Love Through Action

“Let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”
– 1 John 3:18

The Mario Brothers…apparently that’s “THE” costume this year as was evidenced by the masses that showed up to Morristown’s community-wide Boo Fest extravaganza.  I think Mario & Luigi must have come through the FBC Morristown booth at least a dozen times last night…except they all looked a little different in the face!  **Side note: wasn’t that video game popular in like the ‘80s?  Crazy how fads disappear and reappear!**

Anyways…our church brought out our mobile bus to this community event and created the coolest booth I’ve seen…a slide booth!  In order to get off the bus, the kids had to slide out it!  I got to be in the bus as the kids prepared to slide out and let me tell you, 100% of the kids had huge smiles on their faces as they realized we weren’t joking…we had a real, bon-a-fide slide!  I heard this over and over, “THIS IS SO COOL!”  I never realized how many people showed up to an event like this and was so overwhelmed that we were able to outreach to that many people over a 4 hour period.  No, we didn’t preach to them, we showed love to them…love for the community, love for the families, and love for the kids.  And I think that’s where outreach starts…love.

“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”  This was a quote by guest speaker (and friend) Rabbi Greg Hershberg this past Sunday when he spoke at First Baptist Morristown.  It was an original quote by Theodore Roosevelt, but the point the Rabbi was making was that in order to reach others for Christ, it is vital to build relationships with them.  This quote rang over and over in my mind last night at Boo Fest and really as I thought about outreach in general.  Jesus said in John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.  By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”  Jesus isn’t just telling us to love one another; He’s commanding us to love one another which means we MUST do it.  When we love others as He loved us, we are setting an example to the lost around us that Jesus lives in us and is love thereby showing them that He loves them too! 

The lost don’t care if we have a Masters degree in Christian education.  It means nothing to the lost that we have years of evangelism experience in the church.  The lost couldn't care less about how many people attended church last weekend.  But there’s one common concept that the non-believer will understand and that is love.  The average person knows what it means to love someone or something and understands that if they are shown love and care, then they are valued and special.  I think the following scripture speaks so well to this point, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned but have not love, I gain nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).  As this verse continues, Paul goes on to describe love…that it is patient and kind, it doesn’t envy, isn’t showy, isn’t rude, rejoices in truth, that it “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things,” and finally that it never fails (1 Corinthians 13:4-8 paraphrased). 

As we reach the lost, let’s strive to build relationships with them!  I am seeing this at our seasonal backyard Bible club as we are going to the same location, building relationships through love and care with each of the children, and seeing those relationships lead to eternal decisions…just a week ago one child came to know Jesus through our efforts.  I’ve seen that outreach through love works!  Paul was right, “Love never fails!”

We have a message…a hope…a LOVE that the world needs to hear!  Jesus told us that we are the light of the world and are to shine our light so that others “may see [our] good works and give glory to the Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).  Shine your light for Him by building relationships with others through love.  Show them you care.  Show them they’re special.  Show them they’re valued not only by you but by Jesus too.  Love through action.

Living With a Servant's Heart...At Church

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. - 1 Peter 4:10

I don’t wear heels to church.  If I did, I’d fall flat on my face.  Why?  Well, if you see me at church on just about any given Sunday morning, you probably see me running.  No, I’m not trying to run away from you – I’m more than likely trying to quickly get something done or track someone down before one of our three services begin.  Fifteen minutes between services may seem like plenty of time, but trust me, it’s not.  Heels would only slow me down…I need a good pair of dressed-up running shoes! :)

At church on Sunday, while one of our dear media volunteers was running screens during a service, I had a rare chance to sit and reflect.  As I reflected on preparing for and executing the day’s events, I was reminded of all the saints around the world who do the very same thing week in and week out.  I think about people I know who are working in church plants around the United States or friends who are ministering in bigger churches within their community.  My mind immediately jumps to my sweet heart-church, Clearwater Bay International Baptist (CBIBC) in Hong Kong, and my many friends there who serve the Lord in so many different capacities. 

When I recall CBIBC, I remember that this was the first place where I was able to serve in a church.  Growing up in a missions-minded household definitely influenced me in living with a servant’s heart, but CBIBC was where I first was able to live with a servant’s heart at church.  I smile when I think about my little job…but to me at the time it was huge. :)  As an 11 year old, I was the Sunday School attendance collector.  Each Sunday, I compiled everyone’s Sunday School number and turned it in to the pastor after church.  This church grew within me the passion of serving my church – wherever “my” church may be. 

My sweet heart-church, Clearwater Bay International Baptist Church (1999).  I'm in the middle of this picture.

1 Peter 4:10 says that we “should use whatever gift [we] have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”  As believers, God has given us great gifts and talents that we should use to serve others.  Whether it be singing or teaching or running computers or preparing food, we must be good stewards of what the Father has blessed us with. 

What is a good steward?  It is a person who manages or looks after something.  God didn't give us gifts and talents to just to lay dormant in our hearts.  He wants us to use them!  It's by His grace that He has bestowed these gifts and as managers of them we should use them.  I also want to add that I think being a good steward of gifts and talents also means constantly striving to put forth our best effort and ability as we use them.  This comes through practice and/or experience.  The greatest singers don't perform without practice and a sound check.  Their voices just aren't warmed up enough to sound good.  It's the same with us.  Through practice we gain experience and continue to build our talent to become the best it can be. 

A terrific place to use your gifts and talents is at church.  I am SO thankful I discovered this at a young age, I can’t imagine my life now without serving in and being involved in the church.  There are so many avenues in the church in which to serve – teaching (adults, students, kids, even babies), music (choir, orchestra), media (video, audio, screens), cooking (dinners, special events), construction (mission projects), and SO MUCH more!  The church gives you a place to use your gifts and talents, be a good steward of them by gaining experience, and also glorify God in the process!

And glorifying God is what it’s all about!  The Scripture I quoted above goes on to say, “If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 4:11).  Our gifts, our talents, our time, our service…we should use and do all of this to honor the One who gave them…and our very salvation…to us!  It is God, through Christ, who deserves the credit and admiration.  As our Creator, He gave us our gifts.  As our Provider, He provided us the talent.  As our Father, He desires to see us use those gifts and talents.  And as our King, He deserves the recognition and glory for every single ounce of it!  

I’m blessed beyond measure to serve my King.  I’m blessed beyond measure to live each day with a servant’s heart.  I’m blessed beyond measure that I was given that small little job as an 11 year old kid that has blossomed into leadership positions at my current church.  God has given me so much and I pray that I can use my life to give it all back to Him.  

The Battle's Not Yours

“We have the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles for us!” 
- 2 Chronicles 32:8

A battle isn’t something that only soldiers or people in a war come across and face head-on.  Battles challenge each one of us every day and can come from many different sources.  Maybe they are minuscule battles like getting your car to start, prying off your fighting kids from each other, or trying to get somewhere on time.  Maybe they are huge and quite trying battles like grieving over the loss of a loved one, getting an upsetting medical diagnosis, or wondering how you are going to make ends meet.  Whatever the battle might be…it’s something you are fighting or struggling against that is making you just about lose your mind. 

Battles, like the ones mentioned above, occur all throughout the Bible (okay, not so much the car not starting….maybe we could replace the word “car” with “camel”).  However, a battle I want to focus on for just a minute did have to do with an actual “soldier to soldier” battle.  Back in 1 Samuel, the Israelites were terrified …with a capital “T.”  They were facing an enormous battle with a huge…and I mean HUGE…army called the Philistines.  Extra emphasis is placed on the word HUGE because the Philistines had a warrior who was 9 feet tall.  This warrior’s name was Goliath and he was pretty adamant that he and his army were going to defeat and slay the Israelites.  How in the world could the Israelites win this battle? 

Well, we all know what happens next.  A small, shepherd boy named David came, told King Saul that he would fight Goliath, and lo and behold he did, and WON…with one small stone nonetheless!  I absolutely love David’s words to Goliath before he defeated him and the Philistine army.   David said, “The battle belongs to the Lord, and He will help us defeat all of you” (1 Samuel 17:47).  Further on in the Bible there are even more instances of individuals facing harrowing battles but being reminded that they don’t have to face them alone.

At first you might think…“It’s impossible for God to take my battle and defeat it.  He’s not here; He can’t physically/emotionally/tangibly fight my battle.”  May I remind you of Luke 1:37?  “For nothing is impossible with God.”  He will fight for us…we just have to be trusting and ever faithful in His Love, His Word, and His promises.  This involves us giving up control of our lives and letting God take control, which as humans can be hard to do.  But how relieving is it to know that no matter what battles we face, we can give them to the Lord?!  He lets us cast our cares upon Him (1 Peter 5:7), promises to never leave or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6), and makes a way where there seems to be no way (Isaiah 43:19).  Sickness…loss…heartache and even that pesky car that won’t start – God’s in control and He will help us if we call on Him. 

So next time you’re standing in the battlefield feeling like you’re going to be defeated, just remember you have a Heavenly Father who’s there – ready, willing and able to take over and fight it for you.  2 Chronicles 20:15 says it well, “This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid!  Don’t be discouraged…for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”