Just a little patience…

Therefore, brothers and sisters, you must be patient as you wait for the coming of the Lord. Consider the farmer who waits patiently for the coming of rain in the fall and spring, looking forward to the precious fruit of the earth. You also must wait patiently, strengthening your resolve, because the coming of the Lord is near. Don’t complain about each other, brothers and sisters, so that you won’t be judged. Look! The judge is standing at the door! Brothers and sisters, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord as an example of patient resolve and steadfastness. Look at how we honor those who have practiced endurance. You have heard of the endurance of Job. And you have seen what the Lord has accomplished, for the Lord is full of compassion and mercy. Most important, my brothers and sisters, never make a solemn pledge—neither by heaven nor earth, nor by anything else. Instead, speak with a simple “Yes” or “No,” or else you may fall under judgment. (James 5:7-12, CEB)

Just a little patience, goes a long way.

I do not always have the best patients. And here we are told that we need to have patience as we wait for the Lord.

Waiting is hard when we think we know what we want or what we need.

Patients help us go farther and not be as anxious.

When we can wait in and with the Lord for the Lord we show the world love.

wait. Just a little patience.

Love like Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.

fool

I repeat, no one should take me for a fool. But if you do, then allow me to be a fool so that I can brag like a fool for a bit. I’m not saying what I’m saying because the Lord tells me to. I’m saying it like I’m a fool. I’m putting my confidence in this business of bragging. Since so many people are bragging based on human standards, that is how I’m going to brag too. Because you, who are so wise, are happy to put up with fools. You put up with it if someone enslaves you, if someone exploits you, if someone takes advantage of you, if someone places themselves over you, or if someone hits you in the face. I’m ashamed to say that we have been weak in comparison! But in whatever they challenge me, I challenge them (I’m speaking foolishly). Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. Are they ministers of Christ? I’m speaking like a crazy person. What I’ve done goes well beyond what they’ve done. I’ve worked much harder. I’ve been imprisoned much more often. I’ve been beaten more times than I can count. I’ve faced death many times. I received the “forty lashes minus one” from the Jews five times. I was beaten with rods three times. I was stoned once. I was shipwrecked three times. I spent a day and a night on the open sea. I’ve been on many journeys. I faced dangers from rivers, robbers, my people, and Gentiles. I faced dangers in the city, in the desert, on the sea, and from false brothers and sisters. I faced these dangers with hard work and heavy labor, many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without food, and in the cold without enough clothes. Besides all the other things I could mention, there’s my daily stress because I’m concerned about all the churches. Who is weak without me being weak? Who is led astray without me being furious about it? If it’s necessary to brag, I’ll brag about my weaknesses. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, the one who is blessed forever, knows that I’m not lying. At Damascus the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of Damascus in order to capture me, but I got away from him by being lowered in a basket through a window in the city wall. (2 Corinthians 11:16-33, CEB)

Do not be a fool.

We are filled with Christ and need to be focused on Christ.

None of us are better than the others, we all have our faults and we all have our gifts. It takes all of us to make the Imago Dei. We are a child of God just like all the rest.

Do not think of yourself more highly than you should, and do not think more lowly of yourself either.

Know you are loved and have a part to play.

Don’t be haughty or a fool. Be a love giver for God.

Love like Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.

Take nothing

Jesus left that place and came to his hometown. His disciples followed him. On the Sabbath, he began to teach in the synagogue. Many who heard him were surprised. “Where did this man get all this? What’s this wisdom he’s been given? What about the powerful acts accomplished through him? Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t he Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” They were repulsed by him and fell into sin. Jesus said to them, “Prophets are honored everywhere except in their own hometowns, among their relatives, and in their own households.” He was unable to do any miracles there, except that he placed his hands on a few sick people and healed them. He was appalled by their disbelief. Then Jesus traveled through the surrounding villages teaching. He called for the Twelve and sent them out in pairs. He gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey except a walking stick—no bread, no bags, and no money in their belts. He told them to wear sandals but not to put on two shirts. He said, “Whatever house you enter, remain there until you leave that place. If a place doesn’t welcome you or listen to you, as you leave, shake the dust off your feet as a witness against them.” So they went out and proclaimed that people should change their hearts and lives. They cast out many demons, and they anointed many sick people with olive oil and healed them. (Mark 6:1-13, CEB)

When we go for Jesus we are not to take anything but to rely on the generosity of others.

Life would be so much better if we all used our resources to care for the sojourner, and others around us rather than hoarding everything for ourselves.

Here Jesus sends out the 12 and tells them to not take anything extra with them but to rely on the generosity of others and to heal. And if they are not welcomed, do not even take the dust from that place.

We should do likewise.

Share love.

Loving People. Loving God.

Give it all up…

Now when Jesus saw the crowd, he ordered his disciples to go over to the other side of the lake. A legal expert came and said to him, “Teacher, I’ll follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens, and the birds in the sky have nests, but the Human One has no place to lay his head.” Another man, one of his disciples, said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” (Matthew 8:18-22, CEB)

When we go with Jesus we may not have a home. My daughters have had 4 places where they grew up, and none of those were where any of them were born. I have lived in 6 different places after starting to become a pastor. Foxes have dens, and birds have nests…

We need to leave the world behind and give up worldly thoughts and follow after Jesus.

Spread love. The world needs that now.

Loving People. Loving God.

Build up. Not destroy.

Look at what is right in front of you! If anyone is sure about belonging to Christ, that person should think again. We belong to Christ just like that person. Even if I went on to brag about our authority, I wouldn’t be ashamed of it. The Lord gave us that authority to build you up and not to destroy you. I don’t want it to seem like I’m trying to intimidate you with my letters. I know what some people are saying: “His letters are severe and powerful, but in person he is weak and his speech is worth nothing.” These people need to think about this—that when we are with you, our actions will show that we are the same as the words we wrote when we were away from you. (2 Corinthians 10:7-11, CEB)

“The Lord gave us that authority to build you up and not to destroy you.”

We need to build each other up, not destroy each other.

If you are not leading in love, and looking to belittle or take someone down, are you doing that in faith and doing what Christ asked you to, or to maintain your power and control?

Love is the answer and what God empowers us to do.

Love like Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.

Filled

You’ve been filled already! You’ve become rich already! You rule like kings without us! I wish you did rule so that we could be kings with you! I suppose that God has shown that we apostles are at the end of the line. We are like prisoners sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle in the world, both to angels and to humans. We are fools for Christ, but you are wise through Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, but we are dishonored! Up to this very moment we are hungry, thirsty, wearing rags, abused, and homeless. We work hard with our own hands. When we are insulted, we respond with a blessing; when we are harassed, we put up with it; when our reputation is attacked, we are encouraging. We have become the scum of the earth, the waste that runs off everything, up to the present time. (1 Corinthians 4:8-13, CEB)

Have you ever had to endure being harassed, attacked, or the like?

It isn’t any fun. It is incredibly debilitating.

Paul though here says they went through all of this, being harrassed, being attacked, being called the scum of the earth, and they held their heads high, because God had filled them.

God filled them with the Spirit to know that those speaking were saying falsehoods, they were spreading lies and God loved and held them dearly.

That is the same for you.

You are a beloved child of God and when others, harass, attack, revile, and call you scum, God says you are beautiful and loved.

You are loved and filled by God.

Loving People. Loving God.

Faith?

When Jesus, Peter, James, and John approached the other disciples, they saw a large crowd surrounding them and legal experts arguing with them. Suddenly the whole crowd caught sight of Jesus. They ran to greet him, overcome with excitement. Jesus asked them, “What are you arguing about?” Someone from the crowd responded, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, since he has a spirit that doesn’t allow him to speak. Wherever it overpowers him, it throws him into a fit. He foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and stiffens up. So I spoke to your disciples to see if they could throw it out, but they couldn’t.” Jesus answered them, “You faithless generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I put up with you? Bring him to me.” They brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a fit. He fell on the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been going on?” He said, “Since he was a child. It has often thrown him into a fire or into water trying to kill him. If you can do anything, help us! Show us compassion!” Jesus said to him, “‘If you can do anything’? All things are possible for the one who has faith.” At that the boy’s father cried out, “I have faith; help my lack of faith!” Noticing that the crowd had surged together, Jesus spoke harshly to the unclean spirit, “Mute and deaf spirit, I command you to come out of him and never enter him again.” After screaming and shaking the boy horribly, the spirit came out. The boy seemed to be dead; in fact, several people said that he had died. But Jesus took his hand, lifted him up, and he arose. After Jesus went into a house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we throw this spirit out?” Jesus answered, “Throwing this kind of spirit out requires prayer.” (Mark 9:14-29, CEB)

“I have faith; help my lack of faith!”

I have faith but sometimes I wonder.

I wonder if my faith is enough.

If I believe, really believe.

Do I trust God? Do I really trust God?

The man said to Jesus, “If you can do anything, help us!”

Do we believe that God can do whatever God wants to?

Do you have faith to follow where God is calling and leading you to go?

Do you trust God with your life?

If you can do it Go, help me!

But yet, God can, and can will always be there for us, for you.

Trust that.

Believe that.

Have faith in God.

Loving People. Loving God.

Serve

It’s unnecessary for me to write to you about this service for God’s people. I know about your willingness to help. I brag about you to the Macedonians, saying, “Greece has been ready since last year,” and your enthusiasm has motivated most of them. But I’m sending the brothers so that our bragging about you in this case won’t be empty words, and so that you can be prepared, just as I keep telling them you will be. If some Macedonians should come with me and find out that you aren’t ready, we (not to mention you) would be embarrassed as far as this project goes. This is why I thought it was necessary to encourage the brothers to go to you ahead of time and arrange in advance the generous gift you have already promised. I want it to be a real gift from you. I don’t want you to feel like you are being forced to give anything. (2 Corinthians 9:1-5, CEB)

The Corinthians got it.

Service is a part of our life as followers of Jesus.

We put the needs of others before our own and we give what we can to help others.

Do you live a life of service?

Love like Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.

Live for grace

But thank God, who put the same commitment that I have for you in Titus’ heart. Not only has he accepted our challenge but he’s on his way to see you voluntarily, and he’s excited. We are sending the brother who is famous in all the churches because of his work for the gospel along with him. In addition to this, he is chosen by the churches to be our traveling companion in this work of grace, which we are taking care of for the sake of the glory of the Lord himself, and to show our desire to help. We are trying to avoid being blamed by anyone for the way we take care of this large amount of money. We care about doing the right thing, not only in the Lord’s eyes but also in the eyes of other people. We are sending our brother with them. We have tested his commitment in many ways and many times. Now he’s even more committed, because he has so much confidence in you. If there is any question about Titus, he is my partner and coworker among you. If there is any question about our brothers, they are the churches’ apostles and an honor to Christ. So show them the proof of your love and the reason we are so proud of you, in such a way that the churches can see it. (2 Corinthians 8:16-24, CEB)

Imagine someone writing a community you are going to about you. Will they write about you like Paul writes here about Titus?

Someone who has the love of the people he has not yet seen in his heart. He loves them before meeting them.

And he is one who shares God grace and looks out for others.

Is this how people see you living your life?

How will people write about you?

Love like Jesus

Loving People. Loving God.

Unexpected

Jesus crossed the lake again, and on the other side a large crowd gathered around him on the shore. Jairus, one of the synagogue leaders, came forward. When he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet and pleaded with him, “My daughter is about to die. Please, come and place your hands on her so that she can be healed and live.” So Jesus went with him. A swarm of people were following Jesus, crowding in on him. A woman was there who had been bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a lot under the care of many doctors, and had spent everything she had without getting any better. In fact, she had gotten worse. Because she had heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his clothes. She was thinking, If I can just touch his clothes, I’ll be healed. Her bleeding stopped immediately, and she sensed in her body that her illness had been healed. At that very moment, Jesus recognized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?” His disciples said to him, “Don’t you see the crowd pressing against you? Yet you ask, ‘Who touched me?’” But Jesus looked around carefully to see who had done it. The woman, full of fear and trembling, came forward. Knowing what had happened to her, she fell down in front of Jesus and told him the whole truth. He responded, “Daughter, your faith has healed you; go in peace, healed from your disease.” While Jesus was still speaking with her, messengers came from the synagogue leader’s house, saying to Jairus, “Your daughter has died. Why bother the teacher any longer?” But Jesus overheard their report and said to the synagogue leader, “Don’t be afraid; just keep trusting.” He didn’t allow anyone to follow him except Peter, James, and John, James’ brother. They came to the synagogue leader’s house, and he saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. He went in and said to them, “What’s all this commotion and crying about? The child isn’t dead. She’s only sleeping.” They laughed at him, but he threw them all out. Then, taking the child’s parents and his disciples with him, he went to the room where the child was. Taking her hand, he said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Young woman, get up.” Suddenly the young woman got up and began to walk around. She was 12 years old. They were shocked! He gave them strict orders that no one should know what had happened. Then he told them to give her something to eat. (Mark 5:21-43, CEB)

We think we know what will happen with Jesus because of our lived experiences and yet God is not contained by our experiences or our world.

The woman who had paid all her money and still was living in pain and in need of curing touched the hem of Jesus’ robe out of faith from what she had heard about him. She was afraid she would be shunned, stoned, or worse. Jesus knew she touched him and wanted to know who it was.

And the daughter of Jarius was thought to be dead, and according to human standards maybe was, but God is not controlled by our world.

We need to expect the unexpected and live by faith knowing that God has more in store for us than we can imagine.

Expect the unexpected.

Love Like Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.