Passing the Torch of Faith

Today’s Post is in loving memory of my brother-in-law,
Raymond Gostowski
July 8, 1921 – June 24, 2011
Ray was a man who carried and passed a blazing torch of faith.

“Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely

so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen

or let them slip from your heart as long as you live.

Teach them to your children and to their children after them.”

Deuteronomy 4:9 NIV

I have experienced that the Garden of My Heart is where my spiritual growth takes root. However, today I am thinking that it is outside the garden that my faith is lived out. All those I rub shoulders with outside the garden are individuals that are influenced either for or against Jesus Christ by what they observe happening in my life. But today my immediate family and my extended family are my greatest responsibility. It would be a tragedy if I were to minister to the entire world and neglect those that God has specifically given me.

I personally was blessed to have godly parents. I have fond memories of my mother sitting at the kitchen table reading her Bible and praying. All through out the day she laced life lessons with Biblical truth. Her greatest desire was for her family to know and serve Jesus Christ. My father was a pillar of faith as I observed him struggle with providing for our family. Dad read his Bible regularly. He prayed before meals and sometimes I would be awakened in the night and hear him praying for his family. One of my treasured possessions is a small hymnal that Dad would sing from in the evening. Now as I look through that little song book I see check marks next to all of his favorite songs. The lyrics to most of those songs spoke of God’s faithfulness and love. You see, my parents lit a torch of faith and passed it on to all six of us children.

A spiritual heritage is something that I never want to take for granted. The fact is that it is my responsibility to take the torch of my spiritual heritage and pass it on. My greatest fear is that I will not fan the flame of this torch and it will get weaker. Consequently, when I pass it on to my children it will be a dimmer light. This can happen to any of us when we allow the necessities, pressures, and pleasures of life to fill up our days until there is precious little time left for God.

If I allow the flame to diminish I am sending a message to my children that faith in God is important but not the most important thing in life. Consequently, when it comes time for me to hand the torch to them the torch will have become dimmer. If my children do not fan the flame and they too ignore and neglect God then when it is time for them to pass the torch to their children they may find themselves with a torch that barely has a flicker. Of course, with only a flicker of a flame there is a good chance that when the torch is handed off to the next generation the torch will go completely out!

If you are a first generation Christian and you have not been privileged to have a Christian Heritage do not loose heart. The good news is that you are the first to light the torch and to pass it on. What a blessing and a privilege you have. What a responsibility and honor to lead a new family line of believers.

God’s Word reminds us, “Know therefore that the Lord you God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.” Deuteronomy 7:9 NIV

I am reminded every day that I am not where I am by accident. God has guided me every step of my journey. It is the prayers of each generation that fuels God’s love and compassion for the next generation. I want to take hold of God’s promise that he will bless my children, my grandchildren, my great-grandchildren and my great-great-grandchildren, and on an on for a thousand generations. When I pass my torch of faith I want it to be blazing!

Questions:

Are you a first generation Christian?

Do you have a faint flickering spiritual heritage?

Do you have a blazing spiritual heritage?

If you are a believer you are holding your family’s torch of faith in your hand.
What was the condition of the flame when you received your torch?

Is your torch’s flame in the same condition it was in when your received it or is it now blazing brighter, has is it gone from blazing to bright, is it flickering, is it dim, or has it gone out?

Do you desire to fan the flame on your torch so that it will burn brighter as you pass it on to the next generation?

Prayer:

Dear God,

In all honesty I have to say that my flame could be brighter. Life and selfishness offers me so many opportunities to set my torch in the corner and neglect fanning the flame. Satan desires to distract me in any way that he can so that when it is my turn to pass the torch of faith it will be dimmer. Father, protect me from distractions that take me away from you. Help me to make the choice to put you first in my life and then go about my responsibilities. Teach me God how I can lace life lessons with Biblical truth all through the day. Make me a silent example as I live a life of faith before my family. Forgive me God for making my priorities about me instead of you. God help me to seek you with my whole heart and say without hesitation that you are at the top of my list. I’m yours God, no matter what happens I’m in! God, when I pass my torch of faith to my children I want it to be blazing!

In Your Son’s Name I Pray. Amen.

Influencing Others for Jesus

“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.

Always be prepared

to give an answer to everyone who asks you

to give the reason for the hope that you have.

But do this with gentleness and respect, ”
I Peter 3:15 NIV

It is important to me that others know that for me personally there is not a shadow of a doubt that there is a God.

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:1 NIV

I want them to know that I tenaciously believe in heaven and in hell.

"Rejoice and be glad, because great is you reward in heaven," Matthew 5:12a NIV

"How will you escape being condemned to hell?" Matthew 23:33b NIV

I want others to know that I believe that Jesus is God’s son who came to this earth, put on skin, lived, suffered, and died for my personal sin so I could be saved from eternal punishment. I want others to know that this is true for everyone.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not persih but have eternal life." John 3:16 NIV

I want others to know that I believe that Jesus was resurrected so that he could return to heaven and prepare an eternal home for all those who place their trust in him.

"He is not here; he has risen, just as he said." Matthew 28:6 NIV

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you." John 14:1-2 NIV

It is also important to me that others know that I believe that all of God’s Word, and that the Bible is totally completely true and infallible.

"All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal." Psalm 119:160 NIV

I want others to know that I believe that there is not one thing written in the Bible that is negotiable.

"I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anyting to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away forom this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book." Revelation 22:18-19 NIV

I want others to know that there is only one way to God and that it is through accepting Jesus Christ.

"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12 NIV

I want others to know that my "eternal hope" is placed in Jesus Christ and his righteousness alone.

"...while we wait for the blessed hope-the glorious appearing." Titus 2:13 NIV

I want others to know that the God of the universe desires to have a personal relationship with everyone.

"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:16 NIV

If I want others to know what I believe then how do I share those beliefs? How do I tell others how precious those beliefs are to me? The Bible tells me I must be prepared. I must prepare for any opportunity that may come my way. I do this by spending time with God daily as I read his Word and by spending time in prayer.

Be prepared. Prepared for what? I Peter 3:15 says, “…to give an answer.” To me that must mean that in order to give an answer there must first be a question. Sometimes Jesus asked a question and other times he answered the questions of others by asking another question. We must know what another person believes before we can address their belief. Peter also notes that our conversations should be carried out in gentleness and respect.

God wants me, when asked, to very simply share my personal story of faith. Basically that means, telling the details of my own personal story relating how Jesus Christ became real to me. I can also do this by sharing the details of how and why I accepted Jesus and how he has been faithful to me. Lastly, it is important for me to speak with a smile on my face and a twinkle in my eyes when I speak of the hope that I have for eternity. Being a Christian is a joyful experience and I want others to experience that joy as well.

But most importantly, I believe that if our life silently reflects Jesus Christ it will be our greatest influence as we try to help others find and follow Jesus. This is best modeled in our actions and attitudes, and how we respond to life and to others.

Questions

When was the last time someone asked you about your faith?

Were you comfortable or uncomfortable in responding?

Have you ever written down your own personal story of faith? If not, you may want to try to do so. Start with your earliest remembrance of God.

When did Jesus Christ become real to you? Include that in your story.

How has being a Christian changed your life?

Besides saving you, what was the most amazing thing that God has ever done for you personally? That experience is also a part of your personal story.

Prayer

Dear Jesus,

I want to influence others to find you and to follow you. Help me to spend more time alone with you so that I will become better equipped to share my beliefs and my personal story. I pray that your Holy Spirit within me will make me sensitive to the questions of others. Lord, help me to be sensitive to the difference in influencing others vs. convincing others. Lord, I pray that my words will be spoken respectfully in gentleness and with respect. Help me to be a person of influence that will bring glory to you.

In Your Name I pray. Amen.

My Proverbs 31 Woman

“A wife of noble character who can find?

She is worth far more than rubies.

Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.

She brings him good, not harm all the days of her life.

When it snows, she has no fear for her household;

for all of them are clothed with scarlet.

She makes coverings for her bed;

she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

She is clothed in strength and dignity;

and can laugh at the days to come.

She watches over the affairs of her household,

and does not eat the bread of idleness.

She speaks with wisdom,

and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

Her children arise and call her blessed;

her husband also, and he praises her:

many women do noble things,

but you surpass them all.

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;

but a woman who fears the Lord, is to be praised.”

Proverbs 31:10-30 NIV

Today is Mother’s Day and although I am always happily looking forward to the attention that I will receive, this day has my mind racing back to my own mother, who has been deceased for many years.

Mom was nineteen years old when she married my Dad. From that time on until her death she gave her full attention to being a wife and mother. She raised her six children and loved her grandchildren. Even though Dad and Mom did not have a lot of financial resources and found themselves struggling during the depression, Mom still managed to keep her very small and simple home spotless and tidy. Mom washed and scrubbed clothes on a washboard; she fed each piece of clothing through a wringer, and then hung the clothes outside on a clothes line to dry. I venture to say that she may have had the whitest laundry in the entire county!

Mom was a seamstress. She made tablecloths, pillows and curtains for her home and she made all her own clothes and her children’s clothes as well. Mom was very resourceful as she used the printed fabric garden seed bags to sew the boy’s shirts and the girl’s dresses. The white cloth sacks that packaged the flour were turned into dish towels and curtains. Nothing was ever wasted! Socks were darned and buttons were replaced. The stitches of her handwork were very small and uniform and when necessary they were next to invisible.

Mom also baked delicious cakes, cookies and bread. I loved to watch her beat a cake batter by hand. Her steady hand whipped the batter in a bowl that was slanted at a dangerous angle resting on her lap. As I watched her beat the cake batter I was almost certain that the batter would end up spilling in her lap as she steadily beat and counted her strokes. Mom was also a wonderful cook and made a fantastic mouth watering pot roast. On Sundays the family would gather to share a wonderful meal. Other specialties were her fried fish and southern fried chicken. In addition her pies and cobblers were second to none! Cooking was something that she excelled in. Despite her meager monetary assets Mom knew how to make a holiday special with very little resources. There was always wonderful food and always a simple but pretty dinner table.

Mom’s teachings were based on biblical principles. Her words were loving and kind. But most importantly, Mom held her entire family in her prayers on a daily basis. She was indeed a Proverbs 31 woman. Mother went home to be with the Lord at the early age of sixty-eight after a long battle with cancer. I will always remember Mom as a soft-spoken lady who never said a bad word about anyone! Mom’s faith was steady and sure. After Mom passed away, I found a small card in her wallet with a picture of Jesus. Under the picture was this motto:

“Only one life ‘twill soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.”

- C. T. Studd

My mom lived a very simple life. She only had an eighth grade education, yet she always felt that she had been given the highest calling from God that any woman could be blessed to receive. That calling was to love God, love her family and teach them about Jesus and she did that very well. Her life on this earth is past but her faithfulness to Jesus Christ lives on in my memory. Thank you mom for teaching me how to accept and love Jesus, because now I know that knowing Jesus is truly the only thing that will last!

Today as I am remembering my own mother I am impressed that it is important that I too take this motto that she loved into my own heart. I am satisfied knowing that this calling and service can be lived out under the simplest of conditions and without fanfare or acclaim. Wherever my path may lead me it is my desire to finish this life well and when I leave this world I want to be remembered not as a super Proverbs 31 woman who could do anything and everything, but rather a Proverbs 31 woman who loved God, her family and others. Who lived knowing that only one life would soon be past, only what was done for Christ would last.” Thank you mom for being a great example!

Questions:

Are you conscious of the fact that “Only one life will soon be past, and only what’s done for Christ will last?”

Do you think that raising your family is a God given privilege and calling?

If you are single, who are the people that you are in contact with the most?

Are you living your life before others in such a way that when you are no longer living your example will leave a mark of eternal significance on their life because of your influence?

Do you realize that godly faith, kindness, humility, mercy, compassion, and love can be your greatest assets of influence?

Prayer:

Dear God,

Thank you for all of the people in my life who have been there for me. I am especially thankful for those who have influenced and encouraged me to pursue Jesus Christ. As a mother I am blessed to have the awesome responsibility of training up my children in the way that they should go. Lord, today I pray a special blessing on all the women whose arms are empty and desire to have a child. I pray also that all men and women, married or single, will remember that they too have a blessed calling to be people of eternal influence to all that are within their circle of influence. God help me to remember that only one life will soon be past, and only what’s done for Christ will last.

In Your Son’s Name I Pray. Amen.

A Fragrant Offering

“Be imitators of God, therefore,

as dearly loved children and live a life of love,

just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us

as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

Ephesians 5:1-2 NIV

One of my favorite flowers are Old Fashioned Lilacs. This flower has become one of my favorites, not because it is the most beautiful flower in my garden but because it is one of the most fragrant! I also love a beautiful pink and white Star Gazer Lily for the same reason. Both of these flowers are indeed beautiful but beauty alone does not make them special. It is their fragrance that endears them to me.

God loves all of his children. Some of us bring him more pleasure than others. I must ask myself, how can I bring God pleasure? I believe it is through my influence more than anything else. In Ephesians Paul tells us that we are to be imitators of God. It is important that our life reflects God character. Some of those character traits are found in the fruits of the spirit. You and I need our life to reflect love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These fragrant qualities are a fragrant offering and a sacrifice to God.

If my life is a billboard for hate and prejudice, then my influence is not love. If I am negative in all that I say and if I never smile, then my life does not reflect joy. If I am stressed to the limit and crabby because of my stress, if I am full of fear for the unknown, then my life does not reflect peace. If I am impatient with those who serve me and most importantly with my family, then my life does not reflect patience, kindness, and goodness. If my allegiance to God is in direct relationship to how well I feel I am being treated in life, then my life does not reflect faithfulness. If I am hard on others, then my life does not reflect God’s grace and gentleness. If I fly off the handle and indulge in things that are not good for me and speak every negative, sarcastic thought that pops into my head, then my life does not reflect self-control. When my selfishness is so prominent in my life that my actions and words reflect only my selfish interest, then my life is not a fragrant offering, in fact, it stinks! The only thing that I am offering up to God and others is stench instead of love. As a result, my influence is exactly opposite of God’s character. I find myself in the position of being a child of God that does not bring him pleasure. I may look good on the outside but there will be no fragrance coming from inside my life that will bring God glory.

If you are like me, sometimes you get it right and other times you fail. Thankfully, God is a God who knows how to take my failures and sin and cast them away forever. He always stands ready to help me improve and do better next time. God is not finished with any of us yet! I believe that the fragrant offering that I can offer God is the sacrifice of my selfishness. It is my desire to keep returning to my compassionate, merciful God who wants to help me in my time of need. There are many times as believers that we do get it right and God is pleasured when we do. Yet many times a day I am faced with choosing to have better behavior and attitudes. If I am to be a fragrant offering to God and others I must continue to learn to choose to respond as Jesus would.

Questions:

How did you do yesterday?

What did you get right?

Were you a fragrant offering or a stench to God and others?

Is it easier to be kind to strangers and friends than it is to your family?

Have you asked God for his forgiveness for yesterday?

Have you asked God for his help today?


Prayer:

Oh God!

I am so sick of my failures to be loving, patient, and joyful. I confess to you that my failure to respond with gentleness, kindness and goodness is at many times lacking. I am distraught that I often display my lack of faithfulness and self-control. I repent that there are many times that I am anything but gentle. Help me this day, this hour to be your sweet fragrance first of all to my husband, my children, and my friends. Help me also to be your fragrance at work, in the marketplace, on the road, and in all my dealings with those who provide services for me. Thank you God that you are not finished with me yet. God your fragrance of love for me is such a sweet perfume that I can smell it even in the midst of my failure. Thank you for that love.

In Your Name I pray. Amen.

The Sweet Aroma of Jesus

“For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved
and those who are perishing.”

2 Corinthians 2:15 NIV

I love the analogy of my heart being God’s garden because there are so many spiritual truths to be found inside a garden. Some of those truths are found in the lessons of the preparation of the soil, the planting of the seed, the necessity of watering the plants, and the pruning of the plant. I also love the unique individuality of each flower and leaf, the sweetness of the fruit, the nourishment that comes from the vegetation, the flavor and the aroma of the herbs. Let us not forget the analogy of the Master Gardner and the loving care that he gives to our heart’s garden.

The fact is that when we begin our relationship with Jesus our soul is barren, dry and thirsty. We are in deep need of some nourishment and care. Our garden is empty and in need of some serious beautification. The fact is, that any heart no matter how ugly it has been in the past, it now changes when Jesus comes into that life. The sinful ugliness has been wiped clean. That heart now has a fresh start and God begins the beautification process of that life. I just love the fact that God is making something beautiful out of my life. I stand amazed yet happy that God would change me and use me for his purpose.

What are your favorite smells? For me it is a chocolate cake or an apple pie baking in the oven. It is the smell of freshly ground coffee, or it is entering the house and smelling the pot roast that has been slow cooking all day. I also love holding babies that have the fresh scent of baby powder and lotion. I love the smell of my husband’s after shave when he kisses me good morning. Of course, I love the smell of fragrant flowers! Smell is a precious gift from God. Pleasant smells are so wonderful that I don’t think I will even mention the smells that make me go running for fresh air.

The point is, God wants to change us so that we will have the aroma of Christ. God begins his work by taking our negative character traits and replacing them with his character traits. When this happens we become wrapped in the aroma of Jesus. Jesus begins to sweeten our spirit and he also begins the demolition of our walls of self protection. Jesus teaches us about love and hope. He teaches us to model his compassion and mercy. We learn about the amazing grace of God. Jesus begins to teach us how he thinks so that our thoughts can be changed to his thoughts.

I wish I could say that giving to God our undesirable character flaws like fear and anger, is a one time effort. But as long as we live we are subject to sin revisiting our life. However, I do believe that as we mature in our faith we also learn to recognize sin more quickly and then we are faced with the choice of what we will do with that sin. Even when our emotions are raw, through the power of the Holy Spirit, it is still possible to choose Jesus. When we do, others now experience the sweet aroma of Christ in our life.

Questions:

Are you amazed that God wants to make something beautiful out of your life?

What has God been speaking to you about?

Do you desire to have the sweet aroma of Jesus Christ in your life?

Prayer:

Dear Jesus,

Once again I am reminded that I am a work in progress. I am indeed blessed that you would choose to make something beautiful out of my life. Help me to choose your ways over my ways. Help me to become submissive to the character changes that need to be made in my life. I want others to desire you because of your sweet aroma in my life. I desire to become a person of influence for you.

In Your Name I pray. Amen.