Priority Shift

From Matthew 10:42
If anyone gives even a cup of
cold water to one of these
little ones who belong to Christ,
he will certainly not lose his reward.

What is your priority? How do you characterize your Christianity? What gets most of your time and attention? There are so many "Christian" issues that steal our resources and deplete our ability to serve, but have you ever noticed how in both testaments of the Bible, God constantly tries to draw attention to people in need? Many of the laws of Moses were in place to provide equity among God's people.

Consider this from the law in Deuteronomy 15:11, "There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land."

From the Old Testament prophet, Isaiah 32:6 "For fools speak folly, their hearts are bent on evil: They practice ungodliness and spread error concerning the LORD; the hungry they leave empty and from the thirsty they withhold water."
...

From Jesus' words in Luke 12, "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

And from the apostles, James 1:26-27 "Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

Maybe it's time to turn your gaze away from your petty issue and ask God to direct your focus.

 

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Our Provider

Oh, how she needed financial help! Her horoscope told her to eat at a Chinese restaurant on her birthday. Taking it to heart, she did. Her fortune cookie told her that things were about to turn in her favor. On her way to her car, she found a one dollar bill. She used the dollar to buy a lottery ticket playing the lucky numbers on the reverse side of her fortune. The winners numbers would be announced the next day. That night, she went to bed wondering if she would win - hoping that she would win enough to pay off her debts, buy a much needed car, and maybe even take the vacation of her dreams. Or, dare she dream that she would win enough to live a life of ease and luxury?

 

Oh, how he needed financial help! He opened his Bible and read from 2 Corinthians 9:10, "Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness." Taking it to heart, he took the last bill from his wallet and used it to buy a bag of flour. He took the flour to the local mission and donated it to their kitchen. He stood in line with a group of homeless men and filled his plate as did they. He sat at a table with men who couldn't find a dollar or a way to make one. He heard their stories and bowed his head as one of them offered thanks for the meager meal.  That night, he went to bed - and slept.

 

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:25-33

 

 

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It Could Be Me

After you watch this video, you may be inspired to make a difference in someone's life. If so, let me know. I could use some help as we work in our city to help one person at a time change their destiny.

Holiday on the House

I want to say thanks to everyone who made Holiday on the House possible.  Everyone who participated knows without a doubt that it is more blessed to give than to receive.  We gave the following letter to the families we assisted last week.

We feel honored to be a part of your Christmas celebration this year.  This is one of our favorite times of the year because of what this holiday means.  Jesus was born in a manger in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago.  Do you know why?  Part of the reason is found in Jesus’ own words when He said this, God's Spirit is on me; he's chosen me to preach the Message of good news to the poor, sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to set the burdened and battered free, and to announce, "This is God's year to act!”

He didn’t say anything about coming to the good, the beautiful, the rich, or the religious.  He said he came for the poor, the prisoners, the blind, the burdened, and the battered.  Can you relate to any of those?  I sure can.  Jesus was born so that you and I could know that God wants to do something, “This is God’s year to act!”  God wants to do something for the poor, the prisoners, the blind, the burdened, and the battered.  God wants to do something for YOU!  In fact, He’s already started.  See, that’s why you have this letter and this gift – because God loves you. 

We love you too.  You are special to us and we want you to know that we are praying for you.  If you’re ever discouraged, please remember that you have friends at Transformation House that are thinking about you and praying for you.

Have a wonderful Christmas.

Pastor Tony Moore and all your friends at Transfomation House

An Undivided Heart

What can I do to make life easier?  Have you found the answer to facing the overwhelming difficulties life can bring?  For some reason, when we near the Christmas season it seems that more people face depression, the stack of bills seems higher, the weather is colder, and the car doesn't want to start.  How can we avoid the utter anguish that all of this brings?  If Jesus, the Prince of Peace, came to bring "peace on earth" then where is it?

I think the answer is simple.  Our despair comes from a divided heart.  Not that we're divided over whether we should worship God or worship Satan, but our worship of God is compromised by our self-focus.  You have to admit that most activities around Christmastime are not God-focused activities.  Don't get me wrong - I love Christmas parties, carols, shopping, exchanging gifts, pigging out, and all the other festivities that accompany the holiday.  However, these activities are usually void of anything holy. 

But we can change that by not neglecting our communion with the Father and by maintaining our relationship with Him in the midst of utter chaos.  Deliberately focus upward and outward.

• Listen for His direction.  Is there someone who is not on your gift list or card list that He wants you to reach? 
• Don't let all of your scripture reading come from the first two chapters of the Gospels. 
• Set the clock half an hour earlier at least once a week and start your day with a devotional reading and prayer.
• Find a charity in your city and help them by making a donation of money, time, toys, or food.
• Think of someone who has touched your life and include a note of thanks in a Christmas card.
• Take a small group of friends to a nursing home with Christmas cards that you've all signed.  Ask the staff to direct you to residents whose families do not visit them.

What's your favorite Christmas memory where you found the meaning of "It is more blessed to give than to receive"?

So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he'll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. James 4:7-8

I Hate Museums

Don't get me wrong; I love the arts and have a special affinity for artists who can take a large, blank canvas and create something beautiful - or at least interesting.  I enjoy visiting our local art museum and seeing paintings that have been around for hundreds of years and more recent sculptures. I could spend all day going from floor to floor and exhibit to exhibit.  But, I stand by my statement: I hate museums.

I have a favorite painting at the Greenville County Art Museum, and on my last visit I enjoyed it a little too much.  Well, the security guard thought I got too close to it anyway.  The painting is Girl With Lantern which was painted by Helen Turner in 1904.  The color choices and painting techniques are facinating to me.  The way she creates the lights and shadows just pulls me into the picture.  I was standing with my nose a few inches from the painting when the guard decided I should have an escort for the rest of my visit.

I wondered why Helen Turner painted that girl in that pose with those colors and what she was thinking as she painted.  I wondered if she thought that someday her painting would be secured away from being touched and handled only to be viewed from a safe distance.

Those thoughts quickly turned to the rest of my world.  The Bible tells us that we are God's creation, His handiwork, His masterpiece.  I don't think He created us to be hidden behind a mask of perfection, or to be set on a pedestal and admired for our goodness.  He made us real: humanly real.

Jesus came and demonstrated for us, as His followers, how to express the nature and character of God.  John wrote of Jesus, "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life."  (1 John 1:1)  When Thomas the Apostle had a moment of weakness and unbelief, Jesus urged him, "Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have."  (Luke 24:39)

The good news is that Jesus knows when He has been touched!  Remember the woman who touched the hem of his robe because she needed to be healed?  When she finally pushed everyone else aside and made it to Jesus, He said, "Who touched me?"

I hear you saying, "But Pastor Tony, we can't touch Jesus. What are you talking about?"

Oh yes, we can.

Hebrews 4:15 (KJV) For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.  In other words, Jesus really feels our pain.

Maybe this is common knowledge to you, but let me ask you this:  Are you touchable?  Do you let someone in need get close enough to touch you?  When someone touches you, do you recognize it?  Are they aware that you know they exist?

People who truly follow Jesus can't answer NO to those questions.  I can't think that I'm so special that I belong in a museum to be viewed from a distance and guarded from the needy touch of others.

Did I mention I hate museums?
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