Make your bed!
You may have heard that phrase a few times in your life.
“Make your bed.”
Parents have been known to say it again and again. It may be one of the chapters in the How to Parent handbook. A major luxury of staying in a hotel (which I do quite often) is not having to make the bed. Yet I find myself pulling the covers up and at least making it look neat each morning.
Right about now you are probably saying, “Nice, Ron. But what does that have to do with anything in my life and ministry?” Good question.
My friend Don McMinn recently wrote a blog on this topic. In it he quoted retired U. S. Navy Admiral William H. McRaven, who was also commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command. Admiral McRaven is now Chancellor of the University of Texas System. He spoke at UT Austin a few years ago and related that in his SEAL training, the first inspection of the day was their bed. It had to be made, and it had to be perfect. Admiral McRaven explained why.
[blockquote author="" link="" target="_blank"]If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another. By the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed. Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that little things in life matter. If you can’t do the little things right, you will never do the big things right.[/blockquote]
That goes right along with what I often told our staff in Christian radio. Our normal work day for the office staff was 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. My advice to the them was to accomplish one job before 8:30 a.m. Get one task accomplished in the first thirty minutes of work.
The reasons for that were simple. It put the staff in a work mode right from the start of the morning. Because all on the team were also good friends, there was a tendency at times to visit with each other as they arrived at the station. These friendly visits could easily stretch into a half-hour or more. By tackling a job right at the beginning of the day, each person was in a mode to accomplish things throughout the day. Like making your bed, getting that first task done gives a sense of pride, and encourages a person to head to the next job on the list.
Of course, there are biblical principles and truths that also encourage us to do the work.
[blockquote author="II Timothy 2:15 NLT" link="" target="_blank"]Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.[/blockquote]
So, did you make your bed this morning? These small “wins” each morning can lead to greater momentum and larger accomplishments, all for God’s kingdom.
Patient Endurance - 2017
August 2017
MEDIAlliance International Prayer Newsletter
Patient Endurance
It is exciting to see the hand of God at work through faithful servants. We would call him an itinerant evangelist, serving in a country that had denied God for over half a century. Yet he knew his calling.
Like the call the Apostle Paul received to come to Macedonia, Xhimi (Jimmy) Baraku knew what he was to do. The Lord wanted him to travel to the many small villages of central Albania and share the Good News of Jesus with the mostly Muslim population. And Pastor Baraku did just that.
It could not have been easy in the early 1990s, sharing Christ in a country that had just emerged from Communist rule. A country that had been the most closed country to the outside world, much like North Korea is today. A country that had been officially atheistic, with that tenent written into their Communist constitution. Yet, with all that against him, Xhimi Baraku remained faithful to the call of God’s Holy Spirit. Tell the lost about Jesus.
But there was a growing challenge. Xhimi Baraku's health was not good. And soon it became so bad that he could not travel from town to town, village to village. Pastor Xhimi was led to another plan. Take the Gospel to the people by way of radio. And, after several years of prayer, planning, and dealing with the government...patient endurance. Radio Emanuel was born in Korce, Albania.
[blockquote author="Hebrews 10:35-36 (NLT)" link="" target="_blank"]So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.[/blockquote]
His tasks apparently finished, God called Pastor Baraku home at an early age. But the Lord is never without a plan. At the age of 19, Xhimi’s son, Meritan was called to lead this fledging broadcast ministry. Before long, a young lady joined the Radio Emanuel staff, and soon Meritan (Tani) and Eftali (Efti) fell in love, and began a journey of growing and serving in what had to be a challenging ministry...Radio Emanuel.
My first visit to Korce and the radio ministry was over six years ago. I found a dedicated staff, several faithful volunteers, and a broadcast facility that was painfully small for what they were doing. I encouraged Tani to begin to think about having a new facility someday... one that would allow them to produce today's programs, and adequately serve them in the future as well. I’m sure Tani and Efti had thought of this before. Of course, the big questions was, "Where will we find the money?"
By God’s grace, faithful support was cultivated over the ensuing years. First, a building was found. Old, but in a good location. The one selected had 34 owners, and each one had to agree to the purchase. Quite a task. The original plan was to remodel the old building, which is very near the vibrant city center. It soon became obvious that the building needed to be torn down to its foundation and all new construction begin.
On June 24, 2017, with pastors, missionaries, supporters, and family in attendance, the dream became a reality. Radio Emanuel’s new broadcast center was formally dedicated.
Several key donors took part in the dedication time. Judy and I were honored to be there, and I was privileged to speak briefly at the dedication program. Now, a faithful ministry has a beautiful new home, fitting for the critical work begun so many years earlier...to take the message of hope found only in Jesus Christ to the lost of central Albania and beyond.
Our friends at Galcom International, with great encouragement from its director emeritus Alan McGuirl, have been instrumental in getting the facilities up and running. They are due a big thanks.
Congratulations to Meritan and Eftali Baraku for your faithful service. God has rewarded your patient endurance and your dedicated service in a great way.
Ministry Updates and Prayer Opportunities
Middle East
I’ll soon be visiting a ministry in a Middle Eastern country, assessing how we might help them be more effective in sharing the love and hope found in Jesus. This ministry has faced some hardships and persecution, but has been faithful to God’s call as they impact lives throughout this region.
Please pray for the ministry and those who serve there faithfully. Christians in this country have endured persecution through the years, but God has also brought about great victory. Pray for the Lord’s wisdom as we spend time with these faithful servants. More on this later.
India
For the seventh year, we will be helping our Christian media friends in India with their amazing media conference. This year we will be in New Delhi September 27-29, assisting 400-500 attendees in expanding their understanding of media, and how to effectively use it for the Gospel.
It seems like every month we hear of new challenges in India for those who are following Christ as their Lord. This land is largely Hindu. Media is a powerful tool to reach beyond any cultural barrier to present Christ to India.
MEDIAlliance has a team of instructors who teach television, social media/internet, church media, and media management. Pray for these gifted Christian media professionals as they travel and prepare for the 8th Kingdom Media Conference. Pray for the Indian Christian Media Association as they prepare this significant event.
International Summit
In October, MEDIAlliance will again host approximately 45 key Christian media leaders in Dallas for our second International Media Leadership Summit (IMLS). The inaugural event last year was a wonderful success, due to the prayers and support of many of our MEDIAlliance friends. This invitation-only event is for ministry leaders from their own countries. The IMLS is designed to provide insight in leadership, media, and spiritual growth. And it is for the personal refreshment of these great servants who are impacting their culture with God’s Word through Christian media.
The event is held on the campus of Dallas Baptist University, who provides wonderful support for the IMLS.
Pray for the funding needs. Our budget for the Summit is $100,000. At this point, about $60,000 has been committed. Anyone wishing to donate to the IMLS can do so by clicking here to give online. Or a check can be mailed to our ministry office:
MEDIAlliance International
3309 Shellbrook Court
Arlington, TX 76016
Pray for the speakers as they prepare to share insight and wisdom with our Summit attendees.
Turkey
Radio Shema is growing, and has changed their ministry name to reflect that. With three stations and other media initiatives, the new name is Shema Media Group. In addition, they are reorganizing their staff to oversee the various media ministry facets. We are praying on how we can best serve them as they grow the impact of the Gospel of Christ in this country.
Turkey is often listed among the largest of the unreached people groups. There are only a few thousand evangelical Christians among the 80 million Turks, who are largely Muslim.
Pray for Shema Media Group as they deal with the new structure, and for the finances needed to keep the ministry strong.
Indonesia
Some of my early involvement in international media work was in Indonesia about 16 years ago. Now, our friend Paulus has asked MEDIAlliance to consider providing some training for the various media ministries operating Christian radio in Indonesia. We are looking at the summer of 2018 to begin this connection.
Pray for the wisdom we need as we evaluate how we can help these Christian broadcasters in this part of the world. As always, there are financial needs for such conferences. Pray that God will supply what we need when we need it. He is always faithful.
Haiti
MEDIAlliance will also return to Haiti in 2018 to hold another media training conference. Our ministry partners at Radio 4VEH anticipate having a much bigger group than the 75 we had two years ago. We enjoy the opportunity to help strengthen the work of Christian radio and television throughout Haiti.
This poor country needs the light of the hope that Christ brings to all who put their trust in Him. Christian radio reaches into jungle villages, into the midst of a voodoo culture, and, through the power of God’s Holy Spirit, transforms lives for all eternity.
Ukraine
Novomedia will hold their annual Forum for journalists in Ukraine in November. We have had the privilege of speaking to this group, which is a mix of top secular and Christian journalist in radio, television, and print.
Next spring, MEDIAlliance will be back in Ukraine to hold another media training conference. This has grown over the past three years, and we anticipate the largest group attending in this next conference.
Pray for Ruslan Kukharchuk and his Novomedia team as they use these powerful media tools to take the peace of Christ to a nation that is dealing with war along its eastern borders.
MEDIAlliance International Needs
We rarely use these newsletters to ask for funds for our ministry work. God has been so good to us through faithful supporters. However, as these new opportunities continue to come, we need to expand our budget to be able to do what the Lord is placing before us.
We have set a goal of $200,000 by the end of 2017. Due to some wonderful financial gifts, our need is now down to $140,000 to be raised by year end. This amount will allow us to accomplish what God has for us in the last half of this year, and to begin 2018 in a strong way.
Would you pray about making a special donation to MEDIAlliance now? I never worry about our financial needs...but I do want to be faithful to let you and other friends of the ministry know of them.
If you would give, you can do so online with a credit card by clicking on the button below. You can make a one-time gift to the ministry through our secure website.
[button title="DONATE" link="/donations/" target="_blank" align="" icon="icon-money-line" icon_position="left" color="#004B76" font_color="#ffffff" size="4" full_width="1" class="" download="" rel="" onclick=""]
I would also ask you to consider giving monthly to MEDIAlliance. As our ministry grows, our monthly needs grow. We have a very small budget for a ministry with such global impact. We have chosen to work from our home, with our assistants working from their homes as well. Our virtual offices allow us to be good stewards of the funds given.
Monthly gifts usually allow people to give more than they might be able to with a one-time gift. I hope you will prayerfully consider that. The donation page on our website will allow you to designate a monthly gift. Click HERE to find out more.
Finally...
Almost 30 years ago, a handful of us who were serving as media ministers in large Baptist churches formed the Metro Media Ministers Association (MMMA). I am delighted to say that the group is still going, and is stronger than ever. This gracious group of men and women recently awarded me a life membership to the MMMA.
At their recent gathering in Naples, Florida, they asked me to speak to the group. We shared with these media ministers about our calling to the international work of MEDIAlliance, and about the joy and the value of mentoring others. This plaque from the group will hold a special place of honor for me. Thanks to the current MMMA president, Bryan Bailey, for giving me the opportunity to be with this great group.
Again, thank you for your prayers and your support. May God continue to bless you...and may He continue to guide MEDIAlliance International as we help others share the promise of hope found only in Christ Jesus.
God’s best…
A job? Or more...
A while back I was privileged to speak to journalists in Ukraine about our media profession, whether it is a job or a calling. In that message, I quoted from a book, A Case for Calling, by Tomas Addington and Stephen Graves. They said:
[blockquote author="" link="" target="_blank"]Calling is the truth that God calls us to Himself so decisively that everything we are, everything we do, and everything we have is invested with a special devotion, dynamism, and direction lived out as a response to His summons and service.[/blockquote]
So, do you have a calling? Is what you do for the Lord based on His direction for your life? Oswald Chambers, in My Utmost for His Highest, is quoted as saying:
“It is easier to serve or work for God without a vision and with a call, because then you are not bothered by what He requires.”
Ouch! Chambers goes on to say this.
[blockquote author="" link="" target="_blank"]You may be more prosperous and successful from the world’s perspective, and will have more leisure time, if you never acknowledge the call of God. But once you receive a commission from Jesus Christ, the memory of what God asks of you will always be there to prod you on to do His will.[/blockquote]
The Apostle Paul summed it up this way.
[blockquote author="Acts 20:24 NLT" link="" target="_blank"]But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.[/blockquote]
If you believe that the Bible is fully inspired by God’s Holy Spirit…and I do…then Paul’s words, “…my life is worth nothing to me…,” means just what it says. Paul counted anything he did that was not under God’s assignment as rubbish, garbage, nothing. Good things that are not God’s things are nothing.
So, what’s on your desk this morning? What’s on your agenda for the week? Are they leading you in the path to which God has called you? Are they part of His plan, or simply your plan? I don’t know about you, but I have some pondering and examining to do. Remember…we serve the King who bought us with the blood of His Son. As Paul wrote to the believers in Corinth:
[blockquote author="I Corinthians 6:19, 20 NLT" link="" target="_blank"]…You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price….[/blockquote]
Your plan. Or God’s plan. What will it be today?
Would the Apostle Paul use Twitter?
Without the advantage of today’s technology, the Apostle Paul worked hard at staying connected. He knew the value of reinforcing the hope and the truth of the Gospel message he had delivered to so many.
When Paul heard of a conflict, or of false teaching that some were accepting, Paul would send them a letter. Paul would have loved email...and he might have even fired off a tweet if he had a Twitter account.
My recent trip to Philippi drove me back to Paul’s letter to these new believers, among the very first in Europe. And he had some pretty strong words, couched in love, that he wanted these Philippians to hear. Eugene Peterson puts it in today’s language.
[blockquote author="Philippians 2:1-4 MSG" link="" target="_blank"]
If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends.
“Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.”[/blockquote]
On occasion, I see signs of jealousy among Christian broadcasters. It happens everywhere. We’re human. But that isn’t a very good excuse to act in un-Christ-like ways. In fact, Paul drives home his point by looking to Jesus and His example in this area.
[blockquote author="Philippians 2:5-8 MSG" link="" target="_blank"]
Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human!
“Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.”
[/blockquote]
To be honest, I’m not sure I can comprehend the humility it took for Jesus to leave the glory of Heaven and become human. But I can attempt to follow the example. An aspiring artist looks to one of the great master painters to learn from him. He will never be a Rembrandt, Degas, Monet, or Michelangelo. Yet the student can learn, can improve, and can grow in skills as they continue to learn.
You may want to look around...and deep within. How are things in your ministry? Is it marked by an unusual Christ-likeness? Or is it patterned like the world, with petty jealousies and efforts to build yourself up at the cost of others?
How do you view other ministries? What do you say...or think... in private about others who are also striving to share the Gospel with their culture?
Paul wrapped up his letter this way:
[blockquote author="Philippians 4:8-9 NLT" link="" target="_blank"]
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
“Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.”
[/blockquote]
My prayer for you and for me is this: Lord, make us more like Jesus every day, in every way, for His glory. Amen.
Leading, or just steering?
Leaders lead. Duh.
But you would be surprised to learn how many leaders don’t lead, or don’t lead effectively. Just because a person finds themselves the head of an organization, ministry or broadcast station doesn’t mean they automatically know how to lead.
I’ve recently been looking again at John Maxwell’s best-selling book, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. Several quotes and comments struck me as important for us as we lead others.
“Anyone can steer the ship.
It takes a leader to chart the course.”
Being a leader doesn’t mean just sitting in the big office, calling meetings, or even coming up with the funds to keep the “ship” afloat. There is more to it than that. John Maxwell reflects on some things he went through to be the visionary leader needed in his ministry work.
Maxwell wrote the critical steps for project leadership in the form of an acrostic. The first letter of each item spells out P L A N A H E A D. Plan ahead. It may be helpful for you.
- Predetermine a course of action.
- Lay out your goals.
- Adjust your priorities.
- Notify key personnel.
- Allow time for acceptance.
- Head into action.
- Expect problems.
- Always point to the successes.
- Daily review your plan.
You could write a whole page on each of these lines...or preach a whole sermon. Let me just leave it with you to apply to your situation as needed, and for you to gain from the wisdom.
Proverbs 16 begins with great words of wisdom for leaders.
[blockquote author="Proverbs 16: 1-3 NLT" link="" target="_blank"]
We can make our own plans, but the Lord gives the right answer.
People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives.
Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.
[/blockquote]
Lead, plan, strategize, communicate, adjust, review. All of these are important. Most important is to be sure your plans are God’s plans.
Check your EGO
You have the team assembled. You have pose the question with the hope that all will share their ideas and thoughts to arrive at a strong solution. Then...the meeting falls apart. Later, as you analyze what went wrong, you realize that someone (possibly you) let ego get in the way.
That happens more times than you might suspect. Yes, even in Christian ministries and organizations. It even happens in the home with the family. How can we get a handle on the ego in order to serve the Lord faithfully and successfully?
I like Ken Blanchard’s definitions for ego that I saw in his book, Lead Like Jesus. He gives two possible definitions for ego, taking the word as an acrostic. First...
• EGO can stand for Edge God Out
That’s what happens when we look to our own wisdom and our own preferences above all others. It usually means we don’t even give weight to anyone else’s good ideas. Blanchard says it leads to three potential problems, especially in the collaboration process.
1. It fosters isolation that leads to separation.
2. It causes harmful comparisons that lead to either arrogance or anxiety.
3. It distorts the truth, making things look either more or less important than they really are.
But here’s the positive definition for ego that Blanchard offers.
• EGO can also mean Exalt God Only
When we put the Lord first and look to Him for solutions...when we pray sincerely to the ultimate problem solver...something quite different happens in our meeting and discussions.
• Humility replaces pride. Collaboration will succeed when we’re open to God providing answers and ideas from any avenue He chooses, and acknowledging our role versus His role.
• God-grounded confidence replaces fear. Collaboration will succeed when each member of the team has the courage to do what’s right in the sight of God (even if appears difficult to do), bringing honor to Him.
To bring this home, at your next meeting, why not make two sets of name tags?
One set says simply, Edge God Out.
The other ones say Exalt God Only.
Ask those in the meeting to choose which tag they want to wear...and have them put that one on. Then, each time a person looks at another person in the discussion, they are reminded of what is most important to them in the collaboration. If you do this, I would love to hear back from you to let me know what happens.
[blockquote author="Psalm 118:28" link="" target="_blank"]You are my God, and I will praise You; You are my God, I will exalt You.[/blockquote]
Eight hours...what could God do through you?
We were approaching the ruins of ancient Philippi. These extensive ruins have significance on many levels, especially for Christ-followers. I began to read the account from Acts 16.
The Apostle Paul was faithful to the Macedonian call, to leave Asia and cross over to what we now call Europe. God had a purpose and a plan. The first European convert, Lydia, believed Paul’s testimony of the Good News of Christ and gave her life to the Savior.
But Paul and Silas’ bold proclamation of God’s Truth got them into trouble. They were arrested and thrown into jail...even the inner prison. Beginning in Acts 16:25, the next 10 verses give an amazing account. Let me summarize it in bullet points.
- Paul and Silas, in chains, were singing hymns and praising God.
- A massive earthquake shook the jail.
- The cell doors opened and the prisoners’ shackles came loose.
- The jailer though all had escaped, and prepared to kill himself.
- Paul stopped him, saying, “We’re all here. No need to take your life.”
- The jailer fell before Paul, crying, “What must I do to be saved?”
- The jailer took Paul and Silas to his home and washed the wounds of his new friends.
- A meal was prepared for Paul and Silas, and they ate.
- The whole household followed the jailer’s example and accepted Jesus as the Christ...and were baptized.
- Paul and Silas returned to their cells.
All this in about eight hours...maybe less. Wow.
I got to thinking.
- Is God any less powerful today?
- Does He have any less desire for eternal change in lives?
- Can He still do the dramatic...the miraculous?
What could the Lord do in your life and ministry...in mine...in eight hours?
Look at the story again. I believe the key is how Paul and Silas responded to adversity and persecution.
[blockquote author="Acts 16:24b-25 (NLT)" link="" target="_blank"]...the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks. Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.[/blockquote]
Praising God. Singing hymns. Witnessing to others of the greatness of God. Not wringing their hands, or demanding their release. Rejoicing, letting the Holy Spirit do His work.
Back to the question.
What could God do through you in eight hours...or eight days...or eight months? It might start with persecution. But it can end with miraculous victory...for God’s glory. For God’s purpose.
Are you ready to sing?
A hammer and a nail...
My pastor reminded me of an interesting reality. Maybe you can relate to it. In a recent message my pastor said,
“To a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.”
Have you ever heard that? Now, a hammer is a great tool. A powerful tool. A useful tool. I’ve watched master craftsmen use a hammer to build my home, everything from framing up the walls to the fine trim work that finished out the interior.
But a hammer isn’t the only tool in the toolbox. And it isn’t the right tool for everything. If you need a screw driven in, a hammer isn’t the tool to use. If wood needs sanding, or tile needs cutting, a hammer is a poor choice.
What do you do when a problem arises in your organization? Do you grab a hammer? You can’t pound every problem as if it’s a nail. It may be a person who is part of the problem. They may not need to be pounded. This person may need encouragement, better training, more appropriate work conditions. There may be many reasons that this person is a problem. Don’t be too quick to reach for a hammer.
Leadership is not pounding on someone until they get it right. Businessman and author Max Dupree describes leadership as, “...liberating people to do what is required of them in the most effective and humane way possible.”
The Apostle Peter, under the Holy Spirit’s direction, gives insight into how we deal with those God has entrusted to us in ministry and work.
[blockquote author="1 Peter 5:3 NLT" link="" target="_blank"]Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example.[/blockquote]
The next time a problem arises in your ministry or organization, don’t assume it is a nail that needs pounding. Look for the right tool, and use it wisely.
Check your Contract
I heard the frustration in his voice. Too much to do, and not enough people to do the job. It was Sunday morning…crunch time in ministry…and this media leader knew the job had to be done.
Have you experienced that kind of frustration? I certainly have. In my seven decades of life and 50 plus years of media work, the challenges of the tasks were sometimes overwhelming. I suspect you have been there, too. I’ve often had a recurring “radio” dream that the song was ending, it was time for me to read news, and I had no copy. And there were no more songs to play. Nothing but dead air...and frustration!
Now…you may think I’m going to share some nice words about how God will move the obstacles and the challenges of ministry, making your way lighter and brighter. Sorry. Not this time. I’ll just begin by sharing the words of an old Black pastor.
“Check your contract.”
God never promised a life of ease and comfort.
We sometimes equate being in the center of God’s will with a lack of problems. I remember a devotional from my friend Joni Eareckson Tada, who has spent some 50 years in a wheelchair. She reflected on the challenging time Mary and Joseph had before Jesus was born...and afterwards, too. The ridicule, the difficult trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem, the stable, the exile to Egypt. Great challenges. And Mary and Joseph were in the very center of God’s will.
No, ease and comfort are not the marks of being in God’s will. In fact, I know some non-believers who are financially set for life, who have a nice home, and seem to have no challenges. But they are clearly NOT in God’s will.
Yes, we can all learn to delegate, work more efficiently, plan better, and learn other skills to help us better manage our time, ourselves, and others. Yet, we will likely still have challenges and trials.
Jesus said it. “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.” (John 16:33 NLT) James echoed it. “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.” (James 1:3 NLT)
You WILL have trials. WHEN troubles come. These verses leave no doubt. But the Apostle Paul reminds us to keep all these trials, troubles, and frustrations in perspective.
[blockquote author="2 Corinthians 4:17 NLT" link="" target="_blank"]For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever![/blockquote]
So, check your contract, and understand that our faithful God will be with us through any trial, and through any challenge, no matter how great or how small.
One more passage and promise to remember when going through one of these trials.
[blockquote author="Hebrews 10:35-36 NLT" link="" target="_blank"]So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. [/blockquote]
To put that thought in the immortal words of the 1960s hit song... “Hang on, Sloopy, hang on!”
So you failed. So what!
You failed. Or you rebelled. So…what happens now? What does God do with our failure or rebellion? You may be surprised.
The story is so familiar, even to non-Christians, that we have a tendency to skip over parts of the biblical account.
I’m talking about Jonah, his rebellion, and God’s reaction. You remember the story. God told Jonah to go to Nineveh to preach, and he rebelled…went the other way. He boarded a ship bound for Tarshish, and God brought a violent storm.
In the story in Jonah, chapter 1, we see that the sailors were not followers of the God of Israel. The scripture says that in the midst of the storm, these weathered seamen shouted to their gods for help. In fear for their lives, they find that Jonah and his rebellion was the cause for the storm. Jonah tells them that the way to stop the storm is to throw him overboard. These sailors didn’t want to do it. And in the process of dealing with the crisis, they began to pray to Jonah’s God. And, finally, they did what Jonah asked. They tossed him into the sea.
Now, before we quickly jump to the part about the fish, take a look at what God did right here. Remember, Jonah was rebellious to God, a failure at following His will. Yet, when the seamen tossed him into the raging sea, immediately the storm stopped. Calm. Quiet. Peace.
Here’s the passage that amazes me.
[blockquote author="Jonah 1:5-16 NLT" link="" target="_blank"]Then the sailors picked Jonah up and threw him into the raging sea, and the storm stopped at once! The sailors were awestruck by the Lord’s great power, and they offered him a sacrifice and vowed to serve him.[/blockquote]
Do you see that? The sailors sacrificed to the one true God, and vowed to serve Him.
Yes, the rest of the story is amazing, too. The fish. Jonah’s repentance. The revival in Nineveh. God at work. But this is what gets me. God used Jonah’s rebellion and his failure to bring a witness of the Lord’s great power to hardened sailors. And they began to follow Him.
We look at the dark side of our stumbles, our missteps, our failures and rebellion, and often miss what God may be up to. No…we shouldn’t rebel just to see what God does with it. But we need to be reminded of the greatness of God, His love and compassion for all, and His ability to use even our failures for His grand purpose.