So if you are getting older and feeling that your usefulness for God has passed, think again.  He has a plan for you regardless of your age.   

So what does He say to "all the older ladies"?

1.  Grow more like Jesus as you grow older.  Let reverence and holiness be ever increasing.  Grow in your relationship with Jesus so that "the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him" goes forth in every place you go ... especially as you get older.       

2.  Watch out for your tongue!  Obviously from Titus 2:3  we can infer that older women may struggle with gossip (we all struggle with it, but older women maybe more so?).  God says watch your tongue because death and life are in its power (Prov. 18:21).  Interestingly, "malicious gossips" in verse 3 is the Greek word from which we get diabolos from which we get devil.  The devil is a slanderer and a false accuser (the meaning of the word).  Don't let your tongue be loose in spreading unsubstantiated rumors, half-truth, and strife-producing items of information.  Use your tongue to promote healing and build people up in the faith.

3.  Don't let any substance enslave you.  Steer clear of anything that would develop a mastery over you.  Let God's Spirit have full and complete control over you.

4.  Invest your life in encouraging and training younger women. Teach them from your successes and failures.  Encourage them to be a good wife and mom.  Help them be domestically inclined (what the phrase "workers at home" means) and to create a sweet, beautiful and wonderful home.   And most of all, help them fulfill their role in the marriage - as that of helper (how the Holy Spirit is described in the Bible).  The husband's role is to be the head, the leader.  That means if things crater in the marriage and family, he is the one God holds chiefly responsible.  The wife's role is to respect her husband, help her husband and submit to his loving leadership.  A dysfunctional family is one in which the wife takes the steering wheel, puts on the pants and calls the shots.  In that sad but all too common scenario, the word of God is dishonored (literally blasphemed) and the whole family suffers, especially the children.

Older ladies, you have a BIG job assignment from the Lord.  Your life and usefulness are not over just because you have entered the senior years.  God has LOTS He wants to do in and through you to make a lasting difference in the generations that are following behind you.  May you take God at His word and step up to the task.   

Love,

Jeff Schreve
www.fromhisheart.org

[Judy Harder]

ARE YOU READY?

"Prepare to meet your God"  Amos 4:12 GW

The Lord called me to preach when I was 33 years old.  My pastor told me that "a call to preach is a call to prepare."  So, I went off to seminary.  I can still remember my first class, a summer intensive of The History of Church Music.  On the second day of class, we were given a pop quiz on the 50 pages of assigned reading.  While I had read the material, I certainly had not studied it.  To say I was unprepared for the pop quiz that day would be an understatement.  I was prepared, however, from that day forward.

When Jesus comes back to this earth for His own, He told us there would be a test, an evaluation for the child of God.  This is certainly not a pop quiz, because He told us about it in advance.   This is a major test, a final exam.  Wise is the Christian who is prepared for the test, prepared to meet his God and give an account of his life.

The test of the Christian is called in Scripture, "The Judgment Seat of Christ" (2 Cor. 5:10).  It is a special judgment reserved only for born again believers in Jesus.  In this judgment, a Christian's service and motives will be evaluated by the Lord and rewarded accordingly.

The word for "Judgment Seat" is Bema in Greek.  The Bema was a raised platform on which the reigning magistrate would sit.  Victorious warriors, winning athletes, and outstanding citizens would be brought before the Bema to be rewarded for their deeds.  It was a place principally associated with commendation, not condemnation.   

Note some important considerations regarding the Bema, the Christian's final exam.       

1.  There is no condemnation at the Bema.  When we stand before the Lord at His return, He does not play a video of all our sins.  Those sins have been "paid in full" (the true meaning of "it is finished").  Jesus wouldn't ask you about your sins because they have been removed from you "as far as the east is from the west" (Ps. 103:12).  Paul makes it crystal clear, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:1).  How awesome to know that when I stand before the Lord to give an account of my life, He is not going to remind me of or condemn me for the sins I so foolishly and wickedly committed even as a Christian.  All those evil deeds have been washed clean in the blood of the lamb.  Praise God!

2.  There is no loss of salvation at the Bema.  Don't ever get the idea that this judgment is to determine who goes to heaven and who does not.  God is not like Santa Claus.  He is not making a list and checking it twice, so He can find out who's naughty and who's nice.  Your eternal destiny is not decided at the Bema.  That critical issue is decided in this life.  Salvation is given freely to any and all who will see their sinfulness, turn from their sinfulness, and humbly receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.  Eternal life is not a reward for the righteous.  It is a gift for the guilty.  It is by grace through faith that we are saved (see Ephesians 2:8-9).  Works have nothing to do with getting to heaven ... but they have everything to do with rewards at the Bema.

3.  There is righteous evaluation at the Bema.  Jesus Christ, the righteous Judge, will examine the works of every believer.  Those Christians who lived for Christ and His glory – who used their time, talent, and treasure to further the kingdom of God – will be rewarded for their service and devotion.  Those Christians who lived for self, consumed with their own agenda and the passing pleasures of sin and personal recognition, will see all they invested in while on earth go up in smoke (see 1 Cor. 3:13-15).  These Christians won't lose their salvation, but they will lose the reward they could have had if they had only lived for Jesus.

TAKE THE PRETEST

If the Bema were today, how would you do?  Be honest, are you really living for His glory?  Do you really see all your possessions as belonging to Him?  Are you truly focused on seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness?  As the couplet from C. T. Studd so aptly states, "Only one life, 'twill soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last." 

Maybe you need to make some changes to your life.  Maybe you need to perform a course correction so that you can prepare yourself to meet the Lord with confidence and not with shame (see 1 Jn. 2:28).  Do it today.  You won't be sorry.

And maybe you're not even sure you've been born again.  I urge you to receive Christ before it's too late.  The judgment of the unsaved is indeed terrifying and horrific (see Rev. 20:11-15).  Jesus died so you would never have to experience the wrath of God.  Cry out to Him in repentance and faith.  He will save anybody who will sincerely call on His name in spirit and truth.

The sign in a tree nursery said, "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago.  The second best time is today."  Do business with God today.   

Love,

Jeff Schreve
www.fromhisheart.org