Tag: never ever give up

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Why do we Need to go to Church?

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My  book, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World,” is available at the bookstore. Just click on the “Bookstore” tab at the top of this page to check it out.

This book reaches out to those who may be suffering from anxiety, fear, depression, addictions, self-doubt, hopelessness, or the many other usual suspects.

The book sells for $19.99 in the stores, but on this site it is only $15.99, and the shipping has been cut in half as well. A total savings of over $6.00.

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I am sharing another excerpt from the book, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World.” This chapter discusses the question, “Why do we need to go to church?” I use quotes from Rick Warren, the author of “The Purpose Driven Life.” He shares many thoughts on why we need to go to church.

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Go to Church; Avoid the Christmas Rush

 

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:25

 

Why do we need to go to church? The purpose of going to church is about much more than just being a good Christian. Church attendance and involvement help you grow as a Christian.

Rick Warren’s book, “The Purpose Driven Life,” is a wonderful book that hit the world with a tremendous splash in 2002 and made the top of the best-selling lists for weeks on end. I highly recommend it because it will bless (and sometimes challenge) you a great deal.

I will be quoting him several times in this chapter to give you a feel for what it means to go to church. What he says has opened my eyes even more to the need for fellowship with others in your church home.

The first quote that almost made me laugh was, “The person that says, ‘I don’t need the church,’ is either arrogant or ignorant.”1 He lays it out as if it is not even up for discussion. I can’t agree more.

I was on the other side of the fence in my earlier Christian life. I went to church on a sporadic basis. During the football season, if my favorite team was playing during church time, I didn’t go to church. Football was a priority (read that “idol”!). As the years went by, I eventually didn’t go to church at all. I found “other things” that were more important. I still felt I was a good Christian because I was doing good things with my students and helping others when I could. I was doing good deeds for the people around me, and that seemed good enough.

What I didn’t realize was that I was also drifting away from God at a pace that was leading me to eternal death. I came back to reality when I hit rock bottom on March 31st, 2001, when I had my close encounter with God. It took words from God to wake me up, and realized that I needed to be with other Christians to remain strong.

I have said before that not all people who go to church are Christians. If you are looking for the perfect church made up only of Christians, I have some ocean-front property inArizonafor you. There is not a perfect church; in fact, there are no perfect Christians. Christians are not perfect; just forgiven. (Great bumper sticker!)  So don’t look around your church and judge the people going there.

Our mission (whether we accept it or not) is to grow ourselves and to help others grow. We are commanded to help one another to grow as Christians since we all belong to one body. If one part of the body is weak, other members rally to help it heal. This is true in the human body. If we break an arm, the other arm takes over some functions during the healing process. The church body needs to function in the same way, pitching in when another member is struggling.

 

From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Ephesians 4: 16

 

Rick Warren goes on further about our command to help other Christians in the church. He says, “We are commanded to love each other, pray for each other, encourage each other, admonish each other, greet each other, serve each other, teach each other, accept each other, honor each other, bear each other’s burdens, forgive each other, submit to each other, be devoted to each other, and many other mutual tasks.”2 These are important reasons we need to go to church. We will not get this kind of interaction and care watching football on Sunday.

Another bumper sticker says, “How about you come over to My house before the game on Sunday—God.” We can fit both in, but the body of Christ needs to be first.

Rick Warren also says, “Worship helps you focus on God; fellowship helps you face life’s problems; discipleship helps fortify your faith; ministry helps you find your talents; evangelism helps fulfill your mission. There is nothing else like the church.”3

There are people who are simply churchgoers, and there are people who are members of the church—I should say members of the body of Christ. Those who use their talents to help others are the members God desires. I was a churchgoer for many years until I realized that I needed more than just what I got by sitting in a pew on Sunday. There is commitment that takes more than just going to church. It is being a member of the body.

Being with others at church can also bring you much closer to God and His love. Stormie Omartian says in her book, The Prayer That Changes Everything, “The times I most sense God’s love for me is when I worship in a group of people gathering together for that purpose. An extremely powerful dynamic happens when people worship together. I’m not talking about just getting together to sing nice songs about God. I’m talking about worshiping God for who He is with all we have in us. There is nothing more healing, restoring, or life-changing. Once you sense God’s love through those times of corporate praise and worship, you won’t want to ever live without it.4

I have to agree with her statement. There have been so many times when I am in a group praying or worshiping that I can feel the warmth and love of God in the room. It’s something I hope all of you have felt, and if you haven’t, get with some of your closest Christians friends and have a love fest prayer session where you do nothing but praise God. Then you will understand.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

Colossians 3:16

 

Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Acts 2:46–47

 

Further Adventures

Start going to a Bible study if you haven’t already done so. I am always blessed when I am part of a Bible study. I not only make new friends, I also acquire prayer partners. And I get to be part of an in-depth Bible study of the topic under discussion.

I especially love the prayer time at the end. At one time, it was very difficult for me to pray out loud in a group, but from sharing in these small group settings, I found the assurance that no one in the room cared about how my prayers sounded. They are always more interested in what I say, listening carefully so they can follow through and pray for me.

 

Something to Ponder

Isn’t it funny how powerful a prayer grows when it’s shared with several people?

Remember: Never, ever, give up!

 

 

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If God Would Just Listen to Me

A new year. A new month. A new week. A new day. It is time to refresh 0ur thinking, and work on things we feel we can do better.

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I want to thank all of you who stop by each day. I hope you find some comfort and thoughts that may help your day.

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I have another excerpt from my book, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World.” People often get very selfish and try to tell God what they want instead of asking Him. We need to realize that God has the final say in everything. We should pray with a humble heart. We should also remember: Never, ever, give up!

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Chapter 22

 

When Praying, Don’t Give God Instructions;

Just Report to Work

 

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and

not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will pray to me,

and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me

with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord.

Jeremiah 29:11–14

 

I could do well—if God would just listen to me! I would ask that peanut butter not be fattening; that I would never be overweight; that I had a beautiful house right onWaikikiBeachinHawaii. And while you are at it, God, could You help me to always catch the biggest fish when I go fishing?

Pretty silly, huh? People do get that selfish. They always say “give me.” They pray for a promotion, a new car, one more drink before they die, a great life as a beach bum—and the list goes on.

We would love to live the life of a beach bum, but like sand castles on the beach, dreams get washed away because of illness, divorce, death of a spouse, or bankruptcy.

There are no absolutes on this earth. God did not promise us a rose garden. He didn’t even promise us a garden.

What if we simply ask God to use us for His glory? A very short prayer—and God will be smiling when He hears it. You never know what God might have for you to do. You never know if He wants you to lead thousands of people out into the desert. He may want you to attack a giant with a slingshot. He may want you to lead many people to Christ.

He did that with Moses, David and Paul. They were very ordinary people like you and me, but God made them extraordinary people by having them report for duty. They didn’t plan to be the people they turned out to be, but God wanted each of them to fulfill a specific purpose and they responded.

What do you think God wants you to do? Have you ever thought God wanted you to paint like Picasso? Has God wanted you to administer to a school in the jungle, but you thought it was just a dream you kept having? How about becoming an evangelist traveling the world and leading many people to Christ?

Maybe these thoughts seem too far away for you to reach. You should never think that. And God might have completely different—and maybe what you consider “smaller”—plans for you, but He still has a plan for you. Every task has an equal place in God’s view. He planned yours before you were even born. It may be that you are to be a choir member at your church. It could be that you help out at the soup kitchen or usher at your church.

That is what I am doing right now. I am an usher at my church. At first I thought it would be rather dull. You walk people down the aisle and show them to an available seat. Boring! But I have found that being an usher can be a wonderful experience. On more than one occasion someone has tugged on my sleeve when I was passing the offering plate and asked for some help. They wanted someone to pray with them.

I alert what I call “the God squad,” and they have a person waiting to talk to and pray with that person at the end of the service. Each time the person has accepted Christ right on the spot. Pretty cool, huh? I am not just an usher—God is using me as an ambassador for Him.

I spent many years after I retired wondering what God wanted me to do. I was searching behind the wrong doors. It wasn’t behind door number 1 or door number 2; it was behind door number 3! Door number 3 was God telling me, “You can write. You have a talent to tell people about Me.”

As I sat down and began to write, I felt something I had never felt before. It felt as if God were directing my hands to write what He wanted to say. I am sure other Christian writers have had the same feeling.

What happened was that I had finally stopped searching and started praying. I asked God to show me what He wanted me to do for Him. I didn’t tell God what I wanted. I asked Him to show me what He wanted.

How about you? Do you tell God what you need and want, or do you ask Him to show you His plan for your life? You will be amazed what will happen if you are patient. God doesn’t always answer prayer by5 p.m.on the day you pray. He already knows what He wants for you, and He may be preparing you for that.

I was once writing a book about how to be a salesman in a tough world. I look back at my work on that book, and it was horrible! A publisher would be laughing me right out that number 3 door. But God let me work on that horrible book to prepare me for this book He really wanted me to write. It just wasn’t what I thought He wanted me to write. So here I am rambling away, happy as a clam!

Don’t spend your time asking God, for “goodies.” Spend time telling God that you are willing to do whatever He wants you to do. When He does open that door for you, enjoy the ride. You will never have to look back, and you will be serving God in a way that is pleasing to Him.

 

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all

without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

James 1:5

 

Further Adventures

Moses went to the mountain and asked God for guidance. God loved Moses for coming to see Him and obey Him. What about you? Do you pray for a new car, or do you go to the mountain and seek what God really wants you to do instead of what you want from God? You will be amazed how many things God will provide for you if you follow His instructions for your life. It may not be that new car, but you will feel that you have really accomplished something that was meaningful and important.

 

Something to Ponder

Isn’t it funny that when we think we can, we do; but when we think we can’t, we fail?

 

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He Who Angers You Controls You

I have been sharing excerpts from my book, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World.” I will be sharing Chapter three today.
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Chapter 3

He Who Angers You Controls You

But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brotherwill be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother,“Raca” [a term of contempt], is answerable to the Sanhedrin[body of authorities]. But anyone who says,
“You fool!” will be in danger of the fire of hell.
Matthew 5:22

I have “a short fuse.” I can be easily offended and strike back with anger. As the years have gone by I realize that anger doesn’t solve anything. It only raises my blood pressure, and allows the other person to win. They get what they want. They got me frustrated and not thinking clearly.

I have finally gotten smarter and have learned to control my feelings to the point where I still may be upset about what has happened, but I don’t let it cause me to verbally strike out toward the other person. I don’t “count to ten.” I turn to God to give me strength to overcome my own feelings and think about the consequences for me if I fail in my quest to help others with their anger. I also ask God to help me have a calm spirit, and an understanding heart. I’m not being a good example to my children—or anyone else—if I don’t.

The following story makes the point about anger very clearly. Got a hammer?
There was a little boy with a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him to hammer a nail into the back fence every time he lost control. The first day the boy drove 37 nails into the fence. Then he gradually discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.

Finally, the day came when the boy didn’t lose his temper at all. His father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper.

The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. The father led his son to the fence. “You have done well, but look at the holes in the fence,” he said. “When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like the nail holes. You can put a knife in a person and draw it out. It won’t matter how many times you say ‘I’m sorry,’ the wound is still there. A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.”

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him.
Psalm 37:7

A fool shows his annoyance [temper] at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.
Proverbs 12:16

In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.
Ephesians 4:26

Further Adventures
How do you deal with anger? Do you have loved ones who can’t control their feelings some times? I have been a victim of losing my temper sometimes. I can’t put a bunch of nails in my fence out of anger because Charlotte would want me be put in a safe place so I wouldn’t be harmful to anyone—or the fence—again.

But think about this story each time you get angry. Tell it to your loved ones when they get upset. This is an easy story to remember. It is very short, but its impact could be tremendous.

Something to Ponder
Isn’t it funny that when we say kind words to someone they say kind words back?

Remember: Never, ever, give up!