Unity - Working Together with One Mind and Purpose

He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. Ephesians 4:16 (NLT)

Here’s a wonderful story about Jimmy Durante, one of the great entertainers of a generation ago. He was asked to be a part of a show for World War II veterans. He told them his schedule was very busy and he could afford only a few minutes, but if they wouldn't mind his doing one short monologue and immediately leaving for his next appointment, he would come. Of course, the show's director agreed happily. But when Jimmy got on stage, something interesting happened. He went through the short monologue and then stayed. The applause grew louder and louder and he kept staying. Pretty soon, he had been on fifteen, twenty, then thirty minutes. Finally, he took a last bow and left the stage. Backstage someone stopped him and said, "I thought you had to go after a few minutes. What happened?"

Jimmy answered, "I did have to go, but I can show you the reason I stayed. You can see for yourself if you'll look down on the front row." In the front row were two men, each of whom had lost an arm in the war. One had lost his right arm and the other had lost his left. Together, they were able to clap, and that's exactly what they were doing, loudly and cheerfully. 

The Apostle Paul wrote a letter of thanks and encouragement to his friends in Philippi. He wrote about teamwork when he encouraged believers to be unified. He longed to know that they were “standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith…” Philippians 1:27

He again urges his brothers and sisters to “stay true to the Lord” (Philippians 4:1). Finally, Paul stressed spiritual unity. He asked if they had fellowship with one another in the spirit. He told them he’d be “truly happy” if they loved one another and were “working together with one mind and purpose.”

Paul wrote in Romans 15:5-6, “May God, who gives patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

We sure live in a society where issues divide us. Sometimes it's a very bitter division. Sometimes we find that we can simply agree to disagree. Yet, we do often come together as the Body of Christ, focus on those things we believe in common and work to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ.  As believers, scattered across the globe, we are truly bonded across many cultural, economic and social walls. Remember, we are brothers and sisters in Christ and we should be living like God’s family. Support one another by offering intercessory prayer, share words of encouragement with those who are going through a challenging time and don’t be afraid to ask for help because God considers it a blessing for us to help one another. 

Who can you reach out to today?

"His faithful love endures forever."

Until next time...

Chaplain Gray

Mission Impossible: Say What?

Do you remember the TV series Mission Impossible? 
It ran from 1966-73 and again from 1988-90. The theme music was always a recognizable tune and it even carried over to the film series with Tom Cruise.

Seemingly impossible, covert missions were given to an elite team - but there was a catch. They were subject to official denial in the event of failure, capture or death. The odds were always stacked against the team. They would get backed into corners and leave the audience hanging and anxiously waiting for the climax, when somehow, some way, the team succeeds and escapes!

Time after time, the team uses technology (best of their day) to get out of jams and on their way to success. They operated all over the world so that added some interest and excitement as well. Audiences would be ‘dazzled’ at their ‘tools’ and think ‘NO WAY’! But in this fictitious action spy thriller, the team always made it through.

Life can sometimes seem impossible too. 
We can run into a place in time when it appears that all the odds are stacked against us. We can be overwhelmed by a situation, a disease, job loss, break up of family or the loss of a loved one. Our faith can be rattled by these circumstances.

However, we have a lifeline. We are told in Romans 8:31b “If God be for us, who can ever be against us?” Jesus said in Matthew 19:26 “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”

In Isaiah 41:10 we get these words of encouragement and strength: “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”

David, who we know faced Goliath as a young man, says in many of the Psalms how he gets strength from the Lord. In Psalm 27:1 he describes the Lord: “The Lord is my light and my salvation - so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?”

Wow, what confidence he has!

If you have read Paul’s letters in the New Testament you know that at times he suffered greatly. He spent much time in prison and he often had to flee for his life. He gives us this encouragement in Philippians 4:13 “For I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

There’s nothing God can’t do! These are promises He has given us. You need to claim them as yours!

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? Romans 8:35

No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39

Lord, I claim your promises to give your people strength and to bless them with peace! And be my shield - I trust you with all my heart. Arm me with strength and make my way perfect. In your Son’s Holy Name I pray, Amen.

"His faithful love endures forever."

Until next time...

Chaplain Gray

Solomon's Wisdom and Leadership

We tend to spend a lot of money on buying various leadership books because we are determined to be the best leader we can be. I urge you to consider that the Bible has numerous lessons about leadership within its pages. Solomon is said to be the wisest man who ever lived and in this first of three books, he gives practical insights into many topics, one if which is being a Godly leader.

Read the chapter 16 and take a look at this list of qualities found there.

Seek Direction

A Godly leader will seek the Lord’s direction, commit fully to the plans and then allow the Lord to determine his steps going forward.

Proverbs 16:1 - We can make our own plans, but the Lord gives the right answer.

verse 3 - Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.

verse 9 - We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.

Be Humble

The Lord will punish those who are arrogant or prideful. Don’t get caught up in that, be humble.

Verse 5 - The Lord detests the proud; they will surely be punished.

Verses 18 - 19 - Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall. Better to live humbly than to share plunder with the proud.

Be a Peacemaker

A Godly leader will put energy into pleasing God and will usually find even his enemies at peace with him.

Verse 7 - When people’s lives please the Lord, even their enemies are at peace with them.

Be Just and Fair

Let’s be more interested in acting in a godly way, even when we have little.

Verse 8 - Better to have little, with godliness, than to be rich and dishonest.

Has Honest, Trustworthy Advisors

A Godly leader doesn’t want just a “yes man”, but those who will give honest advice and speak freely.

Verse 13 - The king is pleased with words from righteous lips; he loves those who speak honestly.

Is a Lifelong Learner

Don’t ever stop learning. Always welcome lessons about wisdom and judgment. 

Verse 16 - How much better to get wisdom than gold, and good judgment than silver.

Sensible and Kind

Discretion brings about sensible actions and kind words are healthy!

Verses 22-24 - Discretion is a life-changing fountain to those who possess it, but discipline is wasted on fools. From a wise mind comes wise speech; the words of the wise are persuasive. Kind words are like honey - sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.

Patient and displays self-control

These qualities are Godly. Don’t loose temper as that can cause great harm.

Verse 32 - Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city.

So in these eight qualities you find thoughts and lessons on how to apply divine wisdom to your daily life. Knowing God is the key to that wisdom and if we apply these truths in our lives, our leadership will honor Him. So what can you take away from this chapter in Proverbs? Does it challenge you to become more humble? Do you know an example of a humble leader? Can you admit that you should never stop learning? Are you a patient leader? 

"His faithful love endures forever."

Until next time...

Chaplain Gray

About That Blessing

Define "blessing"

How would you define a “blessing”? Many would say that a blessing is a good and perfect gift from God. David Roper said, “ blessing is more than a polite response to a sneeze.” I think it's really important to understand what he said next: “We bless others when we bring them to the One who is the source of blessing.” 

Melchizedek Blesses Abram

Do you know about the blessing received by Abram? Melchizedek was a king of Salem, a city-state in the land of Canaan. You can read about the circumstances behind it, but Abram had just returned from battle and Melchizedek brings out bread and wine for the hero. Then Melchizedek blesses Abram:

Blessed be Abram of God Most High,
Possessor of heaven and earth;
And blessed be God Most High,
Who has delivered your enemies into your hand. (Gn 14:19–20)

God later promises that when Aaron and his sons bless the people of Israel in His name, the Lord himself will bless them.

Keep It Going

Charles Stanley said “It is God’s nature to bless. However, we need to understand that His purpose is greater than we may realize. His ultimate goal encompasses far more than simply making us happy, peaceful, protected, and prosperous. In fact, it’s never the Lord’s intention for His blessings to end with us. Rather, He wants them to flow out to others as part of His plan for the whole earth.”

The blessings are not intended to end with its recipient. The Lord expects us to pass along, or as a popular movie said ‘pay it forward’.

Here is a wonderful example. Marquis de Lafayette was a French officer who provided invaluable assistance to George Washington and the struggling American army. After the war was over, he returned to France and resumed his life as a farmer of many estates. In 1783, the harvest was a terrible one, and there were many who suffered as a result. Lafayette’s farms were unaffected by the devastating crop failures. One of his workers offered what seemed to be good advice to Lafayette, “The bad harvest has raised the price of wheat. This is the time to sell.” After thinking about the hungry peasants in the surrounding villages, Lafayette disagreed and said, “No, this is the time to give.”

Lafayette may have felt that he had received something that was undeserved (a blessing) and he perhaps understood God’s intention to have that blessing passed on to others.

Have you been blessed lately? Remember this was not just for you!

Stanley reminds us “He’s also doing something in and through you to affect the lives of others. Don’t let the pleasures and comforts of His blessings blind you to their intended purpose. Ask the Lord how to use His kindnesses as a way to point people to Him.”

David Roper added, “We can bless others by praying with them; we can take them to the throne of grace to find help in time of need.”

A blessing for you from Hebrews 13:20-21….

Now may the God of peace—

who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus,

the great Shepherd of the sheep,

and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood—

may he equip you with all you need

for doing his will.

May he produce in you,

through the power of Jesus Christ,

every good thing that is pleasing to him.

All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.

"His faithful love endures forever."

Until next time...

Chaplain Gray