Saturday, January 12, 2019
Monday, January 7, 2019
What Will You Be Wearing This Year?
The new year has only just begun, and we are all still working hard to keep those New Year's resolutions. You know, eat more healthy, exercise more, spend more time with the family, read my Bible more, pray more, save more money, spend less money, and the list goes on. Most of us want an improvement in life and want to "become a better you."
The Bible does give us some very practical advice that can be applied to New Year's resolutions. In Romans 13:14, we are told to put "on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lust thereof." Making no provision for the flesh, is one good way to keep some of those New Year's resolutions. Eat more healthy by not having junk food or other tempting things around the house; spend less money by shopping less and/or getting rid of apps that allow you to spend and buy things online; spend more time with family, read your Bible more, or pray more by getting rid of things that take time away from those more important things. While the end of that verse is one that we often hear in regards to changing things in our life, the beginning of that verse should also encourage us in this area.
What does it mean "to put on our Lord Jesus Christ"? A quick cross reference will bring you to Galatians 3:27 which says, "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." In the early church, when a person was baptized, people knew that that person now identified with Christ and the Christians. The term "put on" as used in the time of the early church, many times meant more than to just "dress in" as in putting on clothes. It meant "to cover or clothe to the point of saturation" even to the point of becoming whatever you had "put on." Think of that, we are supposed to become Christ-like or be so saturated with Him, that that is all people see. Another place that you see this phrase "put on," is where Colossians 3:10 and Ephesians 4:24 tell us to "put on the new man." We first see that these early Christians were baptized, therefore identifying themselves with Christ—"putting on Christ." Then they were told to "put on the new man" and "to put on Christ." In other words, they were to be so saturated with Christ that there is no question that they were His.
Think of it this way, often times we hear that someone has been fired or put on leave because they did something that was not found to be in agreement with the code of conduct expected by an employee of the company for which they work. In places where kids wear school uniforms, some have been suspended or expelled because they have been out and about and have behaved in a way, while in uniform, that was not appropriate for a student attending that school. On the flip side, we have seen a company receive praise after an employee, who happened to be on his/her way to work and in uniform, goes out of his/her way to help someone in need. We may be reluctant to act in an unacceptable manner while we are in uniform, while wearing or having some other identifying tag, or while we are driving with a "JESUS" bumper sticker; but as a Christian, we are clothed in Christ every day, and we should "put on Christ" in a way that covers us and only allows people to see the One with whom we have been saturated.
While we make no provision for the flesh in this new year in a bid to keep our resolutions, may we also remember to "put on Christ" to "become a better you."
The Bible does give us some very practical advice that can be applied to New Year's resolutions. In Romans 13:14, we are told to put "on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lust thereof." Making no provision for the flesh, is one good way to keep some of those New Year's resolutions. Eat more healthy by not having junk food or other tempting things around the house; spend less money by shopping less and/or getting rid of apps that allow you to spend and buy things online; spend more time with family, read your Bible more, or pray more by getting rid of things that take time away from those more important things. While the end of that verse is one that we often hear in regards to changing things in our life, the beginning of that verse should also encourage us in this area.
What does it mean "to put on our Lord Jesus Christ"? A quick cross reference will bring you to Galatians 3:27 which says, "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." In the early church, when a person was baptized, people knew that that person now identified with Christ and the Christians. The term "put on" as used in the time of the early church, many times meant more than to just "dress in" as in putting on clothes. It meant "to cover or clothe to the point of saturation" even to the point of becoming whatever you had "put on." Think of that, we are supposed to become Christ-like or be so saturated with Him, that that is all people see. Another place that you see this phrase "put on," is where Colossians 3:10 and Ephesians 4:24 tell us to "put on the new man." We first see that these early Christians were baptized, therefore identifying themselves with Christ—"putting on Christ." Then they were told to "put on the new man" and "to put on Christ." In other words, they were to be so saturated with Christ that there is no question that they were His.
Think of it this way, often times we hear that someone has been fired or put on leave because they did something that was not found to be in agreement with the code of conduct expected by an employee of the company for which they work. In places where kids wear school uniforms, some have been suspended or expelled because they have been out and about and have behaved in a way, while in uniform, that was not appropriate for a student attending that school. On the flip side, we have seen a company receive praise after an employee, who happened to be on his/her way to work and in uniform, goes out of his/her way to help someone in need. We may be reluctant to act in an unacceptable manner while we are in uniform, while wearing or having some other identifying tag, or while we are driving with a "JESUS" bumper sticker; but as a Christian, we are clothed in Christ every day, and we should "put on Christ" in a way that covers us and only allows people to see the One with whom we have been saturated.
While we make no provision for the flesh in this new year in a bid to keep our resolutions, may we also remember to "put on Christ" to "become a better you."
Saturday, January 5, 2019
Monday, December 31, 2018
A Christmas Spent Giving: A Change in Perspective
Acts 20:35b, "...to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
The Spirit of Christmas. We hear that phrase quite often: in Hallmark movies, titles of books or plays, sermons. What does it really mean? Christmas is my absolute favorite time of the year. The day after Thanksgiving Day, my tree goes up, every-day items get packed away and Christmas decorations are seen all over the house! The traditional ornaments that have been given to us or purchased during our travels over the years adorn our tree. Blinking, colored lights that never blink all at the same time are seen from the road as you look into our front window and the angel or star on top of our tree is always present. I look forward to this time of year every single year...except last year.
You see, last year at this time, was my very first Christmas away from all of my family. Every single year, we have the same traditions, the same get-togethers, the same hideous gift for the Chinese auction/white elephant gift. We gather all the little cousins together to try to get some type of decent picture of everyone. I was missing all of the festivities. I was missing my family, my hometown, my church. The night of my family's gathering, they Face-Time'd me. To my surprise, they all had mustaches on and sang Feliz Navidad. To their surprise, I stood in my kitchen in Costa Rica and bawled my eyes out. When I hung up, I was crying so hard I could barely breathe. I wanted to be with them so badly, but it just wasn't possible. I prayed often. We had to go on a visa run out of Costa Rica, so we headed to a resort in Panama to spend time together--just my husband and kids. I replaced our big Christmas tree with all of our favorite ornaments with a small $2 hobby lobby tree. We replaced our traditional Christmas breakfast and birthday party for Jesus with a hotel breakfast. We replaced our day spent heading from house to house with a lazy day exploring the Panama canal and rain forest and swimming in the pool. Being by a pool on Christmas Day was just weird to me. I enjoyed spending this precious time with my children and husband, but I was almost depressed not being with my family. After living in the same town with all of them since birth and spending every Christmas enjoying all of our traditions, I had a really difficult Christmas. I honestly was not looking forward to what lie ahead on the mission field.
Fast forward to this Christmas, I am loving every minute of being in Mexico. Do I still miss my family? YES! Can I wait until they Face Time me during our yearly Christmas gathering? NO! I love that crazy group more than words can say. But, the "Spirit of Christmas" has returned to this house and to my heart. What's the difference? Last year, I was out of school with nothing to do, nowhere to go, and no family around. This year, my days are packed planning, preparing, and participating in several different Christmas gatherings at the different churches within our ministry. In just two weeks, we've already been a part of three different Christmas gatherings at three different churches; we have one more to go. We were able to pass out boxes from Operation Christmas Child, such a treat for us! We've packed those boxes and volunteered at the headquarters in Charlotte, NC for several years; to be on the receiving end was truly special. The day after Christmas, we are heading to two different indigenous villages to hand out more gifts and a few hundred pairs of shoes that have been donated by churches in the states. We will be traveling with a fellow Mexican missionary in our town. I'm enjoying being here so much that when my parents mentioned flying the kids and I home for Christmas (my 10-year-old son has had a very difficult time adjusting to Mexico), I told them I'd love to, but it would have to January. I didn't want to miss out on the opportunity to share the love of Jesus with these children, communities, and churches.
It's been such a different Christmas season for me this year. Why? I honestly believe because I am spending my Christmas giving to others. My husband, children, and I have the amazing privilege to show the love of Christ in a tangible way to those around us. God has given us friends here and family in Christ with whom we can share our Christmas. Even my children have been blessed in the giving (although they were thrilled to receive a gift too at one of the churches). Being away from family, changes in traditions, missing loved ones who are no longer with us--all of these can dampen the "Spirit of Christmas" in our hearts and home. However, if we remember the gift God gave us through His Son, Jesus Christ, and focus on sharing that gift with those around us, the Spirit of Christmas--the Gospel of Jesus Christ--can truly shine through.
The Spirit of Christmas. We hear that phrase quite often: in Hallmark movies, titles of books or plays, sermons. What does it really mean? Christmas is my absolute favorite time of the year. The day after Thanksgiving Day, my tree goes up, every-day items get packed away and Christmas decorations are seen all over the house! The traditional ornaments that have been given to us or purchased during our travels over the years adorn our tree. Blinking, colored lights that never blink all at the same time are seen from the road as you look into our front window and the angel or star on top of our tree is always present. I look forward to this time of year every single year...except last year.
Fast forward to this Christmas, I am loving every minute of being in Mexico. Do I still miss my family? YES! Can I wait until they Face Time me during our yearly Christmas gathering? NO! I love that crazy group more than words can say. But, the "Spirit of Christmas" has returned to this house and to my heart. What's the difference? Last year, I was out of school with nothing to do, nowhere to go, and no family around. This year, my days are packed planning, preparing, and participating in several different Christmas gatherings at the different churches within our ministry. In just two weeks, we've already been a part of three different Christmas gatherings at three different churches; we have one more to go. We were able to pass out boxes from Operation Christmas Child, such a treat for us! We've packed those boxes and volunteered at the headquarters in Charlotte, NC for several years; to be on the receiving end was truly special. The day after Christmas, we are heading to two different indigenous villages to hand out more gifts and a few hundred pairs of shoes that have been donated by churches in the states. We will be traveling with a fellow Mexican missionary in our town. I'm enjoying being here so much that when my parents mentioned flying the kids and I home for Christmas (my 10-year-old son has had a very difficult time adjusting to Mexico), I told them I'd love to, but it would have to January. I didn't want to miss out on the opportunity to share the love of Jesus with these children, communities, and churches.
It's been such a different Christmas season for me this year. Why? I honestly believe because I am spending my Christmas giving to others. My husband, children, and I have the amazing privilege to show the love of Christ in a tangible way to those around us. God has given us friends here and family in Christ with whom we can share our Christmas. Even my children have been blessed in the giving (although they were thrilled to receive a gift too at one of the churches). Being away from family, changes in traditions, missing loved ones who are no longer with us--all of these can dampen the "Spirit of Christmas" in our hearts and home. However, if we remember the gift God gave us through His Son, Jesus Christ, and focus on sharing that gift with those around us, the Spirit of Christmas--the Gospel of Jesus Christ--can truly shine through.
Saturday, December 29, 2018
Saturday, December 22, 2018
Friday, December 21, 2018
Out of Tune
Several years ago, I was able to purchase a piano for our home. Pianos are expensive. I had saved 40,000 Icelandic kronurs, about 400 US dollars. For this price, I knew it would be used and probably even old and out of tune. I was right.
This piano built in Germany in 1919 somehow made its way to Iceland. It would be interesting to know the story of that passage and of the owners of it over the past almost 100 years. One story, could it tell stories, would be of our struggle getting it into our second floor apartment. The inside of this thing is, as best we can tell, cast iron covered in brass. After hours, yes, hours struggling up the stairs, we made it to the entrance of our apartment. My husband, not a weak man, looked at me gasping for breath and said, "Honey, I love you. Pick a spot for this thing. I am never moving it again." I did. Then I asked him to move it. He's such a softy. I am sure this piano holds many other family stories over the past century.
One thing was certain, it was old and out of tune, badly so. Not one key agreed with another. The sound was very unpleasant. We tried singing with it. My husband tried playing his guitar then clarinet with it. There was no hope for this noise. As is the way of things, other priorities came before paying for someone to come tune it. For another several years, it sat in my living room only once in a while being played when somebody clunked out "Heart and Soul."
When my husband asked what I wanted for Christmas this year, I told him that I wanted my piano tuned. The piano tuner came last week. It started out rough but got a little better as he worked. I asked him if it were too old to tune. His reply struck a chord in my heart:
This piano built in Germany in 1919 somehow made its way to Iceland. It would be interesting to know the story of that passage and of the owners of it over the past almost 100 years. One story, could it tell stories, would be of our struggle getting it into our second floor apartment. The inside of this thing is, as best we can tell, cast iron covered in brass. After hours, yes, hours struggling up the stairs, we made it to the entrance of our apartment. My husband, not a weak man, looked at me gasping for breath and said, "Honey, I love you. Pick a spot for this thing. I am never moving it again." I did. Then I asked him to move it. He's such a softy. I am sure this piano holds many other family stories over the past century.
One thing was certain, it was old and out of tune, badly so. Not one key agreed with another. The sound was very unpleasant. We tried singing with it. My husband tried playing his guitar then clarinet with it. There was no hope for this noise. As is the way of things, other priorities came before paying for someone to come tune it. For another several years, it sat in my living room only once in a while being played when somebody clunked out "Heart and Soul."
When my husband asked what I wanted for Christmas this year, I told him that I wanted my piano tuned. The piano tuner came last week. It started out rough but got a little better as he worked. I asked him if it were too old to tune. His reply struck a chord in my heart:
"It is too old and stiff to tune completely. The strings would snap. I can tune the strings to match each other, but I cannot tune the piano to the proper key. It will not sound right played with other instruments. It will sound alright on its own, but it will always be a little flat."
Immediately I thought of my own heart. Am I so old and stiff that I am out of tune with my family or fellow believers? Do I sound alright on my own, but can never really be in harmony with another instrument, another Christian? What about being in harmony with the Master of Music, the proper key? Am I in tune with Him, or does my life's music fall flat?
I was so excited to get my piano tuned. Now I am challenged to keep my heart strings tight and tuned so that the sound of my life does not fall flat.
2 Chronicles 5:13-14 It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth forever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord; So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God.
By the way, we have been enjoying the Christmas season singing and playing our newly tuned piano.
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| Patrick and Vicki Weimer serving in Iceland since 1999 |
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