Thought #30

 “One doesn’t ask for a few pennies from a millionaire.”    Let’s think about that when we ask God in Jesus’ Name.

Mentoring ~ Part 3

Mentoring is defined by Stanley and Clinton in their book, CONNECTING, as a relational experience in which one person empowers another by sharing their God-given resources. They  support their definition by showing that Moses mentored Joshua, that Naomi coached Ruth, and that Jesus clearly modeled a lifestyle of mentoring as he discipled and taught His disciples. Mentoring certainly is a multi-faceted experience composed of discipling, guiding, coaching, counseling, teaching, sponsoring, and modeling. Mentoring is reaching out to meet the painful needs of hurting people. Or it may be less invasive, as the above description indicates.

Simply stated, mentoring is caring about and lovingly leading someone to be an overcomer. As Christians our purpose is to point them to the Word of God to find out who He is and what He can/will do for them. At a glance it is obvious that there are numerous burdened and baffled individuals who need answers. There are many reasons why they don’t reach out for help. Often they can think of no one whom they feel comfortable with or who would have answers.

When God opens the mentoring door to us, we are initially overwhelmed. It is possible that we shun our God-appointed responsibility for fear we won’t have answers. Of course the enemy will put roadblocks in front of us. Oh, what a powerful God we have who invites us to trust Him for wisdom, knowledge, and direction. He will be with us for He has promised, “whatever you ask the Father in my name, he WILL do it” (Jn. 16:23). Step out. Claim His never failing promises.  

Two weeks ago I had the opportunity to chat (mentor) again with a friend of several years. After chatting awhile, I felt it was time to ask questions. “Are you reading your Bible?” (On several occasions I had challenged her with that necessity.) She said that she had not taken the time because of enormous interruptions. I knew that to be true and sympathized with her.The second question was, “Are you finding comfort in the Lord?” Answer, “I’m trying.” Response, “Dear, B., it is not a matter of trying. It is a matter of trusting” (Prov. 3:5).The better we know our Bible, the more readily will the Holy Spirit bring Scripture to our mind when we need it. God’s “sword” will be at the edge of our mind and at the tip of our tongue.

I again quote from THE DAILY REMEMBRANCER, edited by S.H.Tow, page 578. “Our God is greater than all, and He is able and faithful. Remember His promises, ‘As thy days, so shall thy strength be.’ Prove the Savior’s testimony, ‘My grace is sufficient for thee.’ Accept the divine invitation, ‘Call upon me in the day of trouble, I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.’ Attend to the inspired direction, ‘Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.’ Imitate the sorely tried Psalmist, ‘I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.’ Rest thy troubled spirit on the promises of God, ‘He giveth power to the faint, and to him that haveth no might He increaseth strength.’ Endeavor to apply to yourself the apostolic exhortation, ‘Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.’ Let not your hearts faint, for your sins are pardoned, your foes are doomed, your mansion is being prepared, your needs will certainly be met, your Savior deeply sympathizes with you, your heavenly Father cares for you, and all things must work together for your good. Call upon God and He will show thee great and mighty things that thou knowest not. ‘Let not your hearts faint.’” Rich! By God’s grace alone! Be strengthened by these powerful, assuring promises so you are equipped to use them in your mentoring ministry.

Thought #29

In the later months of her life Henrietta Mears said that if she had her life to live over she would just simply believe God.  Romans 11:20 states that we “stand by faith.” By faith we receive Christ as our Savior.   By faith we walk with God.  By faith we are kept by the power of God.  Let us strive against doubts.  Let us pray for confidence in God and His Word.

Thought #28

“To know God, His grace, His salvation -- this is the meaning of life” (unknown source).  Paul Tournier said “God [directs] the truth to us where we are.”

Thought #27

 God said, “I am that I am.”  Does that boggle your mind?  God surprised Moses by speaking to him from a source: -- a burning bush.  Are you praying for guidance? Your heavenly Father has answers for you;  not as spectacular as to Moses.  In this day and age, His Holy Spirit guides through thoughts, experiences, people, and His Word.

Thought #26

“All that God is performs all that God does.”  We need to know who God is so that we can know what He can/will do for us.  God reveals amazing insights about Himself in the only Book that He ever made available to us.  Dig in and find out.

MENTORING ~ Part 2

It is a delight to share with you again after a two-month absence. Have you entwined your heart with someone to mentor? I do hope so.

It is interesting to know that entire companies are recognizing the value of mentoring to the point of establishing internal mentoring structures to ensure that senior executives will coach young men and women employees. Interesting. Isn’t that a wakeup call to us to follow the scriptural mandate of mentoring so that the legacy of godly living is passed on to the next generation?

In many cases the home is the most neglected when it comes to mentoring. Committed Christians neglect home ministry! What should be our mentoring priority? Our ministry within the family unit. It seems that we so often think of ministry as something we do outside the walls of our homes or under a church umbrella. To establish a solid, God-honoring unit requires more love, patience, and time than our busy, self-centered schedule seem to permit.

The good Samaritan account of Luke 10:29-37 has had a tremendous impact on me as I ponder the home unit. The lawyer’s question (Luke 10: 25-28), whether sincere or an attempt to trick Jesus, sets the background for my thoughts about the home. He asked a very pointed, thought-provoking question, “Who is my neighbor?” As the instructive parable unfolds, Jesus makes it clear that a neighbor is someone in need. Someone who is hurting. A neighbor needs a mentor! A “someone” who will listen, who will feel, who will care with compassion and love. Someone who lives the virtues of spiritual fruit — love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Gal. 5:22).

Perhaps it might appear that I am stretching the Samaritan account. I rather think that I am extending it to another justifiable application. One reason that homes are crumbling is the laxity in neighborliness within its walls.The inhabitants are different people inside and outside its door. In my Young’s concordance are well over 100 Bible references to the word neighbor that is listed in categories of “near,” “friend,” “companion,” etc. May I make an assignment?  Look up, read, ask the Holy Spirit to help you, as parents, example and teach true neighborliness in the home, which then becomes a “lamp stand” to reach into your neighborhood (Luke 4:21-25).

Within the family the first mentoring ministry ought to be between husband and wife. Surprise! Never thought of that before? The home environment will be no stronger than is the husband- wife relationship. The first principle that comes to mind is “selflessness.” Ouch! Divorce incubates on selfishness. “I want my way and I am not giving in.” Sounds rather childish, doesn’t it? And everybody suffers.

The word “activity” is the first to flash across my mind as a detriment to neighborliness within the home. Please spend some time evaluating the amount of time that the family spends together as a sharing relational unit talking with each other, laughing together, playing games together, eating around the table together, uniting in serious, deep Bible study together.

Once when John Foster Dulles phoned the Douglas MacArthur II home asking for “Doug,” Mrs. MacArthur snapped back irately, “MacArthur is where MacArthur always is weekdays, Saturday, Sundays and nights—in that office!” Within minutes, MacArthur got a telephone order from Dulles. “Go home at once. Your home front is crumbling.”      
                              “A CHARGE TO KEEP WE HAVE; A GOD TO GLORIFY.”