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A little boy came home from his first day at school.  His mother asked him, “Well, what did you learn today?”  He said, “Not enough.  They want me to come back tomorrow.”

I always had to go back too.  The truth is even after we get out of school we are still engaged in the learning process.  I was taught in college that you are not educated until you realize how much you do not know.

I would like to share a few lessons with you today that can result in the blessings of God and give you a better idea of His will for your life.
The first lesson is:  SOME THINGS ARE OBVIOUS – PROCEED WITH SPEED.          

Matthew 24:32-33 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree:  As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.  Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door.”  Jesus was saying that some things are pretty obvious and tells us that the end of the age is coming.  Some things are obvious in life.   And when we see the obvious, we should know how to act and how to respond.

It is very clear in the Bible that we are to be a witness in word and deed.  Norman Cates tells the story of a Christian who prayed this prayer every morning:  ”Lord, if you want me to witness to someone today, please give me a sign to show me who it is.”  One day he found himself on a nearly empty bus when a big, burly man sat next to him.  The timid believer anxiously waited for his stop so he could exit the bus.  But before he could get off, the big burly guy next to him burst into tears and began to weep.  This big but contrite man then cried out with a loud voice, “I’m a lost sinner and I need the Lord.  Won’t somebody tell me how to be saved?”  He turned to this Christian gentleman and pleaded, “Can you show me how to find the Lord?”  The believer immediately bowed his head and prayed, “Lord, is this a sign?”

There are Scriptures that make God’s will clear. We are to proceed with speed to put these in practice by God’s power in our lives.

Lesson two is:  SOME THINGS ARE NOT SO OBVIOUS – PROCEED WITH CAUTION.  

Have you seen those GPS guidance systems that you can get for your car?  Some are built in and some are portable.  You can plug them into your lighter or cell phone connection in your car.  Then you can touch the screen and tell it where you would like to go and it will give you the directions.  And if you miss turning at the street or intersection where you are supposed to go, it will tell where to go or what to do next.

Many times in life we don’t know which direction to turn or what to do.  We all need some kind of spiritual GPS guidance system.  Psalm 119:9-11 “How can a young man keep his way pure?  By living according to your word.  I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.  I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” This is our spiritual GPS system!

There are so many things that are leading us in the wrong direction.  We must follow our spiritual GPS.  The Word of God and the Holy Spirit give us the insight.  Some things in life are not so obvious – proceed with caution.  But if the Word of God spells it out clearly, avoid it.  Don’t go that way! But when it’s good and it’s clear and the light is green, then go for it!

(This blog is by guest contributer, Rev. Richard Fisher)

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One of the favorite passages of scripture used in counseling with parents in how to rear their children is Proverbs 22:6 NAS, “Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

I had a godly mother who taught me many things in life and, most importantly, taught me to love others and to love God. Even as great as my mother was she had those little sayings that sometimes made you stop and think about your behavior.

To celebrate mothers everywhere I am posting these unique quotes. I am sure your mother may have said some of the same things to you. If your mother is still alive, be sure to thank her for all the wonderful things she has done for you or, if she is deceased, let others know how great she was.

The following sayings are from an unknown author:

1.   My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE. “If you’re going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning.”

2.    My mother taught me RELIGION.  “You better pray that this will come out of the carpet.”

3.   My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL. “If you don’t straighten up, I’m going to knock you into the middle of next week!”

4.   My mother taught me LOGIC. “Because I said so, that’s why.”

5.   My mother taught me MORE LOGIC. “If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you’re not going to the store with me.”

6.   My mother taught me FORESIGHT. “Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you’re in an accident.”

7.   My mother taught me IRONY. “Keep on crying, and I’ll give you something to cry about.”

8.   My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS. “Shut your mouth and eat your supper.”

9.   My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM. “Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!”

10. My mother taught me about STAMINA. “You’ll sit there until all that SOUP is gone.”

11. My mother taught me about WEATHER. “This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it.”

12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.  “If I told you once, I’ve told you a million times. Don’t exaggerate!”

13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE. “I brought you into this world, and I can take you out.”

14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOUR MODIFICATION. “Stop acting like your father!”

15. My mother taught me about ENVY. “There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don’t have wonderful parents like you do.”

16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION. “Just wait until we get home.”

17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING. “You are going to get it when you get home!”

18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE. “If you don’t stop crossing your eyes, they are going to get stuck that way.”

19. My mother taught me ESP.  “Put your sweater on; don’t you think I know when you are cold?”

20. My mother taught me HUMOR. “When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don’t come running to me.”

21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT. “If you don’t eat your vegetables, you’ll never grow up.”

22. My mother taught me GENETICS.  “You’re just like your father.”

23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS. “Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?”

24. My mother taught me WISDOM. “When you get to be my age, you’ll understand.”

25. And my favorite:

My mother taught me about JUSTICE. “One day you’ll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you.”

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

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Recently I had a cell phone call from someone in our congregation. I was unable to answer the phone at the time because I was on a long distance call. As soon as our conversation ended, I called the lady back hoping all was well.

All I could hear on the other end of the line was laughter. I wondered what in the world was so funny. She told me that her little granddaughter, just over a year old who she was babysitting at the time, out of curiosity had picked up her cell phone (of course, grandma had no idea) and was hitting the buttons and was successful in dialing several people on her contact list.

After my bout of laughing, I told my friend that this episode had really made my day and that is sounds like her little granddaughter now has a little telemarketing experience.

It made me wonder if that is how our communication with God is. Quick little rings to heaven (prayers) to ask for different things with immediate hang ups because we really don’t believe the answer will come or we do not have the patience to wait for a reply.

I am reminded of the old song, Royal Telephone, words and music by F.M. Lehman: “Central is never busy, it’s always on the line. You can hear from Heaven just about any time. ‘Tis a royal service, free for one and all. When you get in trouble, give this royal line a call.”

Yes, direct communication to God is a free service for everyone. Are you just making quick little prayers whenever you need something? Do you really believe the answer will come? Do you take the time to thank God for answered prayers? Mark 11:24 “Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.”

 Are you utilizing the royal telephone daily?

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I coined this phrase after hearing someone explain to me what their expectations of a pastor’s wife were. Again it made me realize that many people in the church have an idea of what I should be, how I should act, what I should say and what I should do.

Here is a description as stated by an acquaintance. “A pastor’s wife should be friendly to everyone, attend all church services, not wear slacks to church and sit on the second row.” Thus, a second row pastor’s wife!

What happens when you aren’t able to speak to everyone? What happens when you miss a church service? What happens when you wear slacks instead of a dress or skirt? What happens when you sit on the third row instead of the second row? Nothing at all!

I Peter 3:3 & 4 says, “Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.”

The only requirement God has for me is that I have a gentle and quiet spirit reflecting to others that God’s love is hidden in my heart. This is the expectation that I strive to live up to even though I might not sit on the second row.

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Do you know what Easter is all about? Do you realize what Jesus did for you? Pointed yet thought provoking questions. “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25)

As you begin to realize that on Easter (the resurrection of Jesus Christ) we celebrate the world’s most important miracle and glorious event in history, our hearts should be overwhelmed with gratitude and praise. Thus, we should celebrate Easter three hundred and sixty five days a year not just on its special designated day in our church.

What does His resurrection mean to you today? As the old song goes because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, all fear is gone because I know who holds the future. And life is worth the living just because He lives. John 14:19b NAS states, “Because I live, you shall live also.”  Wow! Have you considered all that Christ did on your behalf?

Those “spiritual goose bumps” should be rejuvenating every part of you at this point. Christ gave us a victory that we did not earn or deserve, yet, it is ours to have. Let us rejoice and be glad in Him!

A thought to ponder: How can I make Easter more real and meaningful not only on Easter Sunday but every day of the year?

Enjoy the music by the Bill Gaither Vocal Band as they sing, “Because He Lives”.

Bill Gaither – Because He Lives

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Oh, the wonderful suggestion box! It oftentimes is a prominent fixture in a church foyer and comes in many shapes, sizes and colors.

You may ask why there needs to be a suggestion box in a church. That’s a legitimate question. In some instances, these boxes may be advantageous but generally have a more negative effect on a congregation than a positive one.

Our local newspaper has this section where individuals can anonymously post comments, suggestions or concerns for the whole community to read. This gives a person the opportunity to give some not-so-nice remarks without having to be accountable for their words. Thus, this is how the suggestion box often works in the church. You can give a suggestion (gripe) about another person in the church, a program in the church or the pastor and his family without having to sign your name. No accountability whatsoever.

Usually there are no useful suggestions placed in the box – just nitpicky things that have nothing to do with church growth or advancement of the gospel – often just spiteful comments. One particular church we pastored asked my husband to put out a suggestion box. Oh, what a fiasco! Many of the comments were so hurtful they were never shared with the offending person. He has been hesitant to put out another one since then.

My husband has this desk ornament that looks like a hand grenade. There is a note on it that reads, “Complaint Department, take a number.” The first number is attached to the pin on the grenade. As humorous as this sounds, this is often how an unsigned suggestion can impact someone’s life. If shared with the person it would be like a bomb ready to explode.

What is the alternative to this type of box? First of all, I believe any and all suggestions should be given in love. They should be written down, signed and delivered to the appropriate church official ahead of time. If you do have a suggestion box, only signed ones should be considered. After prayer and thought, if the suggestion has any merit, it should be brought to the committee or meeting for further discussion.

¹ “Do not judge so that you will not be judged. ² For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. ³ Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Matthew 7:1-3

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Making a move to a new church and congregation as a pastor’s family can be a daunting task. No matter how many times you have done it (I have done it several times), there are lots of things to consider and much time is put into the preparation process.

When you first sense that God is leading you to make a change in your ministry, a person begins the process of checking for various pastoral/ministry openings in your specific denomination. This can be accomplished by searching through web site postings, postings in newsletters of the denomination or by word of mouth.

Then you begin the arduous task of sending your resume and other related information requested via e-mail or through snail mail (the postal service).  Sometimes if the church is interested in hearing a message that the minister has preached, they may request a sermon in some type of digital form.  My husband had great success in recording his sermon on the Internet through www.sermon.net and then informing that interested church how to access it. This is advantageous because it can be listened to by everyone on the Committee at a single setting and does not have to make the individual rounds through the Pastor Search Committee. Once the letters have been sent, the waiting game begins.

The initial telephone call or e-mail contact from an interested Pastoral Search Committee is always exciting. At this point, they may ask for additional information or may just want to set up a time for you to share more about your ministry either in person or through a conference call. Mission accomplished! The process has begun. Even though you can barely contain your excitement, you know you must be diligent on your end. So you start looking up information about the church on the Internet, including finding a picture of the church and seeking out other information on the church’s website, if one is available. We even went so far as to do a Google Earth search of the church to see what it looked like and to check out the area surrounding the church. We made telephone contact with the area director of that particular church to see if we could glean information about the church, its programs, the congregation and the potential for growth.

Once you have the date lined up and the logistics of the candidation process is identified, it is important to seek God’s will in the appropriate sermon to be delivered on the Sunday you candidate. Many churches will also have a special time of fellowship designated to meeting and greeting a new pastoral candidate and his family. Just a note: they are checking you out and you are checking them out!

Most churches will then take a vote at a designated time following this service and decide if you are the right person for their congregation. Simultaneously, you will be deciding if they are the perfect fit for your ministry should they give you the call to come as their pastor.

The call comes. They offer you the position. You accept.

Then the work begins!!!!!

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Bible reading can easily be shuffled to the end of our schedule if we do not devise a consistent plan to accomplish it daily. I, along with you, can find many excuses to delay this important part of my Christian walk.

I came across a free web application that generates a Bible reading plan. The scripture is taken from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version.

To create a plan the following steps should be taken:

1. Choose books you would like to read (the whole Bible, a certain book);
2. Choose the timeframe to accomplish the reading (e.g. month, year);
3. Choose how you want to access the reading (email, RSS, or audio link).

To get more information about this custom Bible reading plan go to http://www.mybibleplans.com.

Receiving this daily reminder listing the chapters I need to read each day has been very helpful. Even a pastor’s wife can become so overwhelmed with a “to do” list that reading the Bible can become easily overlooked.

Set a Bible reading plan and make it your daily goal to accomplish it.

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Valentine’s Day is a holiday that helps us focus our attention to those we love. I looked up some synonyms for the word “love.” They include: affection, devotion, fondness and infatuation. As you can see, these indeed are phrases that help us navigate our thoughts toward that special person in our lives.

Many people exemplify genuine love daily through their actions toward their family and others with whom they come in contact. I strive to attain that attribute.

As I become mindful of demonstrating love to others, I realize that God shows us unconditional love every day for “God is Love”. I John 4:16 ASV states, “And we know and have believed the love which God hath in us. God is love; and he that abideth in love abideth in God, and God abideth in him.” No other descriptive word is needed. This scripture says it all.

God is the source of love. His love toward us is not contingent upon who we are, what we have done or what we have not done. It is the essence of who He is . . . . “love”. He desires only the best for us. As God’s love is mirrored through us to others, we should be the perfect reflection of His love.

Thank God that He loves me just the way I am. Help me to love others in the same way.

God is Love!!!!

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I have so many pleasant memories of going to my grandmother’s house as a child. I loved going there. She would give me some special treat that I looked forward to. After all, that’s what grandmas do, isn’t it?

My grandmother’s abode was rather humble by today’s standards but I always sensed love when I entered the door. She was a godly woman and could give the best testimonies at church of what God had done for her (waving her crisp white handkerchief incessantly as she talked). “Worldly” goods were not important to her but “Godly” goods were. Her main focus was on being a good example for her family and others with whom she came in contact with.

One particular thing I remember about her house was that the walls were plastered with calendars. You know . . . the ones you get at the banks, grocery stores and other places around Christmas time with all the pretty pictures for each month. I really don’t know why she had so many on her walls. Perhaps, she enjoyed the beautiful scenes as she changed from month to month or maybe she used them as room decorations. . some were really pretty. In retrospect, I wonder if it was her way of anticipating the new year and what it would hold for her.

We cannot go back and relive the past nor undo the “to dones” but we can flip a calendar page and start the new year by making sure that Christ is the center of everything we do; every thought we think, every gesture, every word we say and every action.  We can make sure we are exemplifying Godly behavior.

So, this year as the calendar page is turned on a monthly basis, enjoy the scene displayed but also reflect on what “Godly” goods we can share with others.

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