Truest Worship

By Carin LeRoy –

Recently my neighbor knew a family who had a fire in their house, and she asked if my husband had a spare pair of shoes she could take to the husband. We remembered a pair of casual nice leather shoes that didn’t fit my husband that were never used. They were sitting in the closet gathering dust, so I gave her the pair. My neighbor was grateful, and I felt good they were going to someone in need. As I thought about those shoes, I began to think that giving those was not a sacrifice because we couldn’t use them anyway.

How much do we sacrifice for others? As Christians, we go to church most Sundays, give our tithe, attend small group, maybe give a gift to a missionary and fill our lives with good and honorable things. But these things are not sacrifice. Mothers forgo a career to raise their children; fathers give up comfort and peace to work hard and support their family; and parents forfeit their desires for their children’s needs. These are ways we sacrifice for family.

When we are self-absorbed, we focus on our own needs and desires and are not willing to give for the sake of others. Many marriages fall apart because one or both partners refuse to compromise or meet the needs of the other. Sacrifice means we are willing to deny ourselves in order to bless others or to bless God. We relinquish for the benefit of another.

I think of a missionary pilot and friend who flew a small single-engine plane for years helping others. He flew into isolated areas taking in supplies and food, carrying out those needing medical care and making sure that he was meeting the needs of those in his area. His work cost him his life one day as his plane crashed into the side of a mountain after encountering bad weather. He sacrificed for others.

Do we live a life of sacrifice? Or are we self-absorbed? Christ is our ultimate example. In Scripture we read in Philippians that “Christ made himself nothing, taking on the very nature of a servant.” Why? Because He knew that living in obedience to God’s will was worth the sacrifice of his own life—even death on a cross. Out of His great love, Christ left all the glories of heaven and His deserved place beside His father to sacrifice His life for us.

As we move into this new year, let’s remember that a life of obedience and a willingness to sacrifice is the truest form of worship.

PRAYER: Lord, thank You for Your great sacrifice and willingness to come to earth and die for my sins. Keep me mindful that a life of true worship stems from a life of obedience and sacrifice.

“You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had, who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature. He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death– even death on a cross! As a result God exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow– in heaven and on earth and under the earth – and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:6-11 NET).

Fan into Flame

By Carin LeRoy –

My teenage son is a huge fan of the reality program “Man vs. Wild,” which shows people are surviving in isolated places across the globe. They scale rock faces, cross icy rivers, sleep in trees and eat strange, wiggly creatures. On almost every episode, they must make a fire. They gather bits of dry tinder, rub two sticks together until smoke forms, then blow gently until a flame sparks. Gingerly, they add kindling until they have a blaze large enough to cook food or warm themselves. That effort makes me thankful I have an electric stove where I turn a knob to cook.

In reading through Paul’s admonishment to Timothy, we see how he was encouraged develop the gifts given to him by God. He says, “I want you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands,” (2 Timothy 1: 6 NIV). I was reminded of the effort it takes to start a fire. It isn’t easy. They search for the right materials, rub sticks until their hands are sore and work hard to get that fire started. Soon they are rewarded with a blaze big enough to provide warmth.

We are each bestowed with gifts given to us by God in order to use them to minister to others. These abilities need developing; to be fanned into a flame. We start small and gain confidence. Soon we watch as God utilizes them in an even greater way. Just as it takes effort to start a fire, we must work to cultivate those areas where God has bestowed our spiritual gifting. Usually, these gifts are something that comes naturally to us, and we enjoy them!

Charles Spurgeon, the great British preacher from the nineteenth century, said that we should not only be using our gift, but we should also work to improve it. If you feel you are gifted in an area but lack the confidence to serve, then start small. Be diligent and soon you will see God using your gifts for an even greater impact.

PRAYER: Lord, thank You for giving me a spiritual gift to use for others. Help me to be diligent in using, developing and improving that gift for an even greater impact for Your glory.

QUOTE: “And then, again, we must stir up our gift because it needs stirring. The gifts and graces of Christian men are like a coal fire which frequently require stirring as well as feeding with fuel…there must be stirring and fires go out sometimes for lack of it. There are times with us when we become dull and heavy, doing little or nothing–restless, indifferent. Then it is that we require rebuking. If there is a solid bottom of real grace in us, we only need the poker that we be stirred up and straightway the fire begins to burn.” ~ Charles Spurgeon

The Christmas Plan

By Carin LeRoy –

Last Christmas season I set aside a day to do my holiday baking. Homemade treats for family and friends would make nice gifts. I baked several mini cakes and then started making candy. Everything was going well. The cakes were in the oven, and the candy neared completion. Then a distraction caused me to burn the candy. When removing the mini cakes from their pans, they fell out in crumbles and chunks. Frustrated, I made a second batch of candy, only to have it fall out of the refrigerator and cover the floor.

It wasn’t a good day. All my time, effort and money accomplished nothing. About that time, my hubby walked in and looked at the mess in the kitchen.  Hearing my complaints and seeing my frustration, he suggested we go out to eat. I walked out the door with him and left my baking disasters behind. My plans to have homemade treats as gifts were unsuccessful.

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, there were those who wanted to destroy God’s plan to send a Savior to earth.  Hearing from the Magi that the King of the Jews was born, King Herod thought his throne was threatened. He searched to find baby Jesus to kill him. Angels appeared to the Magi and to Joseph in dreams to warn them, and they were able to avoid King Herod and escape his evil plan (Read Matthew 1-2). God was able to accomplish His plan and purpose to send a Savior to the world for the forgiveness of sins.

In Proverbs 19:21 we read, “Many are the plans of a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Isn’t it great to know that God’s plans and purposes always succeed? Even though we have days that don’t meet our expectations, we have a God whose power accomplishes all that He has intended. Our lives are in His hands, and he is able to accomplish His every purpose.

PRAYER: Thank You, Lord, that Your purpose and plans always succeed. Thank You for the gift of Your son, Jesus, who came to earth to provide us with forgiveness of sin.

BIBLE VERSE: “An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son” (Matthew 2: 13-15 NIV).

Mary’s Willing Heart

By Carin LeRoy –

Christmas is a time of busyness: shopping, gift-wrapping, parties and family time. I love to decorate the house, put up my nativity scene and celebrate the season with many past traditions. But in all the season’s activities, do we give ourselves time to reflect on the events that occurred for Jesus to be born of the Virgin Mary? Do we stop to think about what birthing Christ meant to her?

She was probably a teenager when she became pledged to Joseph. This pledge meant she belonged to Joseph even though they were not yet married, and it was more binding than our modern-day engagements. Only a written divorce could separate their agreement. When the angel of the Lord appeared to Mary to tell her she would miraculously give birth to Jesus, her response was, “May it be as you have said,” (Luke 1:38 NIV).

She was willing to take on public humiliation as an unwed mother, to risk Joseph misunderstanding or not believing her and to let others in the community look down on her. God had looked on her with favor and selected her for a task that many others might have rejected. She chose to let God use her to accomplish a much bigger purpose – even though it meant personal suffering for a time.

Do we have the same submissive spirit as Mary? Will we respond with the same quick answer? As we celebrate this Christmas season, let’s also remember that Christ could only come to earth through the willingness of a young woman, named Mary, who chose to suffer for a time for God’s greater purpose. “May it be to me as you have said,” should be our response, too, to a Savior who might ask something difficult of us. May we have a heart as willing as Mary’s to heed the voice of God.

PRAYER: Lord, give me a heart that is willing to heed Your voice, even if it might mean personal suffering. Help me to see that You may have a greater purpose and desire an impact far greater than my own comfort.

BIBLE VERSE: “‘How will this be,’ Mary asked the angel, ‘since I am a virgin?’ The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.’ ‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May it be to me as you have said.’ Then the angel left her” (Luke 1: 34-38 NIV).

The Little Things Do Count: Integrity

By Carin LeRoy –

Recently I went through a drive-thru and ordered lunch. When the clerk handed my food to me, I said, “You returned too much change.” Then I handed him the extra money. Surprised he said, “Wow, Ma’am, thank you very much.” Only after I called it to his attention did he realize his mistake. It would have been easy to drive away with the extra money. Certainly, over the years, I have been shortchanged on poorly prepared or missing food. No one would have known, and I would have $5.00 more in my pocket.

But God would have known. Doesn’t that matter?

Do our lives display integrity? The world has influenced God’s people in many ways: Are we diligent at work, or are we a slacker? We inform the clerk if we’ve
been short-changed, but do we return it when given too much? Do office
supplies end up at home and we fail to return them?  Have we called in sick when we really plan a day off? Do we borrow a book or item from a friend and never return it? Do we make a habit at work to check Facebook throughout the day or text family and friends?

In a culture that chooses to think nothing of these indiscretions, have we, as believers, lost our sense of integrity that the little things do count? In the Old Testament, we see a description of Job as “blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil,” (Job 1: 1 NIV). It wasn’t that Job was without sin, but his life was marked by honor and truth. He lived his life by God’s standards, not man’s. People in the community couldn’t fault how he lived his life. He was loved and respected. His fear of God kept him reaching for the highest standard.

A person of true character is the person who chooses to do right, even when no one is looking. It is a life is ruled by integrity and fear of God. His standards are high – even if it goes against cultural norms. Let’s be people of integrity as we live our lives, not only because others are watching but because we have a God that desires us to be blameless and upright people.

PRAYER: Lord, make me a person of integrity. Let my life be marked by character even in the small things I encounter each day. Keep me mindful that I don’t live by cultural norms but by the standards You have set forth in Your Word.

BIBLE VERSE: “My feet have closely followed His steps; I have kept to His way without turning aside. I have not departed from the commands of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread” (Job 23: 11,12 NIV).

 

 

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