FYI -

I've written three articles today - or at least tried.  If you're like me all the nutty stuff going on here and around the word is very distracting to say the least.  Also, if you're like me you've got your own issues and problems that work really hard to distract you from your Christian duties.

Not wanting to buy into all the doom and gloom I decided to just encourage you and the best encouragement is His encouragement.  In my writing today I came across a passage that lifted my heart and moved me to prayer.  It is my simple hope that many of you will consider it and pray about  it.

It's not an easy thing but as Richard Baxter wrote concerning our Christian duties:

"Doing it as you can is the way to be able to do it better."

So with that said, consider:


Philippians 2:1-18 ESV
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, [2] complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 

[3] Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. [4] Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 

[5] Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, [6] who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, [7] but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant,being born in the likeness of men. [8] And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 

[9] Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, [10] so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 [12] Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, [13] for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. 

[14] Do all things without grumbling or questioning, [15] that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, [16] holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. [17] Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 

[18] Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

Yours In Christ,
Michael (Sheepdog) Sanders

This and That 090412 Comforted??

Men may look shy upon you, and alter their respects as your condition is altered; when Providence has blasted your estate, your summer-friends may grow strange, fearing you may be troublesome to them; but will God do so? No, no: “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” says he.   Flavel, John (2010-08-03). Keeping the Heart (Kindle Locations 402-404).  . Kindle Edition.

Flavel doesn’t hold much back.  His aim is true and his shot is straight.

When we face adversity, we have to remember that God is sovereign and that nothing comes but by way of His providence.  We also need to remember that it is only those whom He loves that he disciplines.  Though a comfort it does not make the adversity any more pleasant – as a matter of fact, God Himself tells us that no discipline seems pleasant when we are undergoing it.  So our being “not” pleased as we are disciplined (or as I prefer disciple) He is not offended that we struggle.

We can have confidence in God but other people, not so much.  Whether it comes from our inward parts of their outward distancing from us there is an arrow of shame that pierces our hearts when we are in adversity.  We, as well as others, look for a negative cause of the adversity.  We want to blame someone or something.  The assumption, which can be correct at times, is that we have somehow brought this on ourselves and are being punished.  And shame hitches a ride.

But if He does discipline those He loves and His discipline is for our betterment we need to address the shame we feel and perhaps if possible ,the shame that is inflicted upon us. 

The only way I know to do this is to surrender to the discipline as a sign of His love and His care.  We need to accept it and praise Him that, although we may be clueless as to His immediate purpose, we know He has our good in His hear

I like the KJV for the following verse:

Jas 4:10  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Now the word humble sounds nice but perhaps we miss the idea here.  The Greek word means to abase or humiliate.  For us those are very negative words.  But in reference to God whose grace we enjoy isn’t that just – well - appropriate?  The picture here is of a vassal kneeling before his or her liege lord in utter submission.

But our liege lord doesn’t revel in our humiliation he. “lifts us up.”  He reaches down and raises us to our feet, acknowledging and accepting our submission and promising His care and protection.  Yeah, it’s hard for us to “get” that but it is a beautiful picture of His grace and mercy.

Other people?  Well, let me just say this.  When God disciplines one of His it scares the willies out of those who witness it.  I’m sure Job had lots of friends but think about it, only three came to his assistance and they weren’t much help. 

When God disciplines on of His, all His other folks tend to act like the one being disciplined has leprosy.  Now, leprosy is interesting.  Note this:

Leprosy is contagious, but is not easily transmitted. It requires the transfer of body fluids to cause infection in another person. Generally, it is not infectious in all forms, and people undergoing long term treatment are not infectious. Most people who are in contact with leprosy fight off the bacteria and do not develop leprosy. Symptoms do not develop for at least a year after infection.   http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Is_leprosy_contagious#ixzz25WivIzYWL

So is God’s discipline catching?  No, but the cause may be.  Of course the cause is sin.  Is sin contagious?  Well, you tell me;

Gal 6:1  Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

However the one under discipline (for whatever reason) must be restored by his brothers and sisters – his mature brothers and sisters. 

Ahhh – note the verses that follow this admonition:

Gal 6:2-3  Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.  (3)  For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

When we are undergoing God’s discipline, for whatever reason, we should expect the comfort and assistance of our brothers and sisters.  We need their care not their rejection or avoidance.  Indeed, the last verse gives us some insight into the hearts of those who withdraw from the one being disciplined.  They think, perhaps, in comparison to the disciplined disciple, that they are something.  It may be that part of the reason for the discipline is to convict and move the others to examine themselves as well as fulfill their obligation to care for and restore the brother or sister in distress.  Paul always viewed his struggles as being for the benefit of the body – Mmmmmmm……

Let me ask you this.  When you have undergone God’s discipline has anyone come alongside you and asked to help you discover what God is trying to teach you?  Has anyone come alongside and prayed with you and looked into God’s Word with you?  Or have they just patted your back, said they’d pray for you and then disappeared?

The hardest part of God’s pruning and refining us is being alone.  Sure, we kind of want to be alone but that’s not His plan.  Do a study on the admonitions concerning “one another.”  How do we do that if we aren’t with one another; if we aren’t informed about one another’s needs; if we don’t get down where they are and help? 

When God blesses we have a party.  When God disciplines we scatter.  Not right!!

For me it is sad to say that in adversity God and only God is with us.  Yes, He is absolutely sufficient – but is that really His desire, His plan, His order?  I don’t think so, do you?

2Co 1:3-4  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,  (4)  who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Walk with P and me 11

Walk with P & me  11

It’s Saturday and we’re at the Bou.  My “Mary” and “Martha” (Patti and Gloria) and I were going over the Us in Him plans and just encouraging one another.

What’s is interesting is though we all know the task is daunting, when we’re together and trusting Him, is seems less daunting.  There was a serious joyfulness as we discussed the “stuff” we needed to and the personal sharing that flowed through the conversation was a real blessing.

We realized that when we were focused on Him and honoring Him and serving Him a great deal of the tension and anxiety about our circumstances seemed to melt away.  Some might call it simply a distraction but in my experience distractions are not so, well, comforting.

I realized how blessed I am to have brothers and sisters who are supportive and willing to express their views honestly and lovingly.  Patti, Glo, Sinclair, Jim and Bruce are just a few of those He has brought alongside to help craft the work He has for us to do.  Many others, in various ways, also provide griss for the mill even though I don’t think they are aware of it.  It is a real blessing and comfort to not be alone or even “in charge” of this.

One of the things that came to mind from our talk was that we need to leave time and space for God to work among us.  Sure, you need order and some kind of form but sometimes that can hinder or inhibit attention to Him.  I don’t want there to be a need for Him to “intrude” if you will – rather I want there to be ample opportunity for Him to do whatever He wants to do.

I am learning my limits and interestingly enough I am learning that although I am capable and skilled in doing this or that – He has this or that for others to do – not me.  Even when it comes to the “vision” for the group I am learning to shut up and listen and wait.  That used to frustrate me because I was the “man with the plan.”  Now, I am just “a man in the plan” and it is nothing short of wonderful.

I got some good feedback from one of the “come alongside to help” people that made me aware of being too definitive and too narrow about some things.  Not doctrinal essentials but other peripheral stuff.  Re-reading what I sent him to review I saw his point.  It wasn’t that what I had written was not right – rather it was not written well.  It built a fence that didn’t need to be there.

I am drawn to think about what the Lord said:

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."   (Mat 11:29-30)

There is a certain legalism that can creep into any work – even for Him.  It’s that hellish demand that one get everything right, that one be successful.  It’s that carnal legalism that imposes the criteria of the culture upon the work of the Kingdom.  That’s the ungainly and oppressing “burden” that keeps wantng to climb on your back. 

Just before verse 29 in Matt. 11 the Lord says:

All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.   (Mat 11:27)

What I have to keep in mind is that when the Lord says, “all things,” He means all things.  Not just cosmic things, not just theological things, not just high and lofty things – but “all things” like Us in Him – and every detail in and of it.

I don’t have a sense of “letting let go,” which is nice.  I do have a sense of, “let someone else.”  I wonder if in this type of effort what we come to see as “my problem,” isn’t simply that we are doing what He has prepared someone else to do.  It’s only a problem because we’re trying to do it and keeping His guy or gal from their work.

That moves my mind to Paul’s teaching:

All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be?   (1Co 12:11-19)

Pray that this lesson will not be lost on any of us.  Pray that we will celebrate, be grateful for and make use of all the body parts He provides.  Pray especially that we each remember and comfort each other with, “If all were a single member, where would the body be?”

Patti and Michael Sanders

ms@tc2v1.com

pattiami@gmail.com