ReformedRev's Quote of the Day

"True faith is never found alone; it is
      accompanied by expectation."
                 - C.S. Lewis

ReformedRev's Quote of the Day

"No man can break any of the Ten Commandments.
        He can only break himself against them."
                      - G.K. Chesterton

Something To Think About

What is the sum of the ten commandments?

a. The sum of the ten commandments is, To love the Lord our God with all our hearts, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind; and our neighbor as ourselves.

Question 42 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism

ReformedRev's Quote of the Day

"Christianity preaches the infinite worth of that which is
    seemingly worthless and the infinite worthlessness
              of that which is seemingly valued."
                      - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Friends

I have often heard the Christian life described as a pilgrimage. At times it can be difficult and we who walk it may feel lonely. We may battle with discouragement and even consider abandoning the adventure, giving up the journey. It is at these times God brings friends into our lives to walk alongside us. Friendship is one of God’s greatest gifts and having a friend who encourages us and challenges us to continue the journey is a blessing.

The Scriptures often refers to a friend as one who encourages us to be all that God calls us to be and who challenges us to be more than we think we can, a person who knows who we really are and loves us anyway. The mark of a friend in the biblical sense is one who draws us closer to God, someone who “sharpens” us and motivates us to do what is right, even if it appears difficult or unpopular.

True friends tell you the truth, even when you do not want to hear it, and they do this with love, always having your best interest at heart. A true friend does not seek to wound but will not accept actions or behavior that may not be in your best interest. Their primary concern is your growth as a believer in Jesus Christ. My wife Irene is the ultimate example of this type of friend in my life.

With all this in mind it is easy to see why we must be careful in our choice of close friends. We all have friends at different levels of life. However, when we read the Scriptures we see that Jesus chose his closest friends with great care. He did not seek out the most popular, the wealthiest or even the folks who were considered perfect by others. He chose those whose hearts were set of following God.

I am of Welsh decent and there is an old Welsh saying I like to share: “When you run with the wolves, you learn how to howl.” Another way of saying this might simply be: we will act and behave like the friends we keep. Yes, friends are important, but so are the types of friends we keep. We are all influenced daily in a positive or negative way by those closest to us.

It is also very important to examine what kind of friend you are to others. Are you a positive encouragement, motivating others to move closer to God and seeking to do their best for him? Do you challenge others to grow in their faith? Are you one who sharpens those around you? These are questions we must honestly ask ourselves on a regular basis if we are to be the type of friend others seek out.

As a friend we must always try to place the needs of others above our own and love at all times, always remembering to love people for who they are, not just for what needs they meet in us or what status they bring to the relationship.

Remember as we continue this pilgrimage we like to call the Christian life, we must seek out godly friends and want to be one ourselves. We must be receptive to the way God uses all of us along the journey, committed to the entire adventure, not just the parts we enjoy the most or those which are comfortable or convenient for us at the time.

Finally we must strive to be the kind of friend who reflects God’s character in every relationship and seek others of like mindedness. In the end we will all be able to identify with Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”

RefRev

My Soul Is Too Small

Saint Augustine of Hippo is said to have prayed, "My soul is too small to accommodate you. Enlarge it."

Too small! I have often found myself thinking along those lines.  I have allowed too many distractions to clutter my soul and decrease the space I once reserved for God. At times I have ignored the needs of those around me.  I have allowed my own selfishness to infringe on the time I have supposedly set aside for prayer. I have pushed aside my study of the Scriptures to focus on what I perceive as more important needs of the moment. I have chosen to busy myself with the demands of the day instead of taking the time to quiet myself and listen to my God.

Is it any wonder my soul, like Augustine's, feels too small? Is it a surprise there is competition for space?

So today I will do my part, I will de-clutter, I will set aside time for prayer and study. I will quiet myself and listen. Today my prayer is short and simple; Dear God, enlarge my soul, fill it with more of you and less of me. Amen!

RefRev

ReformedRev's Quote of the Day

             "Prayer is the pulse of life."
                   - Andrew Murray

Life Is Warfare

The Roman Philosopher Seneca once remarked "life is warfare," and I guess in many ways he was right. We might ease the pronouncement a bit and say life is a struggle but the ideas are similar. As I arose this Easter morning my thoughts turned to Jesus and the cross and the warfare / struggle that surrounded what was the greatest event in human history.

We know that Jesus prayed that this cup (the pain, the warfare, the struggle) might be taken from Him but in the end it would not be and God's will would be completed. I always ask myself the same question; could God's triumph come in another way? But the answer is always no. In order to save us from our sin Jesus had to taste the fullness of sin. Misunderstanding, betrayal, desertion of friends, weakness, callousness, deliberate cruelty, excruciating pain, and death itself in order to finally prove that evil is no match for the Father.

When Jesus was seized in the garden, two of life's conflicting philosophical methods surfaced in the  warfare / struggle of the moment. Peter's method was the sword; Jesus's method was a cross. Peter sought revenge; Jesus sought reconciliation. These methods remind us of the continuing conflict, the warfare / struggle, that Christians face daily. However, as believers we are called to reject the reactive, short-term response of Peter and daily revive the reconciliation of Jesus.

Yes, Seneca might have been right "life is warfare," but he did not have all the facts. The warfare we face is not of flesh and blood and not of this world. It is the struggle that rages within us, where sin continues to battle for control. Yet, because of Christ and the cross, sin's warfare and our struggle already have a decided end and can be summed up in three words:

"He is risen!"

ReformedRev's Quote of the Day

"Tomb thou shalt not hold him longer;
    Death is strong, but life is stronger,
     Stronger than the dark, the light;
    Stronger than the wrong, the right;
      Faith and hope triumphant say,
       Christ will rise on Easter Day."
                - Phillips Brooks

A Good Friday Prayer

Lord, it's Friday and I am thankful.  As You know, Friday is always a good day for me.  It's the end of the work week and the beginning of the weekend.  I can come home and relax, read, watch the Cubs, go to a movie with my wife or my daughter.  Bottom line, I like Fridays!

However, today is Good Friday, and I have to admit it is a day that makes me think a bit too much.  Yes, I think about my Savior's sacrifice on the cross for me.  About the resurrection and how His willing sacrifice has forever changed my life.  But Lord, hear me out.  I also think about my life as a Christian and this is where it gets complicated.

I admit I have struggled.  At times I get angry and my feelings get hurt.  I know that I have been selfish and unfair with others, yelled at my children, talked about my neighbor, and held contempt in my heart.  And yes I have acted immaturely and allowed my frustrations to get the best of me.  I admit I have sneaked cookies that my daughters have baked and told them it was their mom.  I even tossed my running shoes at the cat for being annoying (I missed but I guess that does not excuse the behavior).

So today as I head out into the world to do the task you have set before me, please know that I still think Fridays are good and this one tops them all.  For today I am reminded that I am a great sinner but I have been saved by an even Greater God who sacrificed His greatest love for me.

Amen.

ReformedRev's Quote of the Day

"Grace is but glory begun and glory is but grace perfected."
                               - Jonathan Edwards

Our Tireless God

Tired! There is no other way I can express my current state. Some days just make me tired, people often make me tired, driving can make me tired, meetings really make me tired, waiting in line surely makes me tired. Well you get the point ; today I am tired. Often when I feel like this, my wife tells me to go to the gym, to work it off, and that's what I did today. After an hour of sweating and pushing myself along, you guessed it: I was even more tired. So as I left the gym, I thought maybe a hot bath, a cold glass of iced tea, a movie to watch, or an early trip to bed would help me change my condition.

As climbed into my car pondering my options for the evening, a verse ran through my tired head: "He will not let your foot slip--he who watches over you will not slumber." Psalm 121:3 (NIV). God never slumbers; he continues his work for me and in me. My life is his work and he works with tireless and loving abandonment.  He is even up all night for me ; he never sleeps. When my kids were small, I may have stayed up a few hours at night to help out my wonderful wife but never sleeping was not in my plans. I knew at some point I would have to catch some z's or be one tired and crabby father. So I find it even more amazing that my heavenly father never slumbers but continues to watch over me. Twenty-four-seven, he is never off the clock.

So tonight as I complain to my wife about being tired, maybe I won't be as whiney or so self-centered. For I am reminded in the Scriptures that the one, true, living God, watches over me, and he does not slumber. Like the perfect father he is, my life is his work and he works with tireless abandonment, loving me, caring for me, his child.

ReformedRev's Quote of the Day

" Lord, where we are wrong, make us willing to change;
     and where we are right, make us easy to live with."
                         - Rev. Peter Marshall

Something to Think About

But who is this mediator who is simultaneously true to God and a true and righteous human being?


a. Our Lord Jesus Christ who is freely given to us for total redemption and righteousness.

Question eighteen of the Heidelberg Catechism

The ReformedRev's Quote of the Day

      "Nothing in the life of a Christian is more
                  fatal than indifference.
                   -The ReformedRev

ReformedRev's Quote of the Day

    "God always gives his best to those who
                 leave the choice to him."
                       - Jim Elliot

ReformedRev's Thoughts on the Church

‎" The world we live in needs the Church to take a courageous stand in its words, its works, and its willingness to stand firm in its beliefs. I hope the Church continues to speak with clarity and courage, consistently avoiding the temptation to water down the gospel in order to court favor and secure the title of being culturally relevant to a culture of disbelief. "  The ReformedRev

Something to Think About

What is faith in Jesus Christ?

a. Faith in Jesus Christ is saving grace whereby we receive and rest upon him alone for salvation, as he is offered to us in the gospel.

Question 86 of The Westminster Shorter Catechism

ReformedRev's Quote of the Day

"Encouragement is oxygen to the soul."
          - George Matthew Adams

Something to Think About

Why did Christ have to suffer death?


a. Because the righteousness and truth of God require that nothing but the death of the Son of God could make satisfaction for our sins.

Question 40 of The Heidelberg Catechism

ReformedRev's Quote of the Day

               Let Me So Eye Thee
  Oh let me so eye thee till I turn into thee
And look upon me till Thou art found in me
  That I may be a mirror of thy brightness,
          An habitation of thy love
         And a temple of thy glory.
              -Thomas Traherne

ReformedRev's Quote of the Day

"Success in life is measured not by our number of
               accomplishments but by our
                    number of friends."
                 - The ReformedRev

The ReformedRev's Ten B's (For Becoming a Leader)

1. Be respectful of others.
2. Be a builder and maintainer of trust.
3. Be available and be seen.
4. Be constant, concise, and clear in your communication.
5. Be the one who requires excellence, in yourself and in others.
6. Be prepared to take responsibility and share the risk of failure.
7. Be willing to give credit to others.
8. Be motivated; set the pace.
9. Be willing to confront others when necessary.
10. Be the one who goes the extra mile.

The ReformedRev's Suggestions For Dealing With Conflict (Things to Remember)

• The cause of conflict is usually internal, not external (and so is God's solution).
• The crisis at hand is usually not the problem but symptomatic of a deeper issue.
• Resolution requires seeing the underlying structures of conflict and learning new ways to trust God through the process of seeking consensus.
• Work to keep communication open and civil at all times.
• Choose your opening actions and words carefully.
• Don't fall into the trap of blaming others.
• Think in whole, not in parts.
• Focus on the problem not just the people who disagree with you.
• Seek God's guidance at the onset of the conflict, not after feelings have been hurt.
• Remember, a leader does not know all the answers, nor is he or she the solution (God does and is).

The ReformedRev's Philosophy of Ministry (Ten Points)

1. The ultimate purpose of ministry is to glorify God.
2. The most complete model for ministry is Jesus Christ.
3. The empowerment for ministry comes from the Holy Spirit.
4. Long term ministry is built upon and promotes change.
5. Effective ministry is by its very nature relational.
6. Ministry should always be motivated by love.
7. Real ministry requires sacrifice.
8. Successful ministry is based upon consensus.
9. Leadership and authority are earned through spiritual growth, maturity and submission.
10. Prayer is the foundation of ministry.