Not Even His Brothers

I've often heard it said that family members are the most difficult ones to witness to about their need for Jesus. They know us too well is often the lament. This may reveal the fact that we're often hypocritical or that our old nature too often is on display. We surely need to give attention to our walk and our talk.

But we are not the only stumbling blocks in drawing others to Jesus. Just as some of us may have been before we came to faith in Him, we tripped over ourselves. We did not (would not) believe. While the door is always open to whosoever will come, we cannot come unless we are drawn by the Holy Spirit. We err when we think we hold the key to the decisive moment of entrance.

As I was reading today, I came to John 7:5, "for not even His brothers were believing in Him." Here is the Christ Himself who lived for 30 years in the same house with His brothers, and He is perfect. He always walked His talk. They knew Him very well as a brother, so there is more to it than the supposition of thinking family "knows us too well."

While our purpose is to glorify God in all we do, only God can draw people to Himself. And so we pray to that end. Jesus' brother James believed only after His resurrection, which is the foundation of the Christian faith. That was the pivotal point for James. That's when He understood fully his own need and the scope of redemption through Jesus.

We don't know what the pivotal point may be for a family member. But it is surely that they must understand their need and see Jesus as their redemption. We, ourselves, must walk in a manner worthy of our own calling in the meantime. And lest we think it's about us, know that it's about being an ambassador for Him.

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

~ 2 Corinthians 5:20 

Image ~ A Close Game

Harry Brooker, 1848-1940

public domain

Come and See

Sharing an excerpt from my reading today.

There are those who choose to reject Jesus because some of his followers are hypocrites. But this makes no sense. Many people don't live consistently with what they profess to believe. Christians don't own the monopoly on hypocrisy.

There are plenty of humble and lovable Christians. But often the attention falls on false Christians or loudmouths or hypocrites. The gospel is all about Jesus. The Jesus that Christians believe is good, even when his followers violate his teachings.

The Bible never says you have to believe in Christians to be saved. It says you have to believe in Jesus. He's the One we're invited to come and see (John 1:46), and the only One who can save and transform us.

- Randy Alcorn 

Face to Face with Jesus: Seeing Him as He Really Is

Nathanael said to him, 

“Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” 

Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 

- John 1:46

~ Image, An Afternoon Read
Louis-Charles Verdee,  1832-1882
public domain via Wikimedia Commons

The Spotlight Is On...

I've begun the new year in the book of John and pondering today the passage where Jesus talks with the woman at the well (4:1-45). He has told her things that only Someone who sees into the heart and mind can know, and she realizes that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah people have been waiting for. When she tells others about Him, they also believe.

The Scripture says that "many of the Samaritans believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, 'He told me all the things that I have done.' '' So they went to Jesus and heard what He Himself had to say. The Samaritan woman is, of course, an example to us to tell others about Jesus. They believe because it is evident that Jesus is more than mere mortal.

What struck me today is that they believe because of the word of the woman. It isn't who she is that draws others to Jesus. It is Jesus Himself. The important point is that she is astonished at what Jesus knows about her, amazed at what He says to her, affected by who He is. And she tells others.

But it isn’t about her. She pointed to Him. The people who came to Jesus then heard Him and believed, and told the Samaritan woman, "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world."

The spotlight goes on Jesus and who He is, not on us and who we are. We have no life-changing power, but we can point others to the One who does.

Image ~ A Girl Reading, Charles Edward Pergini, 1870

public domain via WikiMedia Commons

We See Things Differently

I'm slowly reading and pondering Speak the Truth: How to Bring God Back Into Every Conversation by Carmen LaBerge. To bring God back into the conversation is first to get ourselves mindful of Him, then to stay in the conversation ourselves so we can bring His truth to bear. Sharing a brief excerpt with you from the chapter--"Yes, It's Personal (and You Should Take It That Way)."
 

Part of the freedom that comes with the Gospel is the freedom to be selfless. Secure in the knowledge of who we are, whose we are, where we're going, and what we're promised. Christians are liberated in ways the world simply does not comprehend. We can rejoice in suffering. We can accept adversity. We expect persecution. We see things differently.

Children of God are sons and daughters of the King, citizens of the Kingdom, co-heirs with Christ of glory.  That totally reshapes how we view our role and time on earth. We're not trying to make a name for ourselves so much as make the name of Jesus known to others. We're not living for ourselves so much as offering our lives as living sacrifices for God to use as He wills. We're not living for the accumulation of wealth so much as we're seeking for our time, talent, and resources to be spent by God in ways that advance the Gospel

I know, it sounds a little crazy and I suspect that is part of the point.

- Carmen LaBerge in Speak the Truth:
How to Bring God Back Into Every Conversation

You can read more of what Carmen has to say on bringing God back into our conversations by clicking on the image. It will take you to her post on “How to Lead and Love in the Face of Animosity.”

Image ~ Untitled, Haynes King, 1831-1904

public domain via WikiGallery

Empowered or Equipped?

Empowered to do what? And, exactly, what does empowering itself mean for a woman?

According to the Oxford dictionary: "Make (someone) stronger and more confident, especially in controlling their life and claiming their rights."

There are articles and lists of ideas abounding of how to empower women. Most of those things are what most people seek, men and women alike. But it's only politically correct to empower women. Empowering seems to be rather gender-specific. Or discriminatory. Or anything but equitable.

Personally, I want to be equipped, not empowered. Equipped to fulfill responsibilities in my sphere of influence, in my marriage, in my home, toward my extended family, in my community of faith, toward my friends and those who need the touch of God's love and drawn to Him who are on the outside looking into the life of one who lives for more than this world and its achievements can offer.

I don't need (nor want) to be empowered to claim my own rights, to rise above others, to have my own dreams fulfilled at the expense of others, to have them pushed aside so I can get ahead, or to have position or rank or wealth or opportunity handed to me simply because I am a woman of the 21st century and he's a man. I don't want the freedom to be non-committal in relationships, to walk away when I feel the urge, nor to be open-ended in decisions. I don't need empowerment to prove myself. I see the desire for empowerment as empty and self-aggrandizing.

Give me, rather, opportunity to become equipped for whatever role I may be called to fill. No role is small. There are circumstances when I may be called elsewhere, but the home is central to life itself, to the welfare of a nation, certainly to the welfare of the children. We are seeing the results of a generation raised without their mothers, mothers who are themselves confused about who they are. We are living in an age of confused identity and suicide is at its height because of it. People are killing themselves because they see no hope in the vortex of present-day ideology.

Where is their guidance? Who is confusing and leading the children away? The Pied Piper, and he isn't after the rats. He is the rat. Who is home to even know he is whispering and shouting detrimental philosophies and dark thoughts and perversion into developing ears and minds and hearts? Mothers are at the office, on the construction crew, anywhere the paycheck is, while the children are trained by the philosophies of this present world system.

Women have been empowered, and as she says, Santa Baby, she doesn't need your stuff because she can buy it all herself. And do it all herself with just a little help from her friend empowerment.  Or so she's been led to believe. Until one day when she says, "What has happened to me?"

No, don't empower me. Equip me and encourage me to fulfill my responsibilities, to develop and strengthen my abilities and capabilities in order to benefit and support others and in that glorify God, with the freedom to be who I am and who I need to be. And with that equipping, enabled by the Holy Spirit to be God-confident, not self-confident. To be selfless, not self-actualized.

Image ~ Young Woman Before a Mirror

William Merritt Chase, 1887

public domain via Wikimedia Commons

Reflect

Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has plenty;

not on your past misfortunes of which all men have some. 

- Charles Dickens

Image ~ Caller Herrin'

John Everett Millais, 1829-1896

public domain

Weekend Daybook

Outside My Window...

I noticed robins today in the yard and several were strutting about in the street. It's not even January, but can spring be far behind?

Noticing the sound of...

Christmas carols/songs most of the week. Carols are beautiful, but I've tired of the jolly Christmas songs.

Looking forward to...

Losing the pounds I gained over Christmas. :-/ Gotta get back to walking.

Thinking...

About Christmas letters we received from old friends telling how they're enjoying their grandchildren living nearby. I am happy for them.

In the Sewing Room...

Got 6-year-old Anna's dress cut out from the fabric she chose from my stash when she last visited. She wanted each sleeve from a different fabric, but I think the ruffle sleeves will be alike. I hope she isn't too disappointed that I didn't use the pink star fabric. ;-0  If she lived closer, I would teach her how to sew. Distance is no friend to families. Missing so much. :'(

 
Learning...

To draft a sleeve for a pattern without sleeves. Haven't mastered it yet.

Around the house...

Got all the Christmas decor gathered up into one room. Back into the storage totes early next week.

In the Kitchen...

It needs a good cleaning. Maybe Monday before grocery shopping.

Pondering...
Our pastor's sermon this morning on Psalm 50 and how we tend to think about God. I've been a bit disheartened lately with missing my girls and grandchildren, and I needed what Pastor said today. Going to read it again tomorrow and give it more thought.

Thankful For...

Our pastor who faithfully preaches and teaches the Word.

Brought a smile...

My sister enjoying our drive through the Festival of Lights

Reading...

Just finished The Secret Garden. A beautifully illustrated edition.


At the moment a very good thing was happening to her. Four good things had happened to her, in fact, since she came to Misselthwaite Manor. She had felt as if she had understood a robin and that he had understood her; she had run in the wind until her blood had grown warm; she had been healthily hungry for the first time in her life; and she had found out what it was to be sorry for someone.

- Mary

Hoping that a very good thing happens to each of us in 2019. But we might not even recognize it, dear one, for God's ways are not our own. And as much as we long for our heart's desire, it may not actually be good for all those involved. Denial may be a severe mercy. God knows the beginning from the end. His thoughts are higher than ours. And so...I wait...until...time...is...no...more....

Ordinary Acts

The ordinary acts we practice every day in the home are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest.

~ Thomas Moore

Image ~ Reading Lesson, Helen Allingham, 1848-1926

public domain via Wikioo

Merry Christmas

Image ~ pixabay

The First Silent Night

Recommending The First Silent Night to you, a PBS documentary. I guess we could say that we were on a Silent Night viewing binge--we watched three videos on Amazon Prime this week. This is the best of the three. We were aware of the basics of the carol's origin, but the video gives much more background. The scenery is beautiful as well.

The description on Amazon:

Join renowned actor Simon Callow as he uncovers the moving origins of the song Silent Night that has been two hundred years in the making. A story that begins in humble circumstances, ends with the world's most popular carol. Simon journeys to the Austrian village of Oberndorf as well as the city of Salzburg, where the story of the world's favourite carol had its origins.