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.”

90th Birthday Celebration for Dr. John Whitcomb & Summer break announcement for Window for Women

The Picture above is for the 90th Birthday Celebration for Dr. John Whitcomb which was held at Indianapolis on June 22. Family members traveled as follows: four from Indianpolis, one from Washington, DC, four from Maryland, one from Florida, six from Pennsylvania, two from northern Indiana, seven from Idaho, two from the state of Washington, and two from California. That's four generations from eight states!

Dr. Whitcomb wrote, "It was a time together that we will never forget --  a foretaste of heaven!"

Note: I  will not be posting a blog on "A Window for Women" either July or August, but am looking forward to being with you again in September. May you have a blessed summer as the Lord leads you each step of the way. Blessings, Norma

And a more formal picture of Dr. & Mrs. Whitcomb:

MENTORING ~ Part 1

“A quick glance at the women’s magazines on the end of the aisles at the grocery store gives proof of the need for influence among today’s women. The feminine masses are preoccupied with who is the most influential, the most beautiful, the most successful, the happiest. Why? With the separation of families, many are left with the absence of a woman of influence in their day-to-day lives” (Baptist Bulletin, May 2001).

We live in a very independent world. We are extremely independent women. It is difficult to spend time with an outpouring of influence into the lives of others. We live in a world of independent people who don’t want anyone to meddle with their values or their plans. At the same time, there are many who live behind a facade. What an opportunity to be that someone to whom they will divulge their aching heart!

What does it take to be a woman to whom one would come to find help? Does our godly walk and our godly character single us out as one with spiritual depth mingled with graciousness, love and understanding? Have we walked through the valley with God so that we have learned to edify ourselves — all because our hearts have been entwined with Him through our temptations and trial

Women need companionship and comfort as they journey through their transient and troubled experiences. They are searching for someone who has been through the fire. The dross has been removed and she gleams with pure gold. They are looking for someone who possesses a mothering heart. One who will not judge or condemn, but who will love, be patient and understanding, pray with her, and help her through trials (cf. Phil.2: 1-4).

Mentoring is not a circumstance of older to younger. Age has nothing to do with it. Yes,  it can be a grandmotherly ear bent to a young child, or teenager with teenager, or friend with friend, or youth at the footstool of an aged one. It is tenderness, loving concern,  coupled with consistent godliness which results from a consistent walk with God.

Oh yes, there must be the willingness to give the treasure of time. There is no substitute. Influence is deepest and most penetrating when invested over time. It is time consistently spent in the Word and in prayer that prepares us to be a mentor.

Reaching out has no barriers. It can be done via email, letters, phone conversations, or over a cup of tea. It is the godly mothering influence that is being searched out. One who can be depended on to  keep confidences. One who will not condemn. One who has compassion (cf. Phil. 2:1-4).

Question: Are we ready to lay aside the trivia of life (make you own list)  to make/spend time investing our godly influence and insights into a searching heart? There are droves of such ones out there. If you know not such a one, pray that God will lead her to you or you to her. “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Gal. 6:9).

WORSHIP ~ Part 2: Whom Do We Worship?

“In some form worship is all but universal. Wherever on earth man is found, there he presents to the Power above the offerings of his devotion. Doubtless there are cases without number in which worship has degenerated into mere superstition. Yet, where worship is at its best, it is one of the very highest manifestations and exercises of human nature.” Jesus cast more light upon this subject in His few words to the distraught woman at the well at Sychar than in any other event (cf. John 4:21 - 23).

I do so want to worship my Savior more seriously, more pleasingly to Him, and more effectively from my heart. It is with this in mind that I dare broach this subject. John 4:24 tells who God is and how we are to worship Him. “God is Spirit.” When I delved into that I was shockingly disappointed. In my ignorant years I anticipated the day I would see Him face to face, fall before Him, and cast my crowns at His feet. I thought that while I could not see His face on this earth I would certainly do so in Heaven. Well, this is where we dig. “God is a spirit, for He is an infinite and eternal mind, an intelligent being, incorporeal [having no material body or form], immaterial, invisible, and incorruptible. If God were not a spirit, He could not be perfect, nor infinite, nor eternal, nor independent, nor the Father of spirits” (Matthew Henry Commentary).

God is infinite, but I shaped Him to fit my finite ideas! My worship may have been true yet it was not pure and entire. No wonder I was left wanting, cold and dissatisfied when I “worshipped.”

Whom are we to worship? Idolaters worship natural objects such as the sun and moon or the works of their hands, as images made of wood which they can hold. Those of perplexed minds have worshipped an “Unknowable God.” We Christians worship the God who is revealed by the Lord Jesus Christ. Who is He?

“God as the Spirit, apprehended [seized] not by the senses, but by the soul. The Divine Being, spiritual in nature, everywhere present, everywhere conscious, everywhere acting, is the proper Object of human worship” (The Pulpit Commentary). Ponder that for a long time. It is profoundly deep.

“God the Father, who is not distant and unapproachable, is very near. To Whom we owe our being, who supplies our wants, exercises over us a constant care, and trains us for the future by a moral discipline. Such is the affectionate relation which is sustained to us by the great Object of our adoration” (The Pulpit Commentary). Ponder some more. Ponder deeply.

If we do not worship God, who is spirit, we neither give Him the glory due His name, nor do we perform an act of worship (Mat. 15:8).

God has credentials! When we really know Him and what He is constantly doing for us, we will worship Him in spirit and with sincerity. Our hearts and His will be knit together in a bond that is inseparable and unexplainable. Know Him. Study Him. Praise Him. Worship Him.