Her children called her Dear - and we called her sister. Our family at Hillcrest Church of Christ lost someone truly special yesterday. But our loss was heaven's gain. Our sister in Christ, Ruthie Chapman, passed from this life yesterday. She was a true friend who allowed her light to shine brightly for Jesus every day.
So much can be said about a life well-lived -- about Ruthie's life. In my opinion however, the best description of Ruthie is all wrapped up in the name her children gave her years ago. Her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren all called her "Dear" and what could be more appropriate for she was truly dear to them all.
She was such a great mother and friend to them all and they loved her for that. Ruthie always tried to do the right thing and her example provided a guiding light for her family. She loved spending time with all of them!
She was always so happy when her children and grandchildren came to visit. Oh how big her smile would be - how she glowed with pride in all their accomplishments. Her family was so important to her. I smile now thinking of her happiness.
Ruthie's grandchildren, even in their teenage years when they could be doing other things, would come spend extra time with her during holidays from school. I always thought that spoke volumes about her personality -- her character. Those big strong boys would tower over her and she would look up at them with such pride and joy! And I'm sure they enjoyed her good cooking while they were in her home!
Can you imagine being so well-loved by your family they call you "Dear?" Ruthie was loved that much!! She took care of them, she cooked for them, she guided and taught them. She provided a home for them. She laughed with them and even played with them. She talked about playing with the younger grands when they were with her. Ruthie was there for her family whenever they needed her. She was definitely the rock of her family.
Ruthie was also a faithful and loving wife. She patiently cared for IJ during his illness. She took care of him at home as long as she possibly could. When he was moved to a facility where he had access to full time nursing care, she still spent several hours of every day with him.
IJ's favorite verse was Matthew 6:33 and she honored him by using it several times as her scripture on her page in our Ladies' Retreat calendar. Ruthie always tried to honor her husband. What a wonderful example for all wives to follow! If we lived by that scripture everything in our lives would fall into place.
Her children called her Dear - we called her Sister. Ruthie was our sister in Christ. It was my honor to share this bond with her - the saving blood of Christ. She was strong and faithful and served the Lord with grace and dignity. Ruthie had a true servant heart. She was always willing to do whatever anyone asked of her ... and she did it very well.
She served the Lord enthusiastically and loved being a part of the activities at Hillcrest. She was absent only when she was traveling or not feeling well. She loved to travel and visit her brothers and sisters. I missed her when she was away from us (all of us did). But we also rejoiced in knowing she was able to see those she loved so well and didn't get to see often.
Personally, I had a great respect for Ruthie and her faithfulness. She was a trooper. She had a quiet nature -- was gentle and soft-spoken; but she knew her Bible. It was a joy and blessing to be in our Ladies' Bible class with her. She offered so many jewels of wisdom.
Ruthie loved to go to ladies' days and retreats. Those of us who shared these times with her have great memories of her sense of fun. She loved to participate in our goofy skits and she loved to laugh. These were special times for us. We will always remember the joy her presence brought to us -- and the friendship we shared with her. As I said before it was our honor - my honor!
Ruthie was a trusted friend. I could always talk to her. I laughed with her and I prayed with her. She loved her God, that's for sure!
She knew what it was to be part of the body of Christ. Ruthie rejoiced with us when we rejoiced and wept with us when we wept. The depth of strength and faith my sister had was unfathomable. If you knew much about her at all, you know her faith in God went deep! Her faith was the biggest part of who she was.
There is a passage of scripture that comes to mind when I think of Ruthie. I think it fits her life perfectly. It comes from Colossians 3:1-3 - verse 1
" If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God."
Ruthie had been raised with Christ to walk a new life. She definitely sought His will - sought the things that are above.
verse 2 - "Set your minds on things above, not on things that are on earth."
My sister was a constant encouragement to many of us to be better -- to do better. She didn't think about earthly things. She had her goal set on heaven.
verse 3 - "For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God."
She was one of the least selfish people I have ever known. She always thought of others. If anyone ever hid her own life with Christ in God, it was Ruthie Chapman.
So much has already been said about our lovely sister. So many memories shared and so much love expressed. Ruthie was precious to many many people and she will be missed.
Now for the best part -
Colossians 3:4 - "When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory."
Her children called her Dear, we called her Sister and the Lord called her home.
Christ above all things,
Robin Whitley
Tuesday, November 21, 2017
Sunday, August 20, 2017
Trail Mix - Ingredient Number Two
A few days ago we talked about ways to sustain our energy for living the Christian life -- for doing the right thing and staying in step with God. Just as the mix of dried fruits and nuts (trail mix) is good food for hikers to take with them on their treks, so we need good spiritual food to give us sustenance as we live the Christian life.
We discussed the importance of prayer. Prayer keeps us close to God. We should never under estimate the importance and power of prayer. Having a way to talk with our Heavenly Father brings great comfort and joy.
It is said prayer is how we speak to God and reading God's word is how He speaks to us. This is true. The Bible is God's message to us and for us.
So it only makes sense to say the second ingredient of our spiritual trail mix is the study of God's word. Again, I'm not revealing some deep dark secret here. We all know how helpful studying the scriptures can be. We fortify our souls through Bible study.
As we study and learn of Christ and His ministry, we gain encouragement from the example He set for us. We also gain an understanding of His immeasurable love and mercy. The story of Christ is truly a story of love.
So it only makes sense to say the second ingredient of our spiritual trail mix is the study of God's word. Again, I'm not revealing some deep dark secret here. We all know how helpful studying the scriptures can be. We fortify our souls through Bible study.
As we study and learn of Christ and His ministry, we gain encouragement from the example He set for us. We also gain an understanding of His immeasurable love and mercy. The story of Christ is truly a story of love.
The only way we get to Heaven is through Christ. Jesus says, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). The only way to know Him is to read His story ... to read of all the good He did ... of His great compassion and love for us. The only way to know what He expects of us - and He does expect us to obey Him -- is to study the scriptures.
The Bible is a great tool for us. We study to find out God's truth. If we love Him like we say we love Him, why wouldn't we want to find out what He is saying to us? I must admit, sometimes I fall far short in this area too.
We need God's word to keep us on the right path. As we read examples from the great characters recorded in the Old Testament, we learn what it means to love God -- to walk with Him. We learn from otherwise quite ordinary people what faithfulness and obedience is. And we learn about the majesty and splendor of our Creator. These writings encourage us -- give us strength and hope.
The writings of the New Testament give us the wonderful story of our Savior, Jesus Christ. They also give us instructions for living a righteous life in the Christian age. We shouldn't depend only on our minister's lessons to know what to do or to keep us in touch with God. This is a personal responsibility.
Any relationship must be nurtured in order to be maintained and to grow. Building a friendship with someone means learning about them and spending time with them. Additionally, spending time in the scriptures allows us to grow our relationship with God.
We find peace and calm in knowing we are striving to live as Christ would have us to live. We gain that living hope Peter mentions in 1 Peter 1:3. We draw comfort and joy from knowing God rewards those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6).
I listed Bible study as the second ingredient in our spiritual trail mix and yet prayer and Bible study go hand in hand. Both are essential. Both are commanded (ah, but one must read the scriptures to know this). Both are extremely beneficial. And they work better together. Truly they do.
For many of us, the Bible never gets old. Those inspired words never lose their relevance. We never stop learning. Each time we study, we can find some new treasure - some new lesson -- some new way to apply the Truth to our daily walk. We live a better life when we follow God's word.
Knowing this doesn't mean I always find time to study my Bible on a daily basis. I allow myself to get distracted by the busyness of everyday living. I make excuses for myself (and that is what they are -- excuses). But even confessing this doesn't make it entirely right. It is up to me to make it right.
I can tell you though -- my day goes better when I spend time with God through Bible study and prayer. I know I need to do better and I know it is never too late to start doing the right thing! Besides, who gives me (us) our time anyway?
Our very life comes from God. He is the one who gives us our day. Doesn't it make sense to give part of it back to Him? The benefits are strength and energy to keep going.
After all, there are great rewards in staying on the trail.
"And let us not grow weary of doing good,
for in due season we will reap, if we faint not." (Galatians 6:9)
Christ above all things,
Robin
The Bible is a great tool for us. We study to find out God's truth. If we love Him like we say we love Him, why wouldn't we want to find out what He is saying to us? I must admit, sometimes I fall far short in this area too.
We need God's word to keep us on the right path. As we read examples from the great characters recorded in the Old Testament, we learn what it means to love God -- to walk with Him. We learn from otherwise quite ordinary people what faithfulness and obedience is. And we learn about the majesty and splendor of our Creator. These writings encourage us -- give us strength and hope.
The writings of the New Testament give us the wonderful story of our Savior, Jesus Christ. They also give us instructions for living a righteous life in the Christian age. We shouldn't depend only on our minister's lessons to know what to do or to keep us in touch with God. This is a personal responsibility.
Any relationship must be nurtured in order to be maintained and to grow. Building a friendship with someone means learning about them and spending time with them. Additionally, spending time in the scriptures allows us to grow our relationship with God.
We find peace and calm in knowing we are striving to live as Christ would have us to live. We gain that living hope Peter mentions in 1 Peter 1:3. We draw comfort and joy from knowing God rewards those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6).
I listed Bible study as the second ingredient in our spiritual trail mix and yet prayer and Bible study go hand in hand. Both are essential. Both are commanded (ah, but one must read the scriptures to know this). Both are extremely beneficial. And they work better together. Truly they do.
For many of us, the Bible never gets old. Those inspired words never lose their relevance. We never stop learning. Each time we study, we can find some new treasure - some new lesson -- some new way to apply the Truth to our daily walk. We live a better life when we follow God's word.
Knowing this doesn't mean I always find time to study my Bible on a daily basis. I allow myself to get distracted by the busyness of everyday living. I make excuses for myself (and that is what they are -- excuses). But even confessing this doesn't make it entirely right. It is up to me to make it right.
I can tell you though -- my day goes better when I spend time with God through Bible study and prayer. I know I need to do better and I know it is never too late to start doing the right thing! Besides, who gives me (us) our time anyway?
Our very life comes from God. He is the one who gives us our day. Doesn't it make sense to give part of it back to Him? The benefits are strength and energy to keep going.
After all, there are great rewards in staying on the trail.
"And let us not grow weary of doing good,
for in due season we will reap, if we faint not." (Galatians 6:9)
Christ above all things,
Robin
Saturday, August 5, 2017
Trail Mix - Ingredient Number One
Trail Mix -- is defined as "a mixture of seeds, nuts, and dried fruits eaten as a snack especially by hikers" (Merriam-Webster on line dictionary). Except nowadays, I think trail mix is eaten by many folks who do not hike at all. It is sold in vending machines across the country .... and if you are anywhere near a vending machine, the chances are you aren't out on a hike, right?
Trail mix is an energy food easy to store and carry. The mixture contains carbohydrates which give a quick boost of energy and "good" fats in the nuts provide sustained energy. I can see why it became popular for hikers and those who spend a lot of time outdoors working or playing.
Many find it very tasty as well. For this reason, it is a fairly popular snack food regardless of the activities in which we participate. So what does Trail Mix have to do with anything here?
Well just like hikers need energy to sustain them on their journey, so we need spiritual energy to sustain us on our Christian journey. Three key ingredients for spiritual trail mix are: the study of God's Word, prayer and Christian fellowship. These three simple components make for a wonderful journey through life.
This isn't anything new. We hear it frequently from our ministers and Bible school teachers. We all know what is necessary for a successful Christian life. So some might be thinking, why bring this old information up - yet again?
Well, we need to be reminded of the basics - or at least I do! And we must ask ourselves honestly, how often do we make use of this Christian "trail mix?" Do we regularly put all three together on a consistent basis and draw on the energy it provides? Do we practice what we know to be true?
As I think of these "ingredients" I realize discussing all three in one post would make for quite a lengthy dialogue. So I guess I am committing to a "series" here. Individually, each one of these basics are highly beneficial. Together,
they pack a powerful punch! Together they give us the necessary nutrients to make it for the long haul!!
I don't say any one of these is more significant than any other. All three are very necessary. Each ingredient plays a vital role in the Christian life. And yet I have to start somewhere or I don't get started at all.
Prayer is so important. Prayer truly makes one feel closer to God. I can't imagine my life without prayer. And yet, I know I should pray more often. Sometimes I get totally preoccupied with other things and forget what is truly important.
Talking with God should be one of the priorities in our daily lives. Praying reminds us to depend on our Father. When we approach the throne room in prayer we are communing with Him. We are truly close to God when
we pray.
Our choice to pray means we choose to come to our Heavenly Father. We are making a conscience choice to be with Him - really with Him. Our Creator strongly desires to be with us; but He wants to long for closeness to Him.
From the moment our children are born, we want to be with them. We want to take care of them -- to provide for their every need. We love holding them and bestowing our love upon them. They depend on us ... and when they are very young they are very attached to us.
As children grow older, their worlds get a little bigger and it isn't all about Mommy and Daddy anymore. They become more independent. Yet they still come to us in times of trouble -- we are still the care-givers and the problem solvers. And we still love them just as much and long to be with them -- and to make them happy.
By the time our children become teenagers their worlds are even larger and they have learned to do so many things for themselves. Their needs for us become fewer and fewer; they spend less and less time with us. But our love for them hasn't changed. It never changes. We long for just a few minutes .... just a few .... to be with them, to talk to them. Any time we have with them becomes time we treasure.
As much as we love our children, God loves us ever so much more! He only wants to be with us -- to hear from us -- to have us ask Him for anything. HIS LOVE NEVER CHANGES. We might walk away from Him. But He stands and watches and waits for us ... just like the father of the prodigal. God has always only ever wanted to be with His children.
Prayer puts us in fellowship with God. As we pray - we learn to seek Him. Our love for Him grows stronger and our faith in Him ever increases. We desire to please and obey Him.
Prayer changes us. The more we pray the more we change - for the better. And talking with our Father makes life here on earth better -- easier. It gives us the strength to go on until we can be with Him forever.
Christ our Savior prayed throughout His life and right up to His death on the cross. He communed with God all night long before He chose the twelve apostles. He prayed before He fed the five thousand. Christ prayed to His Father before He brought Lazarus forth from his tomb.
Jesus prayed frequently. He spoke of the importance of prayer and taught His disciples to pray. He even prayed for His future followers. Read John chapter 17 and one can't help but be touched by our Lord's heartfelt prayer. Then He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane and finally on the cross He lifted up His voice to His Father.
If prayer was important to Christ, what makes us think it's not? How can we possibly imagine we can get through life without it?
Jesus never used the term "trail mix." But He certainly knew prayer was needful for strength to keep us going. If one ever needed proof of this, it is found in Luke 18:1.
"And He told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart."
Christ above all things,
Robin Whitley
Trail mix is an energy food easy to store and carry. The mixture contains carbohydrates which give a quick boost of energy and "good" fats in the nuts provide sustained energy. I can see why it became popular for hikers and those who spend a lot of time outdoors working or playing.
Many find it very tasty as well. For this reason, it is a fairly popular snack food regardless of the activities in which we participate. So what does Trail Mix have to do with anything here?
Well just like hikers need energy to sustain them on their journey, so we need spiritual energy to sustain us on our Christian journey. Three key ingredients for spiritual trail mix are: the study of God's Word, prayer and Christian fellowship. These three simple components make for a wonderful journey through life.
This isn't anything new. We hear it frequently from our ministers and Bible school teachers. We all know what is necessary for a successful Christian life. So some might be thinking, why bring this old information up - yet again?
Well, we need to be reminded of the basics - or at least I do! And we must ask ourselves honestly, how often do we make use of this Christian "trail mix?" Do we regularly put all three together on a consistent basis and draw on the energy it provides? Do we practice what we know to be true?
As I think of these "ingredients" I realize discussing all three in one post would make for quite a lengthy dialogue. So I guess I am committing to a "series" here. Individually, each one of these basics are highly beneficial. Together,
they pack a powerful punch! Together they give us the necessary nutrients to make it for the long haul!!
I don't say any one of these is more significant than any other. All three are very necessary. Each ingredient plays a vital role in the Christian life. And yet I have to start somewhere or I don't get started at all.
Prayer is so important. Prayer truly makes one feel closer to God. I can't imagine my life without prayer. And yet, I know I should pray more often. Sometimes I get totally preoccupied with other things and forget what is truly important.
Talking with God should be one of the priorities in our daily lives. Praying reminds us to depend on our Father. When we approach the throne room in prayer we are communing with Him. We are truly close to God when
we pray.
Our choice to pray means we choose to come to our Heavenly Father. We are making a conscience choice to be with Him - really with Him. Our Creator strongly desires to be with us; but He wants to long for closeness to Him.
From the moment our children are born, we want to be with them. We want to take care of them -- to provide for their every need. We love holding them and bestowing our love upon them. They depend on us ... and when they are very young they are very attached to us.
As children grow older, their worlds get a little bigger and it isn't all about Mommy and Daddy anymore. They become more independent. Yet they still come to us in times of trouble -- we are still the care-givers and the problem solvers. And we still love them just as much and long to be with them -- and to make them happy.
By the time our children become teenagers their worlds are even larger and they have learned to do so many things for themselves. Their needs for us become fewer and fewer; they spend less and less time with us. But our love for them hasn't changed. It never changes. We long for just a few minutes .... just a few .... to be with them, to talk to them. Any time we have with them becomes time we treasure.
As much as we love our children, God loves us ever so much more! He only wants to be with us -- to hear from us -- to have us ask Him for anything. HIS LOVE NEVER CHANGES. We might walk away from Him. But He stands and watches and waits for us ... just like the father of the prodigal. God has always only ever wanted to be with His children.
Prayer puts us in fellowship with God. As we pray - we learn to seek Him. Our love for Him grows stronger and our faith in Him ever increases. We desire to please and obey Him.
Prayer changes us. The more we pray the more we change - for the better. And talking with our Father makes life here on earth better -- easier. It gives us the strength to go on until we can be with Him forever.
Christ our Savior prayed throughout His life and right up to His death on the cross. He communed with God all night long before He chose the twelve apostles. He prayed before He fed the five thousand. Christ prayed to His Father before He brought Lazarus forth from his tomb.
Jesus prayed frequently. He spoke of the importance of prayer and taught His disciples to pray. He even prayed for His future followers. Read John chapter 17 and one can't help but be touched by our Lord's heartfelt prayer. Then He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane and finally on the cross He lifted up His voice to His Father.
If prayer was important to Christ, what makes us think it's not? How can we possibly imagine we can get through life without it?
Jesus never used the term "trail mix." But He certainly knew prayer was needful for strength to keep us going. If one ever needed proof of this, it is found in Luke 18:1.
"And He told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart."
Christ above all things,
Robin Whitley
Saturday, July 22, 2017
Two Sides of a Coin
A few days ago something happened at work which gave me an idea for a post. I wrote it down and stuck the paper in my purse so I wouldn't forget. I try to do this as soon as I can because ideas pop into my head throughout the day.
Thinking about the incident on my way home, I realized there was more than one way to look at what happened - more than one lesson to be gained. Many situations are like that. It's like the old phrase - "two sides of the same coin."
Reflecting on that phrase led me to another train of thought -- oddly enough -- about that phrase. So when I pulled into my driveway- before I ever got out of the car - I pulled coins out of my purse. I rummaged around until I found a penny, a nickel, a dime and a quarter. I wanted to look at all of them.
My curiosity was piqued. I never really thought about it before, but I wanted to see the motto "In God We Trust." I wanted to know if those words were printed on the same side of each denomination. Most everyone probably already knows this, but just in case -- "In God We Trust" is on the 'heads' side of all the coins.
So there I was sitting in the car looking at the money in my hands as if I had never seen it before. And yes, the two sides of each coin are different -- but part of the same coin. Each one presented two very distinctive views -- and yet both views were of the same object.
Life is like that. Circumstances - events - situations - are like that. Decisions are like that. These are all intertwined with one another. The decisions we make lead to consequences and events occurring in our lives. Circumstances and situations bring us to decisions we must make.
If we trust in God, we will present a totally different view of ourselves to the world than if we do not trust Him. When we trust our Heavenly Father our lives will reflect that trust (or faith). We will think and act differently. With our faith intact, the life events we face are easier to endure. Those around us will see our peace and our perseverance.
Trusting in God will lead us to serve Him. We will seek to know Him. We will learn to love and obey Him. Others will see our good works and glorify our Father. When we show our love for others they will get a glimpse of God's love for mankind. Our unspeakable joy and constant hope is the surest sign of the confidence we have through Christ.
That's the best side of what our life can be. When we have no trust or faith - when we don't share our joy and our hope -- when we don't live our faith with good works through love -- well then that's the other side of the coin isn't it?
It is our life -- our choice. We have the power to make that decision. We can choose to trust in God -- or well we can decide not to. We all have one life - God gave it to us. He created us. But we still have the power to pick our side.
"Those who know your name trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you." (Psalm 9:10 NIV)
"But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation." (Psalm 13:5)
One more:
" Many are the woes of the wicked but the Lord's unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in Him." (Psalms 32:10)
Show the best side of life.
Christ above all things,
Robin Whitley
Thinking about the incident on my way home, I realized there was more than one way to look at what happened - more than one lesson to be gained. Many situations are like that. It's like the old phrase - "two sides of the same coin."
Reflecting on that phrase led me to another train of thought -- oddly enough -- about that phrase. So when I pulled into my driveway- before I ever got out of the car - I pulled coins out of my purse. I rummaged around until I found a penny, a nickel, a dime and a quarter. I wanted to look at all of them.
My curiosity was piqued. I never really thought about it before, but I wanted to see the motto "In God We Trust." I wanted to know if those words were printed on the same side of each denomination. Most everyone probably already knows this, but just in case -- "In God We Trust" is on the 'heads' side of all the coins.
So there I was sitting in the car looking at the money in my hands as if I had never seen it before. And yes, the two sides of each coin are different -- but part of the same coin. Each one presented two very distinctive views -- and yet both views were of the same object.
Life is like that. Circumstances - events - situations - are like that. Decisions are like that. These are all intertwined with one another. The decisions we make lead to consequences and events occurring in our lives. Circumstances and situations bring us to decisions we must make.
If we trust in God, we will present a totally different view of ourselves to the world than if we do not trust Him. When we trust our Heavenly Father our lives will reflect that trust (or faith). We will think and act differently. With our faith intact, the life events we face are easier to endure. Those around us will see our peace and our perseverance.
Trusting in God will lead us to serve Him. We will seek to know Him. We will learn to love and obey Him. Others will see our good works and glorify our Father. When we show our love for others they will get a glimpse of God's love for mankind. Our unspeakable joy and constant hope is the surest sign of the confidence we have through Christ.
That's the best side of what our life can be. When we have no trust or faith - when we don't share our joy and our hope -- when we don't live our faith with good works through love -- well then that's the other side of the coin isn't it?
It is our life -- our choice. We have the power to make that decision. We can choose to trust in God -- or well we can decide not to. We all have one life - God gave it to us. He created us. But we still have the power to pick our side.
"Those who know your name trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you." (Psalm 9:10 NIV)
"But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation." (Psalm 13:5)
One more:
" Many are the woes of the wicked but the Lord's unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in Him." (Psalms 32:10)
Show the best side of life.
Christ above all things,
Robin Whitley
Monday, July 3, 2017
Icing On the Cake
It was Friday night. Another wonderful week at Maywood Christian Camp was almost in the books. All the sermons were preached -- all the Bible classes taught. Throughout the week many surrendered their lives to Christ. It was a busy week full of fun and spirituality. Our directors do a great job of balancing the two.
We waited at the pavilion for our evening activities to begin. I looked over to see a dear friend with tears in her eyes. I thought something was wrong, so I quickly walked toward her only to discover these were tears of joy. Her grandson was about to become a Christian by putting on Jesus through baptism. Martha had been praying about this for a while. She was so happy and proud for him!
I smiled and said, "Well, this is just like icing on the cake!" She laughed through her tears and we hugged each other tightly. It is always great news when someone decides to become part of God's family. The news is even sweeter when it is someone you already know and love.
The night just kept getting better. Another of her grandsons and one of her nieces made the same decision to obey the gospel call. It was truly a glorious night for God's kingdom!
Later, I wondered if my "icing on the cake" statement was somewhat frivolous or somehow inappropriate. Those young people made a very important decision which I hope will affect the rest of their lives. It was not my intention to make light of that in any way.
But on second thought, maybe it's not such a frivolous analogy. After all, the Master Teacher compared faith to a tiny mustard seed and the kingdom of heaven to a lost coin. He used familiar objects to teach valuable spiritual lessons.
Now let's think about "icing on the cake." Have you ever watched a young child eat cake? Most of them go for the icing first, eating all of it off the top. Some children eat only the icing and never touch the cake. Why? Well -- one reason could be that the icing is the sweetest (and for many the best) part of the cake.
This is why I no longer feel the comparison was frivolous. Because you see, the sweetest and best part of Maywood Christian Camp is bringing precious souls to Christ. That is why adults choose to give a week of their vacation to serve as counselors or cooks or Bible class teachers -- for the growth and glory of God's kingdom.
Christian fellowship is wonderful. Watching young children make friendships for a lifetime is heartwarming. Our camp friendships are important to us adults, as well. Learning to be a good sport and sharing in good clean fun with one another create special memories that stay with us forever. This is good stuff. This is our cake.
The spiritual side of camp is still the best part. We are privileged to see young people begin their spiritual journey as new Christians. We are honored to watch their growth in Christ from year to year. We study with them and we pray with them and we are thankful for God's saving grace.
The young people I am with during the week at camp teach me as much as I ever hope to teach them. They have tender hearts ready to love. They have strong hands willing to serve.
Knowing the other staff members are just as dedicated to help these young people grow in Christ is a great encouragement to me. So when I witness a baptism ... when I see another life surrendered to the Savior... well it really is like icing on the cake for me. It is the best possible icing on the most delicious cake!!
There are various ways to serve God. Many other works bring glory to Him. All kinds of different events bring young people to Christ. God blesses each work meant to honor Him - whether for the young or the young at heart.
So much can be done to make a difference in God's kingdom. He can use us in the most wonderful ways if we are only willing! In the context of service -- there are lots of cakes out there -- and many flavors of icing.
God made us all with different personalities and talents. I challenge you to find your icing on the cake!
Christ above all things,
Robin Whitley
We waited at the pavilion for our evening activities to begin. I looked over to see a dear friend with tears in her eyes. I thought something was wrong, so I quickly walked toward her only to discover these were tears of joy. Her grandson was about to become a Christian by putting on Jesus through baptism. Martha had been praying about this for a while. She was so happy and proud for him!
I smiled and said, "Well, this is just like icing on the cake!" She laughed through her tears and we hugged each other tightly. It is always great news when someone decides to become part of God's family. The news is even sweeter when it is someone you already know and love.
The night just kept getting better. Another of her grandsons and one of her nieces made the same decision to obey the gospel call. It was truly a glorious night for God's kingdom!
Later, I wondered if my "icing on the cake" statement was somewhat frivolous or somehow inappropriate. Those young people made a very important decision which I hope will affect the rest of their lives. It was not my intention to make light of that in any way.
But on second thought, maybe it's not such a frivolous analogy. After all, the Master Teacher compared faith to a tiny mustard seed and the kingdom of heaven to a lost coin. He used familiar objects to teach valuable spiritual lessons.
Now let's think about "icing on the cake." Have you ever watched a young child eat cake? Most of them go for the icing first, eating all of it off the top. Some children eat only the icing and never touch the cake. Why? Well -- one reason could be that the icing is the sweetest (and for many the best) part of the cake.
This is why I no longer feel the comparison was frivolous. Because you see, the sweetest and best part of Maywood Christian Camp is bringing precious souls to Christ. That is why adults choose to give a week of their vacation to serve as counselors or cooks or Bible class teachers -- for the growth and glory of God's kingdom.
Christian fellowship is wonderful. Watching young children make friendships for a lifetime is heartwarming. Our camp friendships are important to us adults, as well. Learning to be a good sport and sharing in good clean fun with one another create special memories that stay with us forever. This is good stuff. This is our cake.
The spiritual side of camp is still the best part. We are privileged to see young people begin their spiritual journey as new Christians. We are honored to watch their growth in Christ from year to year. We study with them and we pray with them and we are thankful for God's saving grace.
The young people I am with during the week at camp teach me as much as I ever hope to teach them. They have tender hearts ready to love. They have strong hands willing to serve.
Knowing the other staff members are just as dedicated to help these young people grow in Christ is a great encouragement to me. So when I witness a baptism ... when I see another life surrendered to the Savior... well it really is like icing on the cake for me. It is the best possible icing on the most delicious cake!!
There are various ways to serve God. Many other works bring glory to Him. All kinds of different events bring young people to Christ. God blesses each work meant to honor Him - whether for the young or the young at heart.
So much can be done to make a difference in God's kingdom. He can use us in the most wonderful ways if we are only willing! In the context of service -- there are lots of cakes out there -- and many flavors of icing.
God made us all with different personalities and talents. I challenge you to find your icing on the cake!
Christ above all things,
Robin Whitley
Saturday, May 27, 2017
Ideas from a Stapler
Only about 3 more weeks until June 18th. That is the day the third session of Maywood Christian Camp begins! It is one of my favorite weeks of the entire year. I love serving as a counselor there! It will be here before I know it.
Today I've been working on night time cabin devotionals. I like to use object lessons so I can give the girls some little something to help them remember the devotional. The other day, I came across some mini staplers left over from what I gave as extras to some family members at Christmas.
This afternoon, I remembered I used Bible verses to go with some of my "extra" gifts. I kept I list of the scriptures and went to find them. Then I began to think about the lessons in our class book at Maywood for this year. My mind began to spin as fast as a merry-go-round. :)
Now - well, here we go!
A single piece of paper is not hard to tear into two pieces, right? But the more pieces of paper you put together, the harder it is to tear them. A stapler holds pieces of paper together. It keeps them from getting pulled apart.
Usually when we use a stapler, we are keeping papers together that have something in common. Maybe they are the pages of a tax return. For a school teacher they may be pages of homework assignment from each student in class. For someone in business, it may be a financial report or parts of a sales pitch to be given.
The papers need to be kept together. If we lose one page of the presentation, it won't be complete. It would be the same way with the tax return ... and if we lost part of that we might be in trouble if we were audited. The staple binds the parts together to make it a whole. The stapler is the tool used to bring the pieces to together.
As Christians we need to stick together. We are stronger when we do. Just as one piece of paper can easily be torn, we are not as strong alone as we are together. The more Christians put together working for a common goal, the stronger we are. In His infinite wisdom, Jesus died for and built the church so we could draw on the strength of one another.
The early Christians understood this principle. The book of Acts speaks often of the close fellowship ... the strong bond the believers had with one another. Acts 2:46-47 says they were together every day. In Chapter 4: 23 -31, they prayed together for the boldness of the apostles to preach and teach. And in Acts 4:32 - 37, the sold their possessions and shared all things with one another as they each had need. Their bond was very strong.
Another thing the early church shared was a strong belief in prayer. I already mentioned they prayed together in Acts chapter 4. However, this wasn't the only time the church came together to pray. Acts 12 records the martyr of James (the brother of John) as well as the imprisonment of Peter by Herod.
Consider one short but very profound verse, Acts 12:12 "When this had dawned on him (Peter), he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying." So much can be gained from this single passage!!
First of all, the closeness of the believers is clearly evident - even in the face of persecution. They didn't surrender their faith. They didn't call it quits. They weren't in their own homes afraid and alone. Instead they gathered together -- there were "many" of them in one place and they were praying.
Secondly, Peter knew where to go. As soon as he awakened from his trance, he immediately went to the house of Mary. Why did he go there? How did he know other believers would be there? Peter knew they would be together because that is what the early church did. They simply had the habit of communing with one another. Have we forgotten the importance of fellowship today?
Thirdly, I find it somewhat incredible Peter knew exactly to whose home to go. Not only did Peter seek out other believers, he knew where to find them. This speaks volumes about the faith and courage of Mary. If Peter knew where the church would be, it was highly likely Herod's men would know also. At least it probably wouldn't take them long to find out.
Mary's hospitality played an amazing role in the events of that night. She no doubt was a strong influence among the disciples of Christ in the first century. Peter knew the kind of woman Mary was. Obviously, she had opened her home to the believers on more than one occasion, else how would Peter know to go there?
The lessons from our Maywood class book this year are on the power of one. I personally think the lesson of Mary in Acts 12:12 is a wonderful example of the power of one. She enabled the church to meet together and remain united in their faith and in prayer. She helped disciples stick with each other. She allowed herself to be used as a stapler. Mary knew the power of prayer and hosted a prayer group in her home. I am honored to be part of a prayer group too. We are not "many" as described in Acts 12; but we have come to understand the power of prayer.
These individuals are amazing women of God and every day I am thankful to be part of them! We have been sticking together for about five years now. We know how much stronger we are when we are together.
As part of this group, each of us has gained a certain spiritual maturity. We are stronger today (together) than we were (apart) five years ago. Our prayers have helped us hold on to Christ through some pretty tough times and we remember to praise God through our victories. As one of them posted on face book a few weeks ago, if you aren't part of a group like this -- find one.
So earlier I said the stapler was the tool used to bring papers together and the staple was the thing used to hold them together. Well, it may be kind of a far stretch for some to see .... but Christ is the stapler. His loving sacrifice is the tool God used to bring us together. The church is the staple that holds us together. Our love and fellowship together keep us united in purpose and praying together increases our faith and strength. Think about it. :)
Let's stick together. We need each other.
"And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church."
Colossians 1:17-18
"And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony." Colossians 3:14
Christ above all things,
Robin
Today I've been working on night time cabin devotionals. I like to use object lessons so I can give the girls some little something to help them remember the devotional. The other day, I came across some mini staplers left over from what I gave as extras to some family members at Christmas.
This afternoon, I remembered I used Bible verses to go with some of my "extra" gifts. I kept I list of the scriptures and went to find them. Then I began to think about the lessons in our class book at Maywood for this year. My mind began to spin as fast as a merry-go-round. :)
Now - well, here we go!
A single piece of paper is not hard to tear into two pieces, right? But the more pieces of paper you put together, the harder it is to tear them. A stapler holds pieces of paper together. It keeps them from getting pulled apart.
Usually when we use a stapler, we are keeping papers together that have something in common. Maybe they are the pages of a tax return. For a school teacher they may be pages of homework assignment from each student in class. For someone in business, it may be a financial report or parts of a sales pitch to be given.
The papers need to be kept together. If we lose one page of the presentation, it won't be complete. It would be the same way with the tax return ... and if we lost part of that we might be in trouble if we were audited. The staple binds the parts together to make it a whole. The stapler is the tool used to bring the pieces to together.
As Christians we need to stick together. We are stronger when we do. Just as one piece of paper can easily be torn, we are not as strong alone as we are together. The more Christians put together working for a common goal, the stronger we are. In His infinite wisdom, Jesus died for and built the church so we could draw on the strength of one another.
The early Christians understood this principle. The book of Acts speaks often of the close fellowship ... the strong bond the believers had with one another. Acts 2:46-47 says they were together every day. In Chapter 4: 23 -31, they prayed together for the boldness of the apostles to preach and teach. And in Acts 4:32 - 37, the sold their possessions and shared all things with one another as they each had need. Their bond was very strong.
Another thing the early church shared was a strong belief in prayer. I already mentioned they prayed together in Acts chapter 4. However, this wasn't the only time the church came together to pray. Acts 12 records the martyr of James (the brother of John) as well as the imprisonment of Peter by Herod.
Consider one short but very profound verse, Acts 12:12 "When this had dawned on him (Peter), he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying." So much can be gained from this single passage!!
First of all, the closeness of the believers is clearly evident - even in the face of persecution. They didn't surrender their faith. They didn't call it quits. They weren't in their own homes afraid and alone. Instead they gathered together -- there were "many" of them in one place and they were praying.
Secondly, Peter knew where to go. As soon as he awakened from his trance, he immediately went to the house of Mary. Why did he go there? How did he know other believers would be there? Peter knew they would be together because that is what the early church did. They simply had the habit of communing with one another. Have we forgotten the importance of fellowship today?
Thirdly, I find it somewhat incredible Peter knew exactly to whose home to go. Not only did Peter seek out other believers, he knew where to find them. This speaks volumes about the faith and courage of Mary. If Peter knew where the church would be, it was highly likely Herod's men would know also. At least it probably wouldn't take them long to find out.
Mary's hospitality played an amazing role in the events of that night. She no doubt was a strong influence among the disciples of Christ in the first century. Peter knew the kind of woman Mary was. Obviously, she had opened her home to the believers on more than one occasion, else how would Peter know to go there?
The lessons from our Maywood class book this year are on the power of one. I personally think the lesson of Mary in Acts 12:12 is a wonderful example of the power of one. She enabled the church to meet together and remain united in their faith and in prayer. She helped disciples stick with each other. She allowed herself to be used as a stapler. Mary knew the power of prayer and hosted a prayer group in her home. I am honored to be part of a prayer group too. We are not "many" as described in Acts 12; but we have come to understand the power of prayer.
These individuals are amazing women of God and every day I am thankful to be part of them! We have been sticking together for about five years now. We know how much stronger we are when we are together.
As part of this group, each of us has gained a certain spiritual maturity. We are stronger today (together) than we were (apart) five years ago. Our prayers have helped us hold on to Christ through some pretty tough times and we remember to praise God through our victories. As one of them posted on face book a few weeks ago, if you aren't part of a group like this -- find one.
So earlier I said the stapler was the tool used to bring papers together and the staple was the thing used to hold them together. Well, it may be kind of a far stretch for some to see .... but Christ is the stapler. His loving sacrifice is the tool God used to bring us together. The church is the staple that holds us together. Our love and fellowship together keep us united in purpose and praying together increases our faith and strength. Think about it. :)
Let's stick together. We need each other.
"And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church."
Colossians 1:17-18
"And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony." Colossians 3:14
Christ above all things,
Robin
Saturday, May 20, 2017
Food for Thought -- Truth for Food
It was lunch time and I was hungry. I decided to go to the local Japanese restaurant. Now, I don't like all Japanese cuisine - but I do enjoy the hibachi chicken. The restaurant had some customers; but it wasn't too crowded that day. I was looking forward to enjoying my meal.
I ordered and was waiting for my food when I noticed a group of four sitting two or three tables further up the row from me. The group consisted of a man and woman with a teen aged girl and boy. The only one I had a clear view of was the young man.
The waitress brought them a plate of appetizers. The young man looked at it rather dubiously. The others began to dig in to whatever the dish was. I don't think he planned on trying the appetizer. Not wanting to stare, I distracted myself with other things as I waited for my order.
A few minutes later I looked back over to the young man. I watched as he took a bite of something. He had the strangest look on his face as he held in his mouth what was apparently new and strange to him. It was definitely a look of uncertainty.
He was aware his companions were watching him, so he tried to control his reaction. At least he didn't immediately spit it out in disgust. There was no gag reaction; but by the look on his face all kinds of thoughts raced through his mind. He chewed slowly. It seemed as if he was trying to decide if he liked the taste.
My order arrived and I concentrated on my own dish. But as I was eating I couldn't help but think about what I just witnessed. Suddenly a thought occurred to me.
The young man had approached his food hesitantly. Maybe sometimes we do the same thing with God's word. Maybe we think we have this faith thing down pat. We love God and we pray and we study.
Yet, some instructions in the Bible are totally foreign to our human nature. Maybe our obedience only goes so far. Are there certain commands that don't "taste" quite as good as others? It's easy to say we aren't going steal by robbing a bank, but how often do we rob God by failing to worship Him as we should. Sleeping in or going to the lake is easy, but getting up early on Sunday morning might not be as appealing to us.
We may do good things for others, but we may want to pick and choose who those "others" are. God says we are to do good everyone. (Galatians 6:10) What about gossip? We must be very careful with this one. Curiosity about something or someone can lead us into gossip before we even realize it. Yet, a rumor can be very destructive.
What about bitterness over the promotion we wanted but someone else got? Perhaps we are holding to a grudge because someone said something to us years ago. Maybe we think we've laid those old hard feelings aside and suddenly something comes up that makes us angry all over again? Yes, that's a struggle for me, too.
These are real life issues we face every day. Finding God's word more or less palatable on particular days could often be a reflection of the temptations we face. It's like a friend of mine said that her preschool son told -- "sometimes it's just easier to be bad." Yet, we cannot give up the good fight of faith!!
If we keep feeding on the word of God, these instructions in righteousness will become easier to digest. The more we learn of Christ the more we will want to be like Him. The truth will taste better and better to us.
Yet, many folks don't want to recognize the authority of Christ in any way, shape or fashion. Unlike the young boy who was so uncertain about the new food he was tasting -- they have an instant gag reflex. They completely reject the love of Christ.
It is the same now as it was during Christ's ministry. Remember the events recorded in John 6? In this chapter that Christ declared “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in shall never thirst.” Thus began a conversation many could not understand.
I ordered and was waiting for my food when I noticed a group of four sitting two or three tables further up the row from me. The group consisted of a man and woman with a teen aged girl and boy. The only one I had a clear view of was the young man.
The waitress brought them a plate of appetizers. The young man looked at it rather dubiously. The others began to dig in to whatever the dish was. I don't think he planned on trying the appetizer. Not wanting to stare, I distracted myself with other things as I waited for my order.
A few minutes later I looked back over to the young man. I watched as he took a bite of something. He had the strangest look on his face as he held in his mouth what was apparently new and strange to him. It was definitely a look of uncertainty.
He was aware his companions were watching him, so he tried to control his reaction. At least he didn't immediately spit it out in disgust. There was no gag reaction; but by the look on his face all kinds of thoughts raced through his mind. He chewed slowly. It seemed as if he was trying to decide if he liked the taste.
My order arrived and I concentrated on my own dish. But as I was eating I couldn't help but think about what I just witnessed. Suddenly a thought occurred to me.
The young man had approached his food hesitantly. Maybe sometimes we do the same thing with God's word. Maybe we think we have this faith thing down pat. We love God and we pray and we study.
Yet, some instructions in the Bible are totally foreign to our human nature. Maybe our obedience only goes so far. Are there certain commands that don't "taste" quite as good as others? It's easy to say we aren't going steal by robbing a bank, but how often do we rob God by failing to worship Him as we should. Sleeping in or going to the lake is easy, but getting up early on Sunday morning might not be as appealing to us.
We may do good things for others, but we may want to pick and choose who those "others" are. God says we are to do good everyone. (Galatians 6:10) What about gossip? We must be very careful with this one. Curiosity about something or someone can lead us into gossip before we even realize it. Yet, a rumor can be very destructive.
What about bitterness over the promotion we wanted but someone else got? Perhaps we are holding to a grudge because someone said something to us years ago. Maybe we think we've laid those old hard feelings aside and suddenly something comes up that makes us angry all over again? Yes, that's a struggle for me, too.
These are real life issues we face every day. Finding God's word more or less palatable on particular days could often be a reflection of the temptations we face. It's like a friend of mine said that her preschool son told -- "sometimes it's just easier to be bad." Yet, we cannot give up the good fight of faith!!
If we keep feeding on the word of God, these instructions in righteousness will become easier to digest. The more we learn of Christ the more we will want to be like Him. The truth will taste better and better to us.
Yet, many folks don't want to recognize the authority of Christ in any way, shape or fashion. Unlike the young boy who was so uncertain about the new food he was tasting -- they have an instant gag reflex. They completely reject the love of Christ.
It is the same now as it was during Christ's ministry. Remember the events recorded in John 6? In this chapter that Christ declared “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in shall never thirst.” Thus began a conversation many could not understand.
The Jews grumbled.
They doubted Him because they knew Him. They knew His earthly
family, so it was very difficult for them to think He was "the bread that
came down from heaven" (v. 41). They simply could not see Him as
one sent from God, let alone His only Son.
Even
some of His disciples said it "was a hard saying." Christ continued,
"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The
words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life" (v. 63). After
this conversation many of His disciples "no longer walked with Him" (v
66). Figuratively (and spiritually) speaking, they had a gag reflex.
How sad
that must have been for our Savior!! It is sadder still for those who
turned away. Can you imagine the
despondence in His voice as Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you want to go
away as well?"
It was
Peter who answered, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of
eternal life, and we have believed, and come to know, that you are the Holy One
of God" (vs. 66-69). Peter and the others didn't find the words of
Christ repulsive. They may not have fully understood the meaning of
Christ's words; but knew He came from God and they wanted to continue to feed
on His word.
The question for us today is whether or not we will choose to feed our souls on the Bread of Life? Will we take in spiritual nourishment for eternal life as quickly and easily as we do for our physical bodies? OR will we reject what is offered to us.
In John 6:51 Jesus said, "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh." He died that we might live with Him forever. That is pretty appetizing to me!
"Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him."
(Psalm 34:8)
Christ above all things,
Robin Whitley
Thursday, May 11, 2017
A Hard Fightin' Soldier
Two nights ago I was having a wonderful night. We just finished the monthly ladies' devotional at our congregation. My mom and I lingered for a while talking with the hostess and enjoying a little extra fellowship. As we said our final good byes, I looked at my phone and suddenly the night began to change.
I often mention my prayer group. I am honored to be part of that group of very faithful and wonderful Christian women. We have a group text set up. Through this we stay in close communication with one another.
Tuesday night when I looked at my phone, it was sad news. News that required immediate prayer. One of our sister friends had collapsed and was unresponsive. An ambulance was on the way to her home. I was so thankful Mom drove us home so I could read the texts that were coming fast and furiously.
Only a short time later we learned our sweet Angie was gone. I knew I would miss her. She had a tremendous impact on my life. Yet, I could not be sad. She won her battle with the world. God called my sister friend home. Victory was hers. We praised God!
See Angie would be the first to tell anyone she spent part of her adult life in the church and part of it participating in worldly things. I can relate to that. I did not always walk with God either.
But a few short months ago, Angie took up her Christian armor once again and became a brave soldier for Jesus. She fought the good fight of faith valiantly. She faced a lot of hardships ... a lot of temptations, but she thanked God for her troubles. I heard her pray that. Can you imagine? James tells us to do it; but I don't think I ever actually heard anyone say those words in a prayer. Angie did.
She also thanked Him for keeping her alive long enough for her to come to her senses and quit "being so hard-headed" (her words). She was thankful for another chance to live and serve her Savior.
And she REJOICED! Through all of her troubles and all of her heartaches ... she rejoiced. She praised God in her trials and she rejoiced in His mercy and grace. She was always so joyful to be with her church family! She rejoiced as she pleaded with God to give her strength and help her conquer her demons.
Angie prayed for and encouraged others. She often told us how much she loved and needed us. She told us how thankful she was for us. She had a tender and loving heart. She urged us to stay strong - reminding us that we were all in this together and she pleaded with the Heavenly Father to give strength, comfort and peace to others she knew were hurting. She asked God to "put a hedge row of protection" around her sisters.
My friend took up God's armor and boldly marched into battle every day. She was "strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might." She stood against the devil's schemes. She knew, probably better than most, who she fought against ... who the enemy was. And she stood firm.
She wore the breastplate of righteousness and did her best to do right by every one. She wore the belt of truth and was honest about her past ... and tried to get others to change as she had. She stood ready with the gospel of peace .. longing for peace in her life and wishing the same for those she loved.
Angie had taken up the shield of faith and it covered her life. She was so thankful for God's forgiveness as she wore the helmet of salvation, knowing Christ had died for her and was standing with her helping her fight every battle. She was armed with the sword of the Spirit, the word of God, as she turned to the scriptures time and time again. She studied her Bible and encouraged others to seek the truth.
Lastly, but certainly not least, she prayed and she prayed. She praised God. She thanked God. And she pleaded with Him for love and peace. Tuesday night my sister... my friend ... a very hard fighting soldier ... won her war. She fought her good fight of faith .... and finally had her peace.
The next morning when I thought of Angie and the reality of her death began to take hold, these are the two passages that kept coming to my mind.
"Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm." (Ephesians 6:13)
"When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
'Death is swallowed up in victory.
O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?' (1 Corinthians 15:54-56)
I thank God for my friend ... my hard fighting soldier.
Christ above all things,
Robin Whitley
I often mention my prayer group. I am honored to be part of that group of very faithful and wonderful Christian women. We have a group text set up. Through this we stay in close communication with one another.
Tuesday night when I looked at my phone, it was sad news. News that required immediate prayer. One of our sister friends had collapsed and was unresponsive. An ambulance was on the way to her home. I was so thankful Mom drove us home so I could read the texts that were coming fast and furiously.
Only a short time later we learned our sweet Angie was gone. I knew I would miss her. She had a tremendous impact on my life. Yet, I could not be sad. She won her battle with the world. God called my sister friend home. Victory was hers. We praised God!
See Angie would be the first to tell anyone she spent part of her adult life in the church and part of it participating in worldly things. I can relate to that. I did not always walk with God either.
But a few short months ago, Angie took up her Christian armor once again and became a brave soldier for Jesus. She fought the good fight of faith valiantly. She faced a lot of hardships ... a lot of temptations, but she thanked God for her troubles. I heard her pray that. Can you imagine? James tells us to do it; but I don't think I ever actually heard anyone say those words in a prayer. Angie did.
She also thanked Him for keeping her alive long enough for her to come to her senses and quit "being so hard-headed" (her words). She was thankful for another chance to live and serve her Savior.
And she REJOICED! Through all of her troubles and all of her heartaches ... she rejoiced. She praised God in her trials and she rejoiced in His mercy and grace. She was always so joyful to be with her church family! She rejoiced as she pleaded with God to give her strength and help her conquer her demons.
Angie prayed for and encouraged others. She often told us how much she loved and needed us. She told us how thankful she was for us. She had a tender and loving heart. She urged us to stay strong - reminding us that we were all in this together and she pleaded with the Heavenly Father to give strength, comfort and peace to others she knew were hurting. She asked God to "put a hedge row of protection" around her sisters.
My friend took up God's armor and boldly marched into battle every day. She was "strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might." She stood against the devil's schemes. She knew, probably better than most, who she fought against ... who the enemy was. And she stood firm.
She wore the breastplate of righteousness and did her best to do right by every one. She wore the belt of truth and was honest about her past ... and tried to get others to change as she had. She stood ready with the gospel of peace .. longing for peace in her life and wishing the same for those she loved.
Angie had taken up the shield of faith and it covered her life. She was so thankful for God's forgiveness as she wore the helmet of salvation, knowing Christ had died for her and was standing with her helping her fight every battle. She was armed with the sword of the Spirit, the word of God, as she turned to the scriptures time and time again. She studied her Bible and encouraged others to seek the truth.
Lastly, but certainly not least, she prayed and she prayed. She praised God. She thanked God. And she pleaded with Him for love and peace. Tuesday night my sister... my friend ... a very hard fighting soldier ... won her war. She fought her good fight of faith .... and finally had her peace.
The next morning when I thought of Angie and the reality of her death began to take hold, these are the two passages that kept coming to my mind.
"Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm." (Ephesians 6:13)
"When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
'Death is swallowed up in victory.
O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?' (1 Corinthians 15:54-56)
I thank God for my friend ... my hard fighting soldier.
Christ above all things,
Robin Whitley
Sunday, April 30, 2017
Thoughts from the Gym
For about four days now, I've been thinking about this post. It's been a while you know ... and I feel bad about that. It isn't that I haven't had anything to write about. Odd little things come to my mind quite often and I think, "Oh, this would make a neat post." I even wrote some of them down so I wouldn't forget.
So I was mulling everything over Wednesday afternoon while I was exercising ... and it seemed like a thousand thoughts were racing through my mind at one time. Would it be something about the Christmas napkins we used on Easter weekend, or the loyalty of family pets, or that certain scripture I read the other day, or ....
It was my first day back to the gym after nearly a week away from my daily exercise routine. I kept eyeing the clock, waiting for my time to be up. See, I'd been sick with a stomach virus the week before and felt pretty week for several days.
I was about to fall out of the habit. I should have started back the day before, but I excused myself one more time. Today was different. I knew if I didn't make myself come to the gym today, I might never go back .... and I had way too much time invested in this to stop now. So today I pushed myself to go ... "That's it!" I thought.
That's what I would post about. No, not exercise.... well yes, maybe in a way .... I'm talking about self-discipline .. a.k.a self-control. Although we don't talk about it very often, this trait is mentioned several times in the scriptures and involves almost every part of our spiritual lives.
Self-control is a vital trait for a Christian to develop; and I need a lot of work in this area. It's the last characteristic mentioned in the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). If God's Spirit lives within us we will show this in our lives.
Think about this favorite fruit of God's ... this fruit is manifested through "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness", AND"self-control." It is easy to love the lovable, but it takes self-control to love our enemies as Christ commands. It is easy to be 'happy' when things are going our way, yet it takes self-control to dig in deep and find joy when we're suddenly unemployed, going through a serious illness, or have lost a loved one.
Does it take self-control to find peace when life's storms are raging all around you or to be patient when a child is rebelling? I could go through the whole list; but we get the idea. We need self-control to live as Christ would have us to live... to be who He wants us to be.
Proverbs 25: 27-28 says "It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it glorious to seek one's own glory. A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls." Ponder that for a moment ... over-indulgence (eating too much honey) is not good for us in any way whatsoever. Being prideful and seeking glory for our deeds actually distracts from whatever good we've tried to do. God should always get the glory!!
How apt is the description of the man without self control? I love the picture this illustration puts into my mind. He has been broken into and is now open to all kinds of temptation. There are no walls to protect him from being led away into darkness.
It took a good dose of self-control to get me back into that gym the other day. About a year ago when I first started working out, I was told I would reach the point where I would want to go work-out. My son said I would eventually look forward to it ... crave it, even.
That has not been the case for me. I do not long for exercise time. I have never once craved it. :) I pretty much have to push myself to go in that gym every time I go and some days it is much more difficult than others. What I do long for is the end result. I want to be more physically fit. I like the idea of having more strength and stamina to do the things I want to do. (And losing some of this weight won't hurt either).
Some spiritual "exercises" are much less difficult than physical exercises are. We might find it easy not to steal or make fun of someone. Praying and attending worship on Sunday morning may come naturally for some. A strong faith in God's care may be part of who we are. Yet we may still have trouble refraining from gossip, or controlling our temper, or even remembering to study God's word on a regular basis. It takes diligence and self-control to run the Christian race.
Paul sometimes compared the physical to the spiritual and with the Spirit's help - he says it much better than I do.
In I Corinthians 9:24-26 he says, "Do you not know, that in a race all the runner's run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air."
Physical exercise does have its benefits... benefits worth attaining. The healthier we are, the more able we are to do God's work. But we will not always have this body. It is perishable. Yet, the prize we will receive for our spiritual exercise is eternal. It is imperishable. If we run our race well, we will obtain it.
Go back and read those verses from I Corinthians again. Paul says all athletes exercise self-control and all the runners run the race, but only one of them wins the prize. I'm sure you caught that. The good news for us is that everyone who chooses to run the Christian race will win the prize... not just one of us ... not just a few of us ... all of us who run a faithful Christian race will win the prize of eternal life. My friends, that is a race worth running!
So run that you may obtain the prize....
"for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." (2 Timothy 1:7)
Christ above all things,
Robin Whitley
So I was mulling everything over Wednesday afternoon while I was exercising ... and it seemed like a thousand thoughts were racing through my mind at one time. Would it be something about the Christmas napkins we used on Easter weekend, or the loyalty of family pets, or that certain scripture I read the other day, or ....
It was my first day back to the gym after nearly a week away from my daily exercise routine. I kept eyeing the clock, waiting for my time to be up. See, I'd been sick with a stomach virus the week before and felt pretty week for several days.
I was about to fall out of the habit. I should have started back the day before, but I excused myself one more time. Today was different. I knew if I didn't make myself come to the gym today, I might never go back .... and I had way too much time invested in this to stop now. So today I pushed myself to go ... "That's it!" I thought.
That's what I would post about. No, not exercise.... well yes, maybe in a way .... I'm talking about self-discipline .. a.k.a self-control. Although we don't talk about it very often, this trait is mentioned several times in the scriptures and involves almost every part of our spiritual lives.
Self-control is a vital trait for a Christian to develop; and I need a lot of work in this area. It's the last characteristic mentioned in the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). If God's Spirit lives within us we will show this in our lives.
Think about this favorite fruit of God's ... this fruit is manifested through "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness", AND"self-control." It is easy to love the lovable, but it takes self-control to love our enemies as Christ commands. It is easy to be 'happy' when things are going our way, yet it takes self-control to dig in deep and find joy when we're suddenly unemployed, going through a serious illness, or have lost a loved one.
Does it take self-control to find peace when life's storms are raging all around you or to be patient when a child is rebelling? I could go through the whole list; but we get the idea. We need self-control to live as Christ would have us to live... to be who He wants us to be.
Proverbs 25: 27-28 says "It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it glorious to seek one's own glory. A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls." Ponder that for a moment ... over-indulgence (eating too much honey) is not good for us in any way whatsoever. Being prideful and seeking glory for our deeds actually distracts from whatever good we've tried to do. God should always get the glory!!
How apt is the description of the man without self control? I love the picture this illustration puts into my mind. He has been broken into and is now open to all kinds of temptation. There are no walls to protect him from being led away into darkness.
It took a good dose of self-control to get me back into that gym the other day. About a year ago when I first started working out, I was told I would reach the point where I would want to go work-out. My son said I would eventually look forward to it ... crave it, even.
That has not been the case for me. I do not long for exercise time. I have never once craved it. :) I pretty much have to push myself to go in that gym every time I go and some days it is much more difficult than others. What I do long for is the end result. I want to be more physically fit. I like the idea of having more strength and stamina to do the things I want to do. (And losing some of this weight won't hurt either).
Some spiritual "exercises" are much less difficult than physical exercises are. We might find it easy not to steal or make fun of someone. Praying and attending worship on Sunday morning may come naturally for some. A strong faith in God's care may be part of who we are. Yet we may still have trouble refraining from gossip, or controlling our temper, or even remembering to study God's word on a regular basis. It takes diligence and self-control to run the Christian race.
Paul sometimes compared the physical to the spiritual and with the Spirit's help - he says it much better than I do.
In I Corinthians 9:24-26 he says, "Do you not know, that in a race all the runner's run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air."
Physical exercise does have its benefits... benefits worth attaining. The healthier we are, the more able we are to do God's work. But we will not always have this body. It is perishable. Yet, the prize we will receive for our spiritual exercise is eternal. It is imperishable. If we run our race well, we will obtain it.
Go back and read those verses from I Corinthians again. Paul says all athletes exercise self-control and all the runners run the race, but only one of them wins the prize. I'm sure you caught that. The good news for us is that everyone who chooses to run the Christian race will win the prize... not just one of us ... not just a few of us ... all of us who run a faithful Christian race will win the prize of eternal life. My friends, that is a race worth running!
So run that you may obtain the prize....
"for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." (2 Timothy 1:7)
Christ above all things,
Robin Whitley
Sunday, April 9, 2017
"Let's Do The Beginning"
Never underestimate a 2 or 3 year old! Don't take for granted the power they can have to impact your life in a mighty way! After teaching this age group for a number of years now, I've learned not to be surprised by anything they say. And I've realized they teach me so much more than I could ever begin to teach them.
A few weeks ago in Bible class we studied Daniel in the Lion's Den. We talked about how those who were jealous of Daniel tricked the king into making a law that no one could pray to any god or ask a petition of anyone except the king for 30 days. I hoped to emphasize Daniel's courage and faithfulness even in a dangerous time. I also hoped to instill in those little hearts that God is always with us when we follow Him.
But I go through a certain routine during class. We usually sing some introductory songs including several songs about the Bible. I often say "Bible words are God's words" - trying my best to stress the importance of Truth. Another thing I do is teach the verse Genesis 1:1. Using a hand made flip chart, I stress this scripture as the "very first words of the Bible." This is all done before we move on to our Bible story for the week.
Young minds are like little sponges and they soak up everything. Yet, sometimes I forget. I knew they were making progress with the memory verse, but I hadn't thought about how engrossed they'd become with the routine. Well, I got a sharp reminder that night.
After our story about Daniel and doing our handwork to take home -- one little girl held up her take home sheets and said "Let's do the beginning." Thinking she wanted me to review the story (because after all, she was holding up the picture of Daniel praying), I spent a couple of minutes talking about Daniel and how God saved him from the lions. When I finished, she looked at me sweetly, and in a very grown up tone of voice said, "Uh-huh, OK now, let's do the beginning. It was only then I realized she was playing teacher. Her take home sheets had become a flip chart and she wanted us to recite Genesis 1:1 with her. "In the beginning -- God created -- the heavens and the earth -- Genesis 1:1." So that is just what we did!
Naturally I was amused, but I was also reminded of how closely our little ones watch us and how important it is for us to teach only the absolute truth. We will be held accountable for what we teach. What a sobering thought!!
I was also reminded just how important "the beginning" is. As Christians, we need to remember this often for it is the very first tenet of our faith. It is the foundation upon which our life of serving Christ is all about. Our beliefs define us. Believing in God as our Creator is the basis for how we live and act. Everything we do is centered around the fact of God's existence.
Everyone believes there was "a beginning" to this world. Regardless of the "how," everyone believes there was a beginning. So the words "In the beginning" isn't doubted. It all started somehow.
We live on the earth and we study the clouds. We know about the atmosphere above the clouds. Mankind has visited the moon and traveled in space. So we don't doubt the existence of "the heavens and the earth" either.
Sadly, it is those two small words in the middle of this sentence that seem to put so many folks into a tailspin. They just can't seem to get the "God created" part.
Non- believers say "How can it possibly be?"
The believer says, "How can it possibly be anything else?"
I honestly can't imagine believing anything else other than in God as our Creator and His Son as our Savior. Yet sometimes we need reminding. We need to take the time to actually think about the implications of existing as a created being. We should realize God truly IS the giver of life and we were created for a purpose.
We should occasionally "do" the beginning. Ecclesiastes 12:1 tells us "Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, 'I find no pleasure in them'
(NIV). How often do we stop and realize we were made in His image? We are to recognize Him and allow Him to be a vital part of our lives.
Remembering Him means when we come to the end of our days, we will not regret the way we have lived. We may not enjoy getting old or being able to see and hear like we once did ... or move as quickly as we used to ... but we will have peace of mind ... the precious peace that only God can give us.
Remembering Him is not just reading the Bible, or the mental act of remembering certain verses of scripture. It is wholly leaning on God ... walking with Him ... holding on to Him ... loving Him. It is realizing He is in control and we don't do anything on our own.
Sometimes living the busy lives we live, going about everything we do, rushing here and there, satan shows up. We allow ourselves to be tricked into thinking we don't need God. After all, we take care of ourselves pretty well, right? Why should we go to worship Sunday night or Bible study Wednesday night? It's late and the kids are already fussy. We've had a pretty good day, why take the time to pray with them before they go to sleep? It is easy -- very easy -- to fall into the devil's trap.
Stop!! Go back to the basics. Remember the Creator.
"DO" the beginning ... again and again and again.
I promise you won't regret it.
Christ above all things,
Robin
A few weeks ago in Bible class we studied Daniel in the Lion's Den. We talked about how those who were jealous of Daniel tricked the king into making a law that no one could pray to any god or ask a petition of anyone except the king for 30 days. I hoped to emphasize Daniel's courage and faithfulness even in a dangerous time. I also hoped to instill in those little hearts that God is always with us when we follow Him.
But I go through a certain routine during class. We usually sing some introductory songs including several songs about the Bible. I often say "Bible words are God's words" - trying my best to stress the importance of Truth. Another thing I do is teach the verse Genesis 1:1. Using a hand made flip chart, I stress this scripture as the "very first words of the Bible." This is all done before we move on to our Bible story for the week.
Young minds are like little sponges and they soak up everything. Yet, sometimes I forget. I knew they were making progress with the memory verse, but I hadn't thought about how engrossed they'd become with the routine. Well, I got a sharp reminder that night.
After our story about Daniel and doing our handwork to take home -- one little girl held up her take home sheets and said "Let's do the beginning." Thinking she wanted me to review the story (because after all, she was holding up the picture of Daniel praying), I spent a couple of minutes talking about Daniel and how God saved him from the lions. When I finished, she looked at me sweetly, and in a very grown up tone of voice said, "Uh-huh, OK now, let's do the beginning. It was only then I realized she was playing teacher. Her take home sheets had become a flip chart and she wanted us to recite Genesis 1:1 with her. "In the beginning -- God created -- the heavens and the earth -- Genesis 1:1." So that is just what we did!
Naturally I was amused, but I was also reminded of how closely our little ones watch us and how important it is for us to teach only the absolute truth. We will be held accountable for what we teach. What a sobering thought!!
I was also reminded just how important "the beginning" is. As Christians, we need to remember this often for it is the very first tenet of our faith. It is the foundation upon which our life of serving Christ is all about. Our beliefs define us. Believing in God as our Creator is the basis for how we live and act. Everything we do is centered around the fact of God's existence.
Everyone believes there was "a beginning" to this world. Regardless of the "how," everyone believes there was a beginning. So the words "In the beginning" isn't doubted. It all started somehow.
We live on the earth and we study the clouds. We know about the atmosphere above the clouds. Mankind has visited the moon and traveled in space. So we don't doubt the existence of "the heavens and the earth" either.
Sadly, it is those two small words in the middle of this sentence that seem to put so many folks into a tailspin. They just can't seem to get the "God created" part.
Non- believers say "How can it possibly be?"
The believer says, "How can it possibly be anything else?"
I honestly can't imagine believing anything else other than in God as our Creator and His Son as our Savior. Yet sometimes we need reminding. We need to take the time to actually think about the implications of existing as a created being. We should realize God truly IS the giver of life and we were created for a purpose.
We should occasionally "do" the beginning. Ecclesiastes 12:1 tells us "Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, 'I find no pleasure in them'
(NIV). How often do we stop and realize we were made in His image? We are to recognize Him and allow Him to be a vital part of our lives.
Remembering Him means when we come to the end of our days, we will not regret the way we have lived. We may not enjoy getting old or being able to see and hear like we once did ... or move as quickly as we used to ... but we will have peace of mind ... the precious peace that only God can give us.
Remembering Him is not just reading the Bible, or the mental act of remembering certain verses of scripture. It is wholly leaning on God ... walking with Him ... holding on to Him ... loving Him. It is realizing He is in control and we don't do anything on our own.
Sometimes living the busy lives we live, going about everything we do, rushing here and there, satan shows up. We allow ourselves to be tricked into thinking we don't need God. After all, we take care of ourselves pretty well, right? Why should we go to worship Sunday night or Bible study Wednesday night? It's late and the kids are already fussy. We've had a pretty good day, why take the time to pray with them before they go to sleep? It is easy -- very easy -- to fall into the devil's trap.
Stop!! Go back to the basics. Remember the Creator.
"DO" the beginning ... again and again and again.
I promise you won't regret it.
Christ above all things,
Robin
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