Toward a Bountiful Season by Sharon Espeseth

Inspired by this beautiful butterfly artistically designed and built
by my friend, Glenice Wilson, I look forward to 
a bountiful season.

The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. (2 Corinthians 9:6-15*) 

Paul is talking about a monetary gift from the Corinthians to the Christians in Jerusalem who were less well off. Writing to assure the congregation at Corinth that God loves a cheerful giver, he also wanted to avoid the embarrassment of a promise unfulfilled. To avoid any misunderstand, Apostle Paul also sent “brothers” to Corinth to make arrangements for “the bountiful gift" they had promised.

Could Paul’s statement about sowing and reaping apply to my writing? I wondered as I read 2 Corinthians 9:6-15*. Writing is a gift that’s meant to be shared. Why, otherwise would God give us this particular gift. I know personally that life’s circumstances can alter the time and focus needed for writing.

Although this may be the “late fall” of my life and circumstances have shifted, health wise for Hank and me, I still have the call to write. Can I adapt this quieter stage of my life to work on my writing? I don’t want to write as a drudgery or duty. I pray, rather that my writing will be a joyful experience, an opportunity to grow my relationship with God, and to serve him in sharing the Gospel and the Christian view of life with others.

Speaking to the Corinthians and to rest of us, Paul says, “Each of you must give as you have made up your mind,” he continues, "not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” The call is still there. Check out these words of wisdom from David Wilkerson, well-known writer and speaker.

Paul, in his pep talk, continues, “And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.”* I’m thinking, Wow! Enough ideas, enough time, enough dedication, enough energy, enough meals at the ready, enough enthusiasm, support. . .

I now pray that the Good Lord, will give me a sincere respect for my gift of writing. I pray I will be able to surrender my life, with all its ups and downs, and manage my time more efficiently for God’s honour and glory. Blessed Pier Giorgio says, “. . . by yourself you will do nothing, but if you have God as the centre of all your action, then you will reach the goal. . . . When God is with us, we don’t have to be afraid of anything.

Debbie Hudson on Unsplash

Prayer: Dear Lord, I pray that, guided by your Holy Spirit, we may learn to number our days.

          “Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,
          and prosper for us the work of our hands--
          O prosper the work of our hands!” (Psalm 90:17*) 
       

May we reap bountifully for you, O Lord. Amen 



Addendum (optional read): Going Deeper--How This Might Look 

1. I know that when I, as routinely as possible, begin my days with devotional time--when the house is quiet and I’ve had a good sleep, I am more successful in my writing.

2. I find it remarkable how my readings in the Bible, in my Living with Christ (Novalis) and other readings over a given period of time point in the same direction, a “theme” emerges.

3. From time to time and over the years, I’ve been reading "My Utmost for His Highest” by Oswald Chambers. I have not yet read it from front to back as a daily reading, but I’ll start on a certain date; read, underline, pray and digest, maybe reread the next day. Soon I’m behind the calendar date, but getting a lot out of his meditations.

My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers

4. Although I haven’t quoted Chambers in my blog above, I got a lot out of his June 6 message, “'Work Out' What God ‘Works In’ You.” He quotes Paul in Philippians 2:12b-13*, saying “. . . work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both too will and to work for his good pleasure.” We are not working “to accomplish or earn ‘(our) own salvation.” Instead, Chamber emphasizes that we “work it out.” By “working it out,” “ . . . (we) will exhibit the evidence of a life based with determined, unshakable faith on the complete and perfect redemption of the Lord."

Chambers reminds us that for born-again Christians, "the source of the will is Almighty God.” Because our will is God’s will, we wouldn’t bring an opposing will against God’s will. Chambers says, “. . . Living this life will be as natural as breathing.”  But what could happen, he explains is that stubbornness can enter into the picture.

Chambers defines, “Stubborness” as “an unintelligent barrier, refusing enlightenment and blocking its flow.” How do you deal with this stubbornness? You “blow it up with ‘dynamite,' and the ‘dynamite’ is obedience to the Holy Spirit.”

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Therefore, “God not only expects me to do His will, but He is in me to do it.” (Oswald Chambers)

Dear Lord, I claim this power in my life and in my writing. May I sow bountifully what you would have me sow and reap bountifully to your honour and glory. Amen.

* Bible References are from New Revised Standard Version.

In the Footsteps of Paul by Karma Pratt

This Lenten season God has been guiding me in an in-depth study of 2 Timothy. As with all things, God opens the doors of opportunity, and we have to make the choice to walk through. The first door He opened was the opportunity to attend IF: Gathering via a livestream event. IF exists "to equip women with gospel-centered resources, events, and community so they may learn more about who God is and disciple other women right where they are." The two day event was transformational, and opened my eyes and heart to the study of the gospel. It gave me a taste of what was to come. 

The second door he opened was a ladies' Bible Study at my local church. Entrusted, a study by Beth Moore, is focused on 2 Timothy as well. God was lining things up and giving me all the signals I needed to wake up and pay attention! I dove into Entrusted excited for the journey ahead. 

Initially I thought perhaps God wanted to show me how to grow in discipleship like Timothy but, He showed me His intention was to have me follow the apostle Paul, Timothy's teacher, mentor, and trusted friend. As God revealed Himself in the pages of my Bible and the margin notes of my Bible Study, I kept wondering, "Why Paul?" The answers to that question were humbling and awe inspiring. 

Why Paul? 

Before he became known for his dedication to the gospel of Christ, Paul (or Saul, as he was originally known) was a devoted follower and practitioner of Jewish law. A Pharisee by training and ancestry, Saul was educated, privileged, dedicated to his religious roots, and even more dedicated to the persecution of the early Church. His zealousness for the Law made him oblivious to the truth of Jesus Christ initially. Saul was dead set against anyone who dared speak of Jesus. His entry into Biblical narrative is dark indeed, as we find him approving of the stoning death of Stephen (see Acts 7:58 - 8:3) and "breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord" (Acts 9:1-2). 

Saul and I have more in common than I realized. Educated, privileged, experienced in a certain way of walking in the world, blinded by our constructs of humanity. Jesus continues to open my eyes much the same way he opened Saul's: Do you see it yet? The life you are missing out on in lieu of the facsimile you've constructed? Stop living by your rules and learn to live by mine.

It gives me great hope that someone with a heart as dark as Saul's could be saved, redeemed, and become a forerunner for Christ. Saul's conversion breathes hope into my life: heart, mind, body and soul. There is a song by Brandon Heath that says, "give me Your eyes so I can see / everything that I've been missing / give me Your love for humanity." 

I imagine these words were similar to Saul's prayer after his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. After hearing Jesus' voice and seeing the light from heaven, Saul - now blind - went into a period of prayer and fasting (Acts 9:9). While I can only speculate, I imagine Saul was asking God for wisdom and clarity about what he had just experienced. Perhaps he was praying for healing? While we may never know the exact nature of his prayers during that time, we can see the effects that encounter had on his life. He was changed completely.

The Gift of a Clear Conscience 

When Paul writes to his beloved Timothy he says, "I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day" (2 Timothy 1:3). Paul understood that Jesus' sacrifice on the cross was not just a sin offering, but also a guilt offering. Beth Moore states it beautifully: "Until we let Christ's work on the cross not only save our souls but cleanse our consciences, our own self-destructive tendencies will unwittingly team with the devil to bully us with bouts of mental torment... A guilty conscience... sets you up for self-sabotage." This resonated with me. 

How long have I been hanging on to guilt when Jesus has already paid the price for me? How often have I prayed for grace, but not accepted it when it was freely offered? How many times have I built up the walls of my own prison, instead of becoming a prisoner for the gospel like Paul? 

What's Your Motivation? 

As I continue to study Paul's words, steps and impact on the world, I am drawn to this question: "What's my motivation?" 

I am learning that love is the catalyst that moves us from operating on our own strength to living in Christ and finding strength in God. Good deeds mean nothing without surrender to God's love. Even the best of intentions can go awry if we don't look to God first for guidance, wisdom and discernment. Paul's intention to squash all believers was far from pure. We can see from his own God-breathed words, though, that grace changed Paul. No longer an enemy of the Church, he became one of its greatest advocates, led by God and his own desire to do God's will. Nothing else mattered. 

Grace changed Paul, transforming his life and changing his trajectory. He willingly became an ambassador in chains for the sake of the gospel. He knew Christ personally. This is the greatest joy any of us can ever experience. 

God's inexhaustible grace holds me when I am exhausted, lost, and can't figure out which way to turn. When I am mired in my own selfish thoughts, grace unfolds around me, covering me like a warm blanket. 

Jesus continues to speak through this Lenten season. He breathes life into the Word, and continues to reveal Himself in new ways. He shows up in the small details and the big picture. Knowing Jesus has become my motivation, the only motivation that matters. 

***

Karma writes from the golden house in Northeastern BC. You can connect with her online at redraincoatcreations.com

Love Perfected - Sulo Moorthy

1 Corinthians 13, the Love chapter

Apostle Paul had given us what true love looks like. Each of us have a vague picture of love, mainly from the romantic novels we've read or the movies we've watched on the screen. But true love weighs much heavier than what is cheaply portrayed on Hollywood movies and novels.

Let's read Paul's version of love and check it out whether our understanding of love come anywhere closer to it. According to Paul,

"Love is patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do you wrong. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."(1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

Such a definition sounds beautiful and gives a deeper meaning. But, at the same time, it makes us guilty too for falling short of displaying such love, especially towards those whom we encounter on a daily basis- spouse, children, parents, siblings, coworkers, neighbors. It is within the four walls of our house, such love is challenged and put to test more often.

Love expressed in words and gifts do look good and make some impact to brighten the mood and solidify relationships. But buried hurts and deep wounds wouldn't be erased by bouquet of roses or glittering diamonds.

Being kind and patient doesn't cost us dollars, yet we choose to do the opposite.We find it difficult to put Paul's version of love into practice because "I", "Me, " and "Mine" intervene and overtake our thoughts and action most of the times. But prayer and meditation on this chapter on love could make us to practice love instead of talking about it or longing to express such love.

What a happy and wholesome family and community we could establish on earth if we could live by this scripture! Lately I have started meditating on it so that I could put it into practice easily. Would you like to join me for support?

"He That Hath An Ear, Let Him Hear" - Bruce Atchison

On my Bruce Atchison's books page a few years ago, I've mentioned the day that I was thrown out of a vacation Bible school because I couldn't read the microscopic print in the Bibles that the pastor handed out to us students. His callous action deeply hurt me. I had a keen interest in Christianity but my poor vision and lack of proper magnifying glasses thwarted my attempts to read sacred scripture.

When I did acquire a large print New Testament and a decent magnifying glass, I eagerly read it from cover to cover. Not only did I read what people formerly read to me but I learned much. One fact which touched me deeply was that many of the apostle Paul's letters were written in prison. I felt thrilled that I could finally read for myself what these early saints wrote. I began thinking of these people as friends rather than distant historical figures after reading their epistles.

I took a Bible correspondence course in 1979 and bought a large print King James version of the scriptures. As I rested between patrols while on guard duty at the bank, I read through the entire Old and New Testaments. The course also filled in the background regarding the culture and history of the Middle East. All those strange sacrifices that I'd formerly heard about began to make sense as I studied the Word.

Through friends, I heard the scriptures on cassette tapes. These were nice but I wasn't able to pinpoint individual verses as the numbers were left out of the reading. Though I enjoyed listening to God's Word, something was missing.

Bible Seeker, a free downloadable program from Lockette.com filled in the missing connection between hearing and reading scriptures. It let me not only read verses but copy and paste them into documents. Many of the scriptures quoted in how I Was Razed, my memoir of how God led me out of a cult and into the truth, were copied from Bible Seeker. Additionally, the program helped me learn the spelling of names and terms used in God's Word. If I didn't understand something, I could easily proceed letter by letter or word by word so I could get the gist of the passage. Better yet, Bible Seeker's functions are screen reader-friendly, allowing sight-impaired folks like me to study the Bible for free.



Bruce Atchison is a legally-blind freelance writer as well as the author of How I Was Razed, Deliverance from Jericho, and When a Man Loves a Rabbit. He lives in a small Alberta hamlet with his house rabbit, Deborah.

The Ride of Your Life -- Janet Sketchley

A few summers ago, my eldest son talked me into going on one of those crazy amusement park rides. As long as I kept my eyes closed, I felt safe in the secure hold of the seat. We spun in crazy circles and flipped upside down. It was exhilarating. And terrifying.

I had to peek. As soon as my eyes got involved, the self-preservation instinct kicked in. I froze.

The Bible says, “Walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7 KJV). When life’s trajectory is erratic and feels like it’s out of control, we can’t ask to stop the ride. Sometimes our circumstances carry us willy-nilly. We can’t steer – it’s enough to just hold on.

Will the bystanders pity our pinched, green-tinted faces, or will they be amazed that we are secure enough to find joy in the midst of the confusion?

The Apostle Paul wrote about rejoicing in all things (Philippians 4:4), not because our lives are free from pain, but rather because the hand of God holds us and carries us through.

When we stop looking for our own solutions to life, and pause to sense God’s firm hold, we show a powerful testimony of our Sovereign Lord’s ability to love and care for those in turbulence.

We may not like the ride, but let’s hang on and trust the One who is holding onto us. God hasn’t dropped anyone yet.

© Janet Sketchley, 2008
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For devotionals, reviews and conversation, stop by Janet Sketchley's blog, God with Us: Finding Joy.

Drop by the free books page on my blog and leave a comment before midnight, August 21, for a chance to win a copy of Reverend Mother's Daughter, by Mary Haskett.

Obedience -- Janet Sketchley

The NIV is my usual Bible of choice, but every so often I’ll pick up a different translation. Sometimes a phrase in a different version jumps out at me.

When the Apostle Paul made his final trip to Jerusalem, the Holy Spirit warned him there was trouble ahead. Paul’s friends begged him not to go, but he said, “You’re looking at this backwards. The issue in Jerusalem is not what they do to me, whether arrest or murder, but what the Master Jesus does through my obedience. Can’t you see that?” (Acts 21:13b, MSG*)

Let’s make this personal to our own lives. Whatever the stress, fear, pain, can we say “The issue isn’t what happens to me, but what the Master Jesus does through my obedience”?

What the Master Jesus does through my obedience. What will He do, if we trust Him with our circumstances, and choose to obey? After all, it’s not about us at all...it’s about Him.

*The Message MSG Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

© Janet Sketchley, 2008
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For devotionals, reviews and conversation, stop by Janet Sketchley's blog, God with Us: Finding Joy.