We Are Not as Different as We Think We Are

So, we are NOT as different as we think we are. We tend to think in differences. Why? Because our differences make us feel special.

 

And we absolutely SHOULD feel special. We should recognize that God "threw away the mold" when He made each one of us. Every single person, from Adam and Eve, all the way through the pages of history, to you and me, every single one is unique. You are His handiwork, a masterpiece of eternal significance. You are the ONLY YOU there will ever be! When we pause to consider that there have been well over 100 billion people on this earth (estimates vary), and that every single person is different from the next, this is a staggering testimony to the creativity of a limitless God!

In today's world, however, many times we focus so much on these differences that we allow them to become divisive. I think it would benefit us to explore all the ways in which we are alike.

Such is the purpose of this post.

A few months ago, I met and began partnering with a mission-focused community of Christ followers in Abilene, Texas. It is not a partnership I would have ever imagined, and let me explain why.

You see, I was raised strict Assembly of God, and have long gravitated towards churches where the music was loud (the more guitars and drums on stage, the better), the preaching was intense, and the praying was loud AND intense!

Now, I should probably point out, that this Abilenian community is a Church of Christ. From my understanding of the Churches of Christ, the music is subdued (usually a cappella), the preaching is methodical, and the praying is subdued AND methodical!

This Assembly-of-God girl is the lead worship minister at Hope Church of Christ.

You may ask, "How's that workin' out for you?!"

Honestly, this has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

How can this be? How can we get past the differences, and work together towards a common goal?

First of all, we have much in common. We love Jesus. We love our families. We enjoy having fun. We like to eat (a lot!). We love one another. And we all want to feel loved and significant. And this is just for starters!

Secondly, at the risk of sounding contradictive to myself, we DO recognize our differences. There is even the occasional lighthearted tease. There is no eggshell-walking, but a healthy mutual respect.

Finally, and most importantly, is that we have a common goal. We are seeking to know the Lord, in a deeper way, to be led by the Holy Spirit, wherever He leads. We are pursuing God together, and Helping Others Pursue Eternity.

Just a quick rabbit-trail here for my fellow worship leaders...

Why is it that so many of us have such a tough time serving the vision of our leaders in the church? From style of music, to platform dress, to "sloppy-wet-kiss" or "unforseen-kiss?" How many worship leaders have outside jobs, where we serve the boss? Whatever he or she wants, is fine and dandy, whether we're serving up alcoholic drinks or selling used cars. Why is it, then, when we walk into the church, we think it's ALL ABOUT US? If it has anything to do with money, then let's examine our hearts. If it has anything to do with ego, then let's examine our hearts. If it has anything to do with anything, let's examine our hearts. If we cannot serve, we cannot lead.

Back on track now, to the purpose of this post.

Next time you see the guy on the street, at the coffee shop, at your house of worship, at your job, or in Walmart, I challenge you to see that person as one who has many things in common with you. See a brother, a mother, a student. See one who shares the same needs and desires, the same pains and brokenness.

Really see. See one who bears the image of God.

Connect.

Smile.

Love.

...(God) made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth (Act 17:26).


10 (You) have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— 11 a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. 14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity (Col 3:10,11,14).

We are not as different as we think we are.

How have you connected with someone who's different from you? When was the last time you made friends with a perfect stranger, for no other reason than to get acquainted? Your comments are appreciated.

Peace,


Davina

At the Table With the King's Kids

Now Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son crippled in his feet. He was five years old when the report of Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel, and his nurse took him up and fled. And it happened that in her hurry to flee, he fell and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth (2Sa 4:4).

Can’t you just see this? Saul and Jonathan are dead, but there is still war between the two kingdoms. Jonathan had a son named Mephibosheth – let’s call him Sheth, for short. Sheth’s nurse heard that Saul and Jonathan had been killed, and she was now afraid for Sheth. In her hurry to get out, and undoubtedly rushing Sheth, “Come on! We’ve gotta go! Now,” he fell and became lame. Remember, Sheth was five years old, running, with his nurse, for his very life. And he fell, and was crippled.

So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table as one of the king’s sons (2Sa 9:11b).

So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate at the king’s table regularly. Now he was lame in both feet (2Sa 9:13).

Fast-forward. David, now King, wanted to find someone, some remnant, of Saul’s household, that he could bless. He found Sheth, brought him to Jerusalem, and fed him like one of his own sons! When seated at the table, Sheth looked like any other son. His legs didn’t work, but you can’t see a person’s legs under the table.

What can we learn from this passage about Sheth?

Vulnerabilities. I think it’s sadly interesting that Sheth was five years old. Five-year-olds are supposed to be learning to hop, skip, and turn somersaults! How devastating to be crippled at five!

A five-year-old is also becoming more self-aware, as well as becoming more social. How many times have we heard of people who have been severely emotionally or psychologically scarred around the age of five? Too many times. Way too many times. If the enemy can recognize and prey on us and our children’s volunerabilities, we should be even more vigilant to recognize and prepare for his schemes.

Eating Like a King. Despite Sheth’s handicap, he was sitting at the King’s table, eating all the finest foods. Not to mention, he was rubbing elbows with the King’s sons, and with the King! We can only imagine the dinner conversation – remember they were in Jerusalem, which means “Teaching of Peace.” David, the “man after God’s own heart,” would have instructed the boys on how to guard their hearts against lust, how to worship, how to remind themselves of the goodness of God when they were feeling down & out … all the things that he had learned from his own experiences. What an exciting opportunity for growth!

Have you ever found yourself surrounded by greatness? Maybe it’s at church, in the business world, or even in your own family? I have, more than once. Sadly, I have not always mined for the nuggets that were available to me, through people that God had placed in my life. As long as we were all “sitting at the table,” so to speak, no one could see my disabilities. But when it came time to get up from the table, I was, like Sheth …

Crippled. When dinner was over, and the boys began to rise and leave the table, Sheth was reminded of his inadequacies. As long as he was seated, he felt equal. But what about going out to war? He couldn’t. What if they wanted to get up and go play a game of football? Again, he was left out.

What has the power to cripple us?

37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom 8:37-39).

If nothing can separate us from the love of God, and if we OVERWHELMINGLY CONQUER (KJV says we are “MORE THAN CONQUERERS”) , then what can possibly cripple us? The only thing

that has the power to cripple us is a little four-letter word.

FEAR. I’ve heard it called, “False Evidence Appearing Real.” I don’t know who came up with that description, but it’s very accurate.

So, how to we deal with fear? We don’t. We simply receive the Love of God.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear… (1Jo 4:18a NASB).

See what an incredible quality of love the Father has shown to us, that we would [be permitted to] be named and called and counted the children of God! And so we are… (1Jo 3:1a AMP).

It’s as simple as turning on a light switch. Just let Him turn on the light of His love, and fear is immediately, intensely, and completely eradicated!

Don’t be a cripple at the King’s table. Be an overwhelming,”more than” conquerer!

You Do Not Have an Anger Problem

I’ve had a few opportunities over the past couple of weeks to become angry.  Really angry.  A couple of times, I gave in to those opportunities.  It was not pretty.  I think I resembled something like the female version of Yosemite Sam.  On one of those instances, I even went to bed angry.  I know better.  (Thank God for grace!)

I finally started questioning the things that had upset me, basically stepping outside of my own emotions, and looking objectively at each of the situations.  What did they have in common?  Was there a pattern?  Were these random occurrences, or was there a possibility that I was being tested in some area?

And guess what?  There WAS a pattern.  It WAS a time of testing.  Once I understood what was going on, I actually laughed out loud!  When the next test came, I hung up the phone, and announced to the enemy (not the person on the phone, but the evil one behind the attack), “Bring it on, loser!”  I’m really glad I was alone … some people might think I’m a little nuts!

Here’s the point.  No one can MAKE me angry.  IF someone else can MAKE me angry, or sad, or happy, for that matter, then that person is in control of me.

So why do we become angry?

Anger is one of two instinctive responses to fear.  The other is to run away.  It’s called, in psychological terms, the FIGHT or FLIGHT response.

Fight-or-flight response, response to an acute threat to survival that is marked by physical changes, including nervous and endocrine changes, that prepare a human or an animal to react or to retreat. The functions of this response were first described in the early 1900s by American neurologist and physiologist Walter Bradford Cannon (Britannica, 2016).

Anger, then, is not the problem; it is only a response, a symptom.  The real problem is fear.  When there is a threat, real OR perceived, anger is a natural response.

YOU DO NOT HAVE AN ANGER PROBLEM

Do you have a fear problem?

The good news is, we have NOTHING to fear!!

The Apostle John tells us in 1 Jn. 4:18 that there is no fear in love, because perfect love completely drives out fear!

“Who will separate us from the love of Christ?  Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  Just as it is written, ‘FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.’  But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 8:35-39).  If the Apostle in this passage could be assured of God’s love to him, and write such words, in the middle of the persecution that they were enduring, why can’t we?

Jesus Himself told the 12, whom He had just appointed as Apostles, and to whom He had just given authority over unclean spirits, diseases, and sicknesses, ““Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul…” (Matt. 10:28)  He told them, “You will be tortured, but DON’T BE AFRAID!”

Our final word of encouragement comes from the Old Testament, a verse that is one of my personal favorites:  “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).

The Lord is with you.  Regardless of your circumstances, regardless of what the people in your life may do or say, regardless of what hurdles you may face, you do not have to fear!  Be strong!  Be courageous, because THE LORD IS WITH YOU!

Peace,

Davina

Works Cited

Britannica, T. E. (2016, April 13). Fight-or-flight response. Retrieved from Britannica: http://www.britannica.com/topic/fight-or-flight-response