The Weekly Encourager – October 28, 2016 – A Prayer for the Pain

October 28, 2016 by Janet A. Marney

Are you in pain? This week I spoke with a friend who is still suffering from something that happened decades ago. She pointed to a barely visible scar, saying that it had healed well, with only a thin white line remaining, but what one person did to her in the past is still a raw red wound many years later. Although the Lord Jesus calls us to forgive people as He has forgiven us, there's still pain sometimes.

Asheritah Ciuciu wrote a prayer we can pray when we're feeling ongoing hurt from another person's actions. I believe it could also apply to physical pain that just goes on and on. Either way, we must look to the Lord Jesus, for He is the only one who is able to heal us completely. He alone can restore emotional and physical health. In His presence is fulness of joy.

A Prayer for When You Can't Forget the Pain
by Asheritah Ciuciu

O Lord, You see my pain, You know my grief, and You catch my every tear. Nothing is hidden from You. I can't forget, but You can heal, so I humbly ask that you heal me, Lord. Just as You spoke life over dead bones, so speak life over this wounded heart.

The enemy intended to harm me, but You promise you will use this for good, and I trust You.

You tell us to forget the old things of the past and instead to look at the new things you are doing. Help me believe that You are doing a new thing in me, and help me step forward into the future that You're fashioning for me.

You will be faithful to complete this good work that You started. I don't know how, and it's hard to picture what that will look like, but I can't wait to see it happen.

Thank You for always caring and always holding me close to Your heart. I love You, Lord. Amen.

The following verses are cited with the prayer. These would make a great little Bible study for anyone suffering from pain today.
Psalm 139; Psalm 56:8; Ezekiel 37; Genesis 50:20; Isaiah 43:18; Philippians 3:13; Philippians 1:6.

We talked with dear friends who suddenly lost their son. They are in deep sorrow. I said, I'm glad you've kept your faith in Christ. The husband replied, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” - John 6:68 ESV

A note about forgiveness: Jesus didn't wait until He felt no pain to forgive His tormenters and murderers. He didn't wait until all His wounds were fully healed. Nor did He wait for evil people to apologize. He was hanging on the cross bleeding with open red wounds, barely able to breathe, in unimaginable pain physically, emotionally, and spiritually, when He prayed, “Father, forgive them.” It is at the point of greatest personal pain when forgiveness means the most. “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” - Galatians 2:20 NASB

Thank You, Lord Jesus of the Cross, for forgiving me when my sin caused You the most pain! Teach me how to forgive others in the same way. They may not know what they do, but I know what I must do. May my life reflect my thankfulness for Your sacrifice.

God is faithful,
j

http://onethingalone.com/a-prayer-for-when-you-cant-forget-the-pain/

The Weekly Encourager – October 18, 2016 – Work Hard

October 18, 2016 by Janet A. Marney

“Do your work heartily, as for the Lord.” - Colossians 3:23

It used to be that money, sex, politics, and religion were taboo topics at social events, but they've become all too common. Now there's another topic that no one dares to discuss, especially in my town of workaholics: laziness. Some good Christian people I know are struggling with not being able to work heartily. Some can't get started on tasks they know they need to do, others can't continue to work steadily but distract themselves with anything but their work, and others can't seem to complete a job all the way to the end.

Whether it's due to procrastination, sadness, fear of failure, perfectionism, poor motivation, or just plain old laziness, this is a real problem. Like many other issues, it's easy for those who don't have this trouble to view it as minor and easily fixed. Just buck up and get to work! It's that easy! These are the same well-meaning but thoughtless folks who tell depressed individuals to “snap out of it” and overweight people to “just eat less.” Those of us who can't control our tongues are told to “think before you speak.” Well, duh.

Most people know that God calls us to work. Even before the Fall, Adam and Eve were told to cultivate the Garden. We are to use the gifts God gave us to provide for ourselves, benefit others, and bring glory to God. Every person has a calling, whether it's a traditional job with a paycheck or being a student or raising a family or volunteering at the nursing home. Even people with severe disabilities can contribute to society in some way. People in prison are longing for some task to do that makes them feel human. I spoke with an elderly saint who was mourning the loss of her mobility, hearing, eyesight, and memory. She said she didn't know why she was still living, since she couldn't do anything! I suggested that perhaps her calling now was to pray for everyone in her life. I encouraged her to pray for our nation – Heaven knows we need it!

So how bad is it? Of course we all have weaknesses. Since the Fall, every good desire has been perverted. Man who was designed to work cheerfully now dreads to get up on Monday morning. When does a weakness become a sin? I'm not an authority on this, but when something is out of control, there's probably sin involved. The world, the flesh, and the devil are the Bermuda Triangle of temptation and can suck us down the vortex of sin. In the worst case, our little boat can be lost in the storm and never seen again. By contrast, self-control is a fruit of the Spirit. If your temptation to avoid work can be overcome most of the time, then it's being regulated and mastered. God has given you grace in that area, and you've exercised discipline. Be thankful! But if you fail more often than not at doing your work to the best of your ability, you may have a stronghold of sin in your life. Your lack of self-control is a serious issue which is a sin against the Lord.

Guilt and shame are not my purpose here. These emotions naturally follow when we're sinned, but we go to the foot of the Cross for mercy and we are saved. It's a startling fact: Christ died for laziness just as much as He died for murder and adultery and theft and greed. How can we help those who struggle with this sin? First, pray diligently for them. If you suspect there may be physical, mental, or psychological factors involved, encourage these friends to get medical advice. If they need practical training in how to work diligently, make that available. Remind them of their duty to God. Call them to repentance and assure them of God's forgiveness and your acceptance. We must forgive sinners as Christ forgives us, especially if we live with them and their sin impacts us personally. Be nice: don't be dismissive of their sin just because you are hurt, or because your own sin is in a different area! Spiritual pride may be the worst vortex of all.

In some cases, it may be appropriate to offer to be an accountability partner. This is a sacred task which involves a high degree of trust, honesty, and honorablity. We must respond with gentleness and compassion when someone confesses any sin to us, knowing that our own sin is just as serious. We must commit to regular positive communication with the other person, as well as regular prayer on their behalf. We must keep private matters private. “Do unto others….”

If you yourself are avoiding work, I encourage you to try this. Back when I was in the psychiatric unit with Major Depression, we had to have a “goal for the day” each day, no matter how bad we felt. We shared the day's goal each morning with at least one other person, and kept each other accountable. No shaming, just encouraging. Not platitudes but prayer. Man is a social being, and it helps to have someone who knows what you set out to do that day, and who will follow up at the end of the day or the next morning. One person is now doing this with me via text message at the same time each day. I suggest you find a friend and do the same. (This works better if it's not your spouse.) The point is, start somewhere. Maybe your goal for the first day is just to read one Bible verse about work. If you can accomplish that, you have completed one task. Success breeds success, and you build on that. With God's help, you can do this!

God is faithful,
j

The Weekly Encourager – July 21, 2016 – A Grand God

July 22, 2016 by Janet A. Marney

A few years back, our family took a grand trip to the Grand Canyon. Due to the circumstances of our flights, we had to land in Las Vegas and spend an afternoon and evening there before heading out to the Grand Canyon National Park the next morning. Now, I apologize to anyone who loves Vegas, but Dave and I had already been there and we had no particular desire to see it again. However, our school-age sons had never seen it, so we used it as a teaching opportunity for them. Strolling “sin city” at night, our family saw all the glitz and glamour man can create (lights, tall buildings, fountains, music, shows, etc.), as well as some of the consequences of man's sin (24/7 gambling, drunkenness, pornography, strip clubs, prostitution, etc.). Truly we saw a modern-day Babel: the pursuit of pleasure apart from God.

By contrast, the Grand Canyon was amazing in its purity, beauty, majesty, and scale. Standing on the South Rim for the first time and looking across 10 miles to the North Rim was literally incredible. The view was so distant yet so perfect that it seemed impossible! My mind told me I was looking at a painted backdrop or a computer-generated image such as those used in science fiction movies to convey things that are well beyond the scope of what can be done in a film studio. You can be sure that we pointed out to our boys the contrast between what man can make and what God can make.

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with pleasure. [After all, I'm on vacation as I write this.] The Lord created us to need regular rest; fun is great in its proper place. The danger is that, as sinners, we are prone to pursue personal pleasure above all else. We want to have faith in God only as it forwards our own agenda of happiness. We want to make God serve us, instead of being content to serve Him. If we don't like God's laws, we're tempted to ignore them. If God doesn't bring us what we want when and how we want it, we're tempted to lose faith. We are an impatient people. And we're a building people. We're good at building golden towers and hanging bright neon lights on them. We're good at flashy shows of flesh. We build walls between us and the Lord, and then we're surprised when those walls keep out people, too. We seem to know instinctively how to hide our hearts. But they still hurt.

Where are you building your home – in the city of excess or the land of excellence? The Grand Canyon is awesome; I encourage everyone to see it. You will be changed. But much more important, see the grandeur of God in contrast to the pleasures of this world. Size matters. The true God who created heaven and earth is so grand that, at first glance, He seems “too good to be true.” All the science fiction and fantasy and romance and action movies in the world could not come close to how vast He is, how shining with true light, how perfect in wisdom, how powerful in ability. The best stories are the ones that tap into our deep human need for something grander than ourselves, something higher, something heroic.

I keep coming back to this passage in Isaiah 55: “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and He will have compassion on him.” No matter how far we have fallen or how deep we are buried, the Lord is there. He loved us while we were dead in sin, so His grace is big enough to handle it. He is real, He is able, and He loves us. His plan is far greater than ours. Following Him is a grand journey that will lead us to some amazing places. We just need to ask Him to show us the view.

Let us worship this grand God!
j

The Weekly Encourager – July 7, 2016 – Important People

July 08, 2016 by Janet A. Marney

Who comes to mind when I say, “important people?” The president? Cabinet members, Supreme Court justices, congressmen? Governors, mayors, leaders in the community? Your boss and those higher up the food chain where you work? How about wealthy businessmen, top athletes, movie stars, musicians, media personalities, T.V. evangelists, mega-church ministers?

Important people are an important topic here in the nation's capital. Having lived here most of my life, I've had the opportunity to meet many “important people.” I've been to numerous events where crowds of people try to get a glimpse of someone famous, just to say they were in the same room with that person. To actually meet and talk with such an “important” individual is another step up in status. Having a photo taken with such a person is even better. It's so exciting! On it goes, as we seek to grow in status by reflected glory.

By contrast, let me tell you about a small church in a small town in Tennessee. My brother-in-law Matthew, who is mentally ill and probably alcoholic, started going to that little church on Sunday mornings. That congregation welcomed this man who looks and smells like a homeless person. Although at times he can seem almost normal, he speaks and acts very strangely at times. Because he doesn't “fit in,” he is usually rejected or avoided wherever he goes. He's not “important,” you see. Yet he got greeted and hugged every single Sunday at that little church!

A few weeks ago, we moved Matthew closer to where we live. On moving day, the pastor of that church came to say goodbye to Matthew, hug him, and tell him that they would write him. That pastor was glowing with the Holy Spirit. His sincere love for our brother reminded me of Jesus Christ, who ate with sinners, healed the sick, and spent time with social outcasts. It may be that the Lord plans to save Matthew, and this pastor will have been a significant part of that process! When the Bible says that “the last shall be first,” I think of this humble man and that tiny church in a dying no-name town. What a witness! In my mind, he is more “important” than the presidential candidate I saw last week in Washington.

Scripture encourages us to “give honor where honor is due,” to admire people with fine character, and to emulate examples of godliness. But the Bible also says “not many rich will enter the kingdom of heaven” and “don't show favoritism to rich people.” “Don't try to get into the good graces of important people, but enjoy the company of ordinary folks.”

Jesus loves the losers! Every man, woman, and child was created by God Himself in His own image. Every person on this planet has value. Christ came to the lost, the poor, the rejected, the mentally ill, the addicted, the deformed, the suffering, the depressed, the lonely. Christ comes to you. You may not feel “important” at this moment, but you are important enough that Christ died for you. “They trust on their wealth and boast about how rich they are, yet not one of them, though rich as kings, can ransom his own brother from the penalty of sin! For God's forgiveness does not come that way. For a soul is far too precious to be ransomed by mere earthly wealth.” Are the people we admire “important” or impotent? Only Jesus has the power to save a soul.

Celebrity worship is idolatry. It shows that we value worldly wealth and power over true spiritual riches of life with God Almighty. God is rich in mercy, kindness, patience, and love. He wants us to set our minds and hearts on these things, to long for these things, to value these things. Then we will be truly rich in the Spirit. “For it is from God alone that you have your life through Christ Jesus.”

God is faithful,
j

Matthew 20:16; Romans 13:7; Matthew 19:23; James 2:1; Romans 12:16; Psalm 49:6-9; 1 Corinthians 1:30

The Weekly Encourager – June 30, 2016 – Communication in Marriage

June 30, 2016 by Janet A. Marney

This is the second half of the short talk on marriage I gave at a recent bridal shower. Part One was about the inevitable culture clash of marriage. Part Two is about communication as a solution to this culture clash.

Communication!

We've seen that there is culture clash in every marriage, yet Scripture holds up a wonderful pattern of godly marriage with such terms as “bone of my bone” and “helpmeet.” Ephesians says “there is one body, one spirit, one hope and one Lord!” How can this happen when we're so different? Only with the Holy Spirit's help will you begin to experience the joy of this special communion between husband and wife. It's been said that Christian marriage is like a triangle. God is at the top, and the two partners are at the bottom corners. As each person grows closer to the Lord, he grows closer to the other person as well. This is an excellent picture. If you want a closer relationship, abide in Christ. If you want better communication with your spouse, communicate with God regularly, diligently, honestly. God will work in you the blessed fruit of the Spirit through prayer.

Pray with your spouse, too. There is no faster way to get close to another person than through praying together. You are addressing the Creator of the Universe and the Sustainer of Life. Believe me, not only is He worthy of praise, but He has the answers to all of your problems.

Now, here's some practical advice on communication between husband and wife from my own experience.

First, before you get into a disagreement, ask: have you both eaten, slept, exercised? Did someone have a hard day at work? Is someone sick or in pain? Is it that time of the month? Much drama can be avoided if we take care of basic physical needs before taking on a troublesome topic. Human bodies need tending. There's a time to speak, and a time to be silent. Pray for the wisdom to know the difference!

Next, ask yourself, is the problem one of submission to your husband's leadership, or is it an issue that must be raised? Some Christians are taught that a wife must never disagree with her husband on any matter, even when his decision may hurt her, but I find that there are situations that call for wives to speak up in order to give husbands all the information they need. But you must do it gently, guarding his ego. Ephesians 5:33 says, “the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.” Here the Word of God sums up the essential need of every husband in just one word: respect. Many jokes have been made about the male ego, but the fact is that God made men to long for the respect of others, especially his wife. Remember that your husband must answer to God for how he served you as leader. Make it pleasant for him to lead you. God calls you to humility.

No marriage is perfect. I can guarantee you that there will be problems. What matters is not how big the problem, but how big your heart. When you disagree, make every effort to fight fair. This means that your arguments must be productive; they must advance the cause. Contrary to how you may feel at the time, personal vindication is not the cause! This is not about you or him winning the argument, but God forming in each of you the likeness of Jesus Christ.

Attack the problem, not the person. Reaffirm areas of agreement often. Learn to solve problems together by maintaining good communication with God and one another. Let your partner know that you can be trusted to tell the truth, to be kind, and to keep private matters private. Finally, as Christians, each person should desire to be the first to apologize and the first to forgive. By doing this you will grow true character, as every act of submission becomes a means of exaltation in Christ.

I'll conclude with this prayer:

“May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” - Romans 15:5-6

“O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.”- Psalm 34:3

God is faithful,

I welcome your comments below.

The Weekly Encourager – June 23, 2016 – The Culture Clash of Marriage

June 23, 2016 by Janet A. Marney

I was asked to give a short talk on marriage at a bridal shower last week. The bride is American, and her groom is from India, so my talk was about Culture Clash and Communication.

Culture Clash!

It seems logical, since you are marrying someone from a different country, to talk about the inevitable clash of cultures that you will encounter in your marriage. I'm sure you've seen already that different nations have different geographical features, histories, ethnicities, languages, religions, and traditions. You would expect that there would be major differences in everyday customs, food, clothing, living conditions, and even in basic values. You're smart: you've anticipated this. You've probably even prayed about it.

I can relate to you better than you think. There's a culture clash in every marriage, including my own: his family vs. her family. From holiday observances to arguing styles to keeping house to child-rearing to vacations to how they handle money, there will be major differences. In my case, our families were about as different as they could be in the way they thought and did things, while still being from the same country. It was a constant battle ground. Back in the day of big heavy desk phones, I can remember one phone conversation with my mother-in-law that angered me so much that, after she hung up, I slammed the phone down on our beautiful wood desk, leaving a large dent that's still there today. I assure you, no matter how nice they are, there will be conflict with your spouse's family, so you must develop godly ways to deal with it. Find interests in common and be nice.

Also, be aware that your husband may expect you to act in the way his mother did (good and bad), and you may expect him to act like your father (good and bad). These are pits; don't fall into them. “Leave and cleave.” Learn how God made your husband a unique individual, and go with that.

Another word of warning: when interacting with your own family, don't complain about your husband. You must defend your spouse's reputation no matter what anyone else may say or imply. A couple's first loyalty must be to the Lord and then to each other, above your families of origin. See that your husband has no doubt of your support.

Another culture clash that all marriages will encounter is: male vs. female. Dr. John Gray wrote a best-selling book called, “Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus” about understanding and respecting 10 major differences between the sexes. We need insight as to where the other is coming from, and what they're hearing. Dr. Deborah Tannen wrote a best-seller about male-female communication aptly called, “You Just Don't Understand.” Her scholarly research reveals that men are all about competition, while women are all about community. Also, women talk more!

My advice: your husband is not your girlfriend, and you'll be a lot happier if you don't expect him to act and react as a woman would. I know you're a good student of academic subjects; now it's time to be a good student of your husband. Don't assume – ask questions! Much conflict could be avoided if we would only learn to ask more questions: What did you mean by that? What are you thinking/feeling? What do you need from me right now? etc. Learn his manly ways so that you can anticipate his needs and gently teach him how to anticipate yours. Remember that communication is not what is said, but what is heard.

But wait, there's more! Yes, there's a culture clash of nations, families, and genders, but the fundamental culture clash you will see in every marriage is sinner vs. sinner. You are a sinner who will marry another sinner and then have little sinners! Because of this underlying condition, you will need to stay close to the Lord.

This culture clash is first about everyday life. As the poet Robert Service said, “It isn't the mountain ahead that wears you out, it's the grain of sand in your shoe.” Every couple will have to deal with a myriad of minor matters such as how to load the dishwasher or who cleans the car. The real issue is: his way or my way? You must work together to solve these puzzles with a positive attitude.

Second, it's important to realize that the culture clash of two sinners is also about something much larger, yet more subtle: your expectations, hopes, dreams for the future. Whether or not you admit it, on your wedding day you will envision a perfect husband as one aspect of your perfect life. Later, when your husband doesn't meet all your needs, it's tempting to be discouraged or angry. At one time or another you'll find yourself saying, “God, I did everything right, I married a good Christian man, but I'm still not happy.” This is a sign that you're trying to get from your relationship what you can only get from Christ, your heavenly groom.

Instead of insisting that your husband conform to your dream, both of you need to be part of God's plan. God's plan is much bigger than yours. God's plan is revealed in the Bible: He's working to redeem all creation. As the song goes, “He's making diamonds out of dust.” In your marriage, He's going to apply the powerful pressure of clashing cultures to form those diamonds. He wants to transform your marriage, starting with you!

---To be continued next week---

God is faithful,

I welcome your comments below.

The Weekly Encourager – June 16, 2016 – Looking for a Father's Day Card?

June 16, 2016 by Janet A. Marney

This weekend there's an opportunity to celebrate fathers. If you have a wonderful father, please give thanks to God and make every effort to show your appreciation to your dad! But...have you ever had the experience of going to the card shop and searching for a Father's Day card, only to end up crying because none of the fine words on those cards applied? Some of us have. Instead of providing us with many ways to say thanks, the good folks at Hallmark have only revealed what we have missed and longed for all our life. We want to show honor to our fathers as the Bible commands, but we don't want to lie. What if your father wasn't a very good father, or you never knew your father, or your father is dead?

If you are a Christian, you have a Heavenly Father who is perfectly good, who wants you to know Him better and better, and who is very much alive! After all, our earthly fathers are only a shadow of what fathers should be. Even the finest father in this world cannot begin to compare with God, our true Father, because all earthly fathers are sinners. In contrast, here's what the Bible says about our Father God: “The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all.” - Psalm 145:8-9 This psalm also speaks of His greatness, splendor, majesty, wonderful works, great deeds, abundant goodness, righteousness, glory, might, and everlasting kingdom. As if that were not enough, He is trustworthy, faithful, supportive, uplifting, and a good provider. But, wait, there's more! He is near to all who call on Him; He satisfies our desires and He hears, saves, and protects us. In fact, the whole of Psalm 145 may be read as a Father's Day card to the Lord!

How do we deal with this holiday? Give honor where honor is due. If you can't find a card with an appropriate sentiment for your earthly father, choose a blank card and write a simple message thanking him for any good thing he has ever done, or just for having a part in bringing about your life. If you look hard enough, there is always some word of encouragement to offer. You can choose to do good, even to those who have not been good to you. Find a way to show the love of Christ.

Then, give honor to the Lord, your Heavenly Father, for He is surely worthy of thanksgiving, blessing, glory, honor, and praise. No matter what kind of earthly father you were given, you can be sure that it was no accident. God does not make mistakes. That circumstance was part of the Father's perfect plan for your life: to teach you to depend upon Him, to grow strong in faith, and to conform to the image of Jesus, our elder brother. Remember that if we believe in Jesus, we are sons and daughters of God, members of His royal family with all the privileges thereof. Rejoice!

Happy Father's Day!
j

The Weekly Encourager – June 9, 2016 – Responsibility

June 09, 2016 by Janet A. Marney

This week, as usual, I have too many topics in my head! There have been many thought-provoking news stories about which I could write whole chapters, but here's one theme that keeps coming up: responsibility.

A student athlete at a prestigious university rapes an unconscious girl and blames it on drinking. His father minimizes his son's actions and gets the sentence reduced to a laughable slap on the wrist. A politician routinely insults people of other religious beliefs, races, and ethnic backgrounds, then tries to backtrack by admiring their food. Another politician sets up a private communication system to avoid oversight and accountability to the people she has sworn to serve, then lies to cover her tracks. Good Housekeeping magazine, that denizen of dentist's offices, reports that some older married couples are now “swinging” with other married couples to keep things interesting. The article likens this breach of marriage vows to going on a cruise or eating out. Seriously? How is that “good housekeeping?” Closer to home, friends confide that their spouses have been unfaithful and lying about it for years. Everywhere we look, people are trying to blame circumstances for their sin. Don't they understand that we can see right through it?

The Bible says, “let your yes be yes and your no be no.” In other words, be accountable. Let your actions match your words. “Put off lying and speak truth to one another.” Habitual liars hurt themselves and others, and God promises that He will judge them. You will not get away with evil deeds done in secret, but your deeds will be “shouted from the housetops.” You can't hide from God.

The father whose son was a rapist needs to sincerely apologize to the girl and her family, and to see that his son is punished in such a way that he never repeats the behavior. The rapist needs to admit his fault and be willing to suffer in order to ease some of the girl's suffering. The lack of sorrow for the error pours salt on the victim's wounds.* The politicians need to admit their mistakes and seek to correct them going forward. Their words and actions must reveal regret, not shifting of blame. The magazine needs to return to first principles and actually help marriages, not destroy them. The cheating spouse should offer proof that they have broken off all affairs and closed all secret accounts. They should demonstrate sincere sorrow and a desire to change, along with renewed loyalty to their rightful spouse. They must not blame anyone else for their problems. They should seek godly counsel and spend much time in prayer to the Lord.

I wish people would just take responsibility! Taking responsibility means initiating corrective behavior. The responsible person speaks the truth, even when it's difficult. He acts with honor, even when it hurts. When he makes a mistake (and we all do), he takes the first steps toward fixing the problem himself; he does not wait to be caught by others. He does not need to be confronted or cajoled. He wants to be a better person. I have seen how God blesses the honorable person with health and happiness.

Responsibility begins at home; let's all renew our commitment to do right by others. And where we have failed, let's confess our sin to the Lord, knowing that He will forgive all who truly repent. “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, let him return to the Lord, that He may have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” - Isaiah 55:6-7

God is faithful,
j

*I am a victim of sexual assault, and I can tell you it is NOT over after 20 minutes. It changes your life in ways I never could have imagined. It has taken decades for me to begin to heal. Now I try to use my experience to help others. I am so proud of the young woman who is brave enough to speak out! Now I hope and pray that everyone listens.

The Weekly Encourager – June 2, 2016 – How's Your Marriage?

June 02, 2016 by Janet A. Marney

To my unmarried readers: please don't think this doesn't apply to you! If you're in a relationship now, this can benefit you as well. If you're not in a relationship but would like to have one in the future, read this with open eyes. It may help you see what to look for in a committed loving partner.

A friend sent me this “Examination of Conscience for Married Persons” from a Catholic document entitled, “The Two Shall Become One: The Sacrament of Reconciliation and Marriage.” It begins with wise words, “God calls most men and women to the married vocation. This is a great honor and an immense challenge. To fulfill this marvelous calling we need Christ’s help; we need his Spirit’s power.”

To aid in self-examination, there are questions in four areas: your responsibilities to God, to your spouse, to your children, and to society. I thought the questions about marriage were particularly good, so I'm sharing most of them here for contemplation. It's valuable to do a check-up every so often, confessing our sins to God and resting in the abundant forgiveness of Christ as we seek His help to improve.

• Have I cared for my spouse?

• Have I been generous with my time?

• Have I been affectionate and loving?

• Have I told my spouse that I love him or her?

• Have I been concerned about the spiritual well-being of my spouse?

• Have I listened to my spouse?

• Have I paid attention to his or her concerns, worries, and problems? Have I sought these out?

• Have I allowed resentments and bitterness toward my spouse to take root in my mind? Have I nurtured these?

• Have I forgiven my spouse for the wrongs he or she has committed against me?

• Have I allowed misunderstanding, miscommunication or accidents to cause anger and mistrust?

• Have I nurtured critical and negative thoughts about my spouse?

• Have I manipulated my spouse in order to get my own way?

• Have I tried to bully or overpower my spouse?

• Have I spoken sharply or sarcastically to my spouse?

• Have I spoken in a demeaning or negative way?

• Have I injured my spouse through taunting and negative teasing?

• Have I called my spouse harsh names or used language that is not respectful?

• Have I physically abused my spouse?

• Have I gossiped about my spouse?

• Have I undermined the authority and dignity of my spouse through disrespect and rebelliousness?

• Have I been moody and sullen?

• Have I bickered with my spouse out of stubbornness and selfishness?

• Have I lied or been deceitful to my spouse?

• Have I misused sexuality?

• Have I been loving and physically affectionate in my sexual relations?

• Have I flirted or fostered improper relationships with someone else, either in my mind or through words and actions?

• Have I committed adultery?

• Have I misused alcohol or drugs?

• Have I been financially responsible?

This is quite a list! As my husband said, “Marriage is more about partnership than personal fulfillment, but there is fulfillment in being part of a good team.”

Here's a classic definition of love. “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.” - 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

God is love,
j

“Examination of Conscience for Married Persons” was written by Fr. Thomas Weinandy.

The Weekly Encourager – May 8, 2016 – Mother's Day Meaning

May 08, 2016 by Janet A. Marney

Today has been a great Mother's Day for me. Instead of waiting in line at a fancy restaurant, today our sons came over to our house and we just enjoyed simple take-out food and relaxed conversation at home. Favorite people + peaceful place + I don't have to cook = great time/less money. Last night we all went to a movie together. I am grateful that, as adults, my children still enjoy spending time with us and each other. I am glad that my family understands that I want experiences (like these) rather than objects as gifts. Despite what all the stores are saying, time together with people I care about is higher on my wish list than a new handbag. (And for tired mothers of young children, sometimes time apart from certain loved ones is what they want most!)

But today the Lord granted me an even better Mother's Day gift. At church the topic was God's encouragement to His people, “Do not grow weary in doing good.” In the discussion, my son Austin read aloud this passage from Isaiah 44:

“But now hear, O Jacob my servant,
Israel whom I have chosen!
Thus says the Lord who made you,
who formed you from the womb and will help you:
Fear not, O Jacob my servant,
Jeshurun whom I have chosen.
For I will pour water on the thirsty land,
and streams on the dry ground;
I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring,
and my blessing on your descendants.
They shall spring up among the grass
like willows by flowing streams.
This one will say, 'I am the Lord's,'
another will call on the name of Jacob,
and another will write on his hand, 'The Lords's,'
and name himself by the name of Israel.'
– Isaiah 44:1-5 ESV

Austin shared this in the context of the Lord's provision to all weary workers who honor Him, but it had special Mother's Day meaning to me. “I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring...this one will say, 'I am the Lord's'.” As he spoke I felt tears well up -- God has seen fit to save my sons! God made a promise and He fulfilled it. Yes, we parents played a part, but only God can do the inner work of the heart, calling children to love and serve Him all their lives. My children are Christians, and there is no greater joy than seeing them walking in the faith, growing day by day, year by year in the knowledge of God. This is a huge blessing.

While I continue to pray earnestly for mothers whose children are not walking with the Lord, as well as for mothers whose children have died, today I am thanking God that I am a mother. There are many difficulties in my life, but in this I can rejoice!

God is faithful and good,
j

The Weekly Encourager – April 16, 2016 – The Cracked Tree Trunk

April 16, 2016 by Janet A. Marney

Today was a beautiful day in the Nation's Capital, so I decided to get outside and trim a large evergreen bush at the corner of our house. It was reaching way up to the roof, twice my height. As He sometimes does, the Lord used experience outside to teach about spiritual principles inside. Bear with me as I lay the groundwork.

First, this bush was so overgrown that many branches would need to be cut back. To prepare for this kind of yard work, you gather several different cutting tools for different size branches. Put on gloves and take water to drink and kleenex for sneezes. Designate an area well away from the house to pile the chopped off branches.

Then pruning begins. At first the work is easy: you use the smallest clippers to trim back the thinner branches blocking the window or brushing against your face. There are many of these to be cut, but the work is painless. You feel great – you're accomplishing something you've put off for months. Then, as you crawl into the thicket of growth, you see larger branches that require a saw. This particular bush has hard wood, so the work requires more effort. As you cut into the larger ones, the wood starts to crack, making clean cuts impossible. You feel the inside of a branch, and it's bone dry. There's no life left. Some of the branches can be snapped off with your bare hand; others require a lot of elbow grease with the saw. You realize that if you had only seen how dead these big branches were, you could have just cut them off in the first place, instead of wasting time clipping each individual smaller twig.

As you remove bigger branches, it's no longer possible to just toss them on the pile, now they must be hauled by force. Dragging each fully grown branch out of the tangle takes determination, since they try to grab any other plants they can on their way out. Misery loves company, and all that. Now that the area is more open, you discover an old azalea bush which was desperately trying to survive under the tremendous shadow of the bigger bush. That old azalea even has some little pink buds. And look, there's that lovely purple azalea given by a dear friend. Now they can find room to flourish. You start to see what you've been missing.

At last, sweating in the sunlight, you penetrate to the trunk. What? It's not a bush, it's actually a tree. Furthermore, the central stem of this whole tree is cracked; in fact, there's a big gaping hole in the middle! Now it's clear that the whole thing must be dying, for there's no moisture left in the core. If only you had known this at the outset! But you couldn't see the trunk for the branches.

Sin is just like this overgrown bush. For a long time, you're walking by that bush every day and ignoring it. Then the Holy Spirit pricks your conscience and you start to notice that the bush “may be a bit unruly.” A few days, months or years go by while you avoid dealing with the problem. It's just one bush, right? Not a big deal if you look at the entire yard. Let's enjoy that nice plant over there instead.

The ugly bush grows larger. Then perhaps someone points it out to you, and you get embarrassed. You promise God you'll do something about it, when the time is right. You can't cut bushes when it's too cold, right? Besides, you have to do your taxes. While waiting for the planets, season, weather, your schedule, and your attitude to align for the “perfect” yard work day, the bush grows even higher and fuller. It's crowding out everything else. That bush would be a perfect specimen of the plant kingdom if only it were in the right place!

Maybe this period of waiting is just assembling the right tools, then getting the courage to use them. “There is a way that seems good, but it leads to death.” Once we realize that the way of sin is death, we know Jesus is at work in our hearts by the Spirit. Sin is hollow at the core, its heart is lifeless, it's just a dry old cracked tree trunk. It may have an outer show of green leaves, but that is an illusion. This happiness is only temporary, the pleasures of sin for a season. And sin has a way of making us forget the flowers in our life. Access is blocked to the good gifts of God. We become ungrateful.

Whether it's our own sin we're dealing with or someone else's, sometimes we need to wear soft gloves, handling the issue with gentle tact. At first we make little cuts on some of the most obvious outer branches. The Holy Spirit works in this tender way sometimes. At other times, as with recalcitrant children, a sharp word or even a spanking is needed. Chop, chop! The remedy may be drastic; it hurts. Our loving heavenly Father may chop down some wooden idol that we rely upon in the place of God. Get out the kleenex; then drink deeply of the living water. Your Father loves you too much to let you continue in that sin.

What about timing? The natural world shows us that if we can tame a plant early, keeping it within proper boundaries, many problems can be avoided. For best results, “train up a child when he's young.” But even when some evil has been allowed to grow for many seasons, it's never too late to start chopping. With Christ, there is abundant pardon for all our sin, and abundant help in the daily struggle against it. He revives our cracked up, dried out empty hearts with hope. He is good, He is faithful, and He is able! Thank You, Lord!

I'd like to write more, but I have to go chop down the rest of that bush.

God is faithful,
j

The Weekly Encourager – April 10, 2016 – The Life You Have Now

April 10, 2016 by Janet A. Marney

“Occasionally, weep deeply over the life you hoped would be. Grieve the losses. Then wipe your face. Trust God. And embrace the life you have. “- John Piper

I don't know about you, but I'm struggling with the “if onlys” and “what ifs” of my life. I've had serious discussions with four different people this week on the same topic: what have I done with my life, and what I am doing going forward? Having made the decision to stay home with our children for 18 years meant saying Yes to some things and No to others. I look at my personality type, educational opportunities, and the “powerful” people I've been fortunate to meet, and I see how easily my life could have gone in a different direction. I could have been so very successful! I sometimes feel inferior when others of similar age and gifts seem to have advanced so much farther in the same amount of time. I feel uncomfortable in this very career-oriented city when people ask, “What do you do?” which is invariably the first (and sometimes the only) question in the DC area. Worst of all is the sense of self-doubt. Am I good enough? Am I really using the gifts God gave me to their full potential? Have I failed Him?

Studying Romans this year with a group of women has reminded me that eternal salvation does not depend upon my achievement or success in any way. It's not about me, but about God choosing to bestow a gracious gift of mercy on an undeserving sinner. So I have no doubt of my salvation, thanks be to God. Over the years as a believer, I have tried to make the best decision I could at each step, given the knowledge I had. Dave and I came from divorced unhappy families, so we reached out to every mature Christian couple we knew to get advice. We chose to marry for life, to serve the Lord better together than we could apart. In important ways, our parents were not there for us, so we wanted to be more involved in our children's lives. Both Dave and I made definite career choices based on values that were different than those of our parents, co-workers and the city in which we live. By applying Biblical principles with the Lord's help, we've been able to keep our marriage together and raise healthy kids (now adults) who still enjoy seeing us. We've opened our home, enjoying the blessings of friendship. Especially valuable to us are the younger folks we've “adopted” in the same way that some older Christians “adopted” us when we were just starting out. We've been able to serve our church and the community in various ways. Shouldn't this be enough?

Last weekend I was fortunate to attend an excellent conference for professional fiber artists (we make art quilts for the wall, not the bed). While some of us were talking informally, I said I wished I had more time to make art. In response, two people, trying to be helpful, were grilling me about why I didn't spend more time on my art so that I could produce more work to sell. One was even trying to introduce me to Google Calendar! (Clearly she didn't know me at all.) This conversation was a test from the Lord. It would have been easy to despair, but as I recited the many other things I do in my life, I saw that I had made other choices about how to spend my time. Hearing this, the two people literally turned their backs on me and walked away.

It's fair to say that for most artists, art is their whole life. Whether painters, musicians, writers, or dancers, they walk, talk, eat, and sleep their art 24/7. It's the same for successful athletes, CEOs or great scientists. I've never been able to do that. I've done bits and pieces of many different careers, never devoting myself completely to one thing. Life is just too short to try only one flavor of ice cream! I appreciate, however, that there are some people who are called to make only vanilla, and to make it the best vanilla possible, as their gift to the world. That's great for them, but it's not how I'm made. My career goal was Renaissance woman! So why do I feel bad when I meet others who dismiss me?

God has brought me to this city, at this time, with this husband, these relationships, these skills, at this age in my life. I have had these particular opportunities and these sorrowful limitations, and with those I made these choices. It's no use looking at where other people are and what they have achieved. Every thought of envy means that Satan has me right where he wants me! Jealousy is conduct unbecoming to a Christian. Feeling inferior is conduct unbecoming to a Christian. Regretting my health issues is conduct unbecoming to a Christian. I am called to bloom where I'm planted, and to give thanks.

A few weeks ago, Dave and I had a bunch of people in their 20s and 30s over to our home for dinner, then for brunch the next day. As we were talking and laughing around the table, one person told me I was their “surrogate mother.” This was like a golden bowl of honey lowered to me from Heaven. I was very conscious of what a supreme honor this person was bestowing, and I remembered the fact that several young adults have called me their second mom. Given my values, there is no higher compliment I could receive.

When I was talking to those two well-meaning artists at the conference, the Lord showed me that my priorities are different. I AM doing my ideal job, and apparently God has enabled me to do it well. Practicing hospitality and mentoring young adults are more important goals to me than being a CEO, musician, book author, teacher, psychologist, linguist, event planner, or artist [some of my other interests/careers]. So instead of weeping over what did not happen, I need to rejoice over what did. May I “embrace the life I have” and glorify God in it.

God is faithful and good,
j

The Weekly Encourager – March 24, 2016 – Easter Poem

March 24, 2016 by Janet A. Marney

Here is “Easter,” a binary poem by George Herbert, the popular poet, orator, pastor, and musician. His comparison of the lute to the cross is particularly worthy of contemplation on Good Friday. Then rejoice: the agony of the cross is followed by Christ's resurrection, sweeter than any flower, brighter than hundreds of sunrises!

Easter
from The Temple (1633)

Rise heart; thy Lord is risen. Sing his praise without delayes,
Who takes thee by the hand, that thou likewise with him mayst rise:
That, as his death calcined thee to dust,
His life may make thee gold, and much more, just.

Awake, my lute, and struggle for thy part with all thy art.
The crosse taught all wood to resound his name, who bore the same.
His stretched sinews taught all strings, what key
Is best to celebrate this most high day.

Consort both heart and lute, and twist a song pleasant and long:
Or, since all musick is but three parts vied and multiplied,
O, let thy blessed Spirit bear a part,
And make up our defects with his sweet art.

I got me flowers to straw thy way;
I got me boughs off many a tree:
But thou wast up by break of day,
And brought’st thy sweets along with thee.

The Sunne arising in the East,
Though he give light, & th' East perfume;
If they should offer to contest
With thy arising, they presume.

Can there be any day but this,
Though many sunnes to shine endeavor?
We count three hundred, but we misse:
There is but one, and that one ever.

- George Herbert

Have a blessed Easter!
j

The Weekly Encourager – March 16, 2016 – “If Only”

March 16, 2016 by Janet A. Marney

What is your Number One prayer request? Mine is Sleep. I have struggled with lack of sleep for decades, and it affects every area of my life, particularly my productivity and my people skills (or lack thereof). I've often said, “If only I could get enough sleep, I would be fine.” In effect, I was saying, “I can do all things through sleep.” Wait, what? Isn't there a Scripture that sounds like that? Oh, but the Scripture says, “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.” - Philippians 4:13. For years I have thought, “all things are possible with sleep,” but this week the Spirit reminded me that “all things are possible with God.” - Mark 10:27.

“If only...” How many times have we thought this? If only I could sleep, if only I had someone special in my life, if only I weren't in chronic pain, if only I were more disciplined, if only I had a better job, if only I had more money, if only I looked better, if only I were smarter, if only I had made a different choice, if only a certain person would accept me, forgive me, love me...and on it goes. We forget that many people are saying, if only I had clean water to drink, if only I had medical care, if only I had enough food to feed my children, if only I had decent shelter at night, if only I could read, if only my nation were not at war, if only I was not persecuted...and more. The things we take for granted, someone else is praying for. Oh, what blessings from God I enjoy that others long for! I have family, friends, freedom, peace in our nation, education, ability, a nice home in a safe neighborhood, abundant clean clothing, hot and cold running water, central heating, cars that work, high-speed internet, quality fresh food every day, access to nature and the arts, and much more. And above all these, forgiveness of sins and peace with God through Jesus Christ! How thankful am I?

Maybe I've been praying for the wrong thing. Instead of praying for sleep so I can accomplish my goals, I should be praying for Christ's strength so I can accomplish His goals. I want to get through those low-sleep days with joyous grace, shining for the Lord. Stop whining and start shining. The fact is that our loving heavenly Father knows best what we need most. He will use whatever means necessary to teach us to depend solely and wholly upon Him, not on ourselves. Here is the first verse I memorized when I became a Christian at age 13: “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” - Galatians 2:20 NASB. Somewhere along the way, I've forgotten that I live for Him now, not myself. In this season of Lent, let us give up the idea that we can make it on our own. What we need is Christ.

In the quiet garden, on that dark night of the soul, Jesus Christ cried out, “if only” I didn't have to drink this cup! If only there were any other way to achieve the goal without the Cross! But there was no other way. Love bowed His head to Wisdom and drank the poison cup of sin for us, that we might be forgiven. Our Lord Jesus drank the cup of sorrow in order to offer us the cup of mercy. Thanks be to God! May we never forget the “if only” of Christ!

“If only” we have Christ, we have all we need. Let us give thanks.
j

The Weekly Encourager – March 3, 2016 – Feelings and The Knots Prayer

March 03, 2016 by Janet A. Marney

Is your stomach in knots? Last night at a Bible study on Romans 6, we talked about feelings and the truth of the gospel. Without Christ, we were “slaves to sin,” which amounts to selfishness and a desire to be independent from God; but, in Christ we are “slaves to righteousness,” which brings love, joy, and peace. One mother said that her four-year old daughter told her, “If you don't make me happy, I'm going to leave this house!” Of course everyone laughed, but I thought, isn't this how we are with God?

We say, “God, if You don't make me happy, I'm going to leave Your house.” We so easily believe the lie that, just because He loves us, God is supposed to do just what we want Him to do! If He delays or says no for some reason, we feel perfectly justified in complaining. Ungratefulness is a poison which spreads through the whole system: it can lead to discontent, anxiety, depression, resentment, and disobedience, not to mention its negative effect on everyone around us. If not checked, our emotions can cause us to give up on God, to stop believing in Him, to leave His house.

If ungratefulness is a form of withdrawal from the Lord, then gratefulness is our way to approach Him. “In everything, with prayer and thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.” Prayer interlaced with thanksgiving is the way to peace when our emotions are tying us in knots. Knowledge of the gospel informs our prayers. The more we know about the Lord of Scripture, the more we can trust in Him alone for happiness, no matter what trials we face in our daily lives. When we look at this world and the people all around us, we feel abandoned without the truth of the Bible constantly on our minds.

Feelings can be tricky for believers. Some Christians try to deny or suppress any bad feelings, especially if they seem “wrong.” These are the Sunday-perfect Christians who never show any weakness or problem. On the other side are Christians who express so much emotion that they allow it to take over their lives, sometimes thinking that every strong emotion is a word directly from the Holy Spirit. We have to be careful not to err on either side. A good example is King David: he was transparent about all his various emotions when he prayed to the Lord. He wasn't afraid of honest emotion, yet he didn't allow it to rule him. He always answered emotion with Truth. Feelings are real, but they don't determine Reality.

We fall in the same way, time after time, and we feel guilty or stupid, like slaves to sin. We wonder about which way to go in our lives and we feel lost or abandoned, like children without a home. We have failed relationships, financial trouble, job stress, poor health, or whatever, and we worry, like those who have no salvation. We see the success of others, and we feel jealous, like orphans with no good parent to provide. When will God answer? What if He doesn't want me to be happy? What if I'm just not good enough?

The Bible tells us that the Father created us in love, Jesus loved us enough to die for us, and the Holy Spirit loves us enough to live within our hearts. Tim Keller says, “God is my Judge, and he has accepted me in Jesus Christ.” Paul says, “the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Romans 6:23 How I need this reminder! I am loved, I am accepted, I am adopted, nothing can separate me from the love of Christ!

Today, struggling with depression and seeking direction, needing a good cry yet too tired to cry, I made a list of all the things on my mind which are keeping me from resting. I wrote out the thoughts and emotions which are pulling away my peace. The idea was to commit each concern to God in prayer, renewing my trust in His wisdom, plan, and perfect timing.

Then I saw this prayer posted by my friend Polly, and it was just what I needed today. Maybe you need it, too.

The Knots Prayer

“Dear God, please untie the knots that are in my mind, my heart, and my life. Remove the have nots, the can nots, and the do nots that I have in my mind. Erase the will nots, may nots, and might nots that find a home in my heart. Release me from the could nots, would nots, and should nots that obstruct my life. And most of all, dear God, I ask that you remove from my mind, my heart, and my life all of the am nots that I have allowed to hold me back, especially the thought that I am not good enough. Amen”

- Iyanla Vanzant

Lord, increase our faith! “For Thou art great, and doest wondrous things: Thou art God alone. Teach me Thy way, O Lord; I will walk in Thy truth: unite my heart to fear Thy name. I will praise Thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify Thy name for evermore.” - Psalm 86:10-12

God is faithful,
j

The Knots Prayer, from “Every Day I Pray” by Iyanla Vanzant. For more information, visit http://www.iyanla.com/ or http://concordpastor.blogspot.com/2009/11/knots-prayer.html

I welcome your comments below.

The Weekly Encourager – February 17, 2016 - Role Models and Prayer

February 17, 2016 by Janet A. Marney

As the nation mourns the death of Associate Justice Antonin Scalia of the Supreme Court, I have added him to my list of role models. I did not know him personally, but from all accounts, he combined high intelligence with hard work. He was passionate for the cause of justice. He lived a life of service to the highest ideals of this nation. He had strong friendships with people of diverse viewpoints, including some who opposed him in almost every decision. For these reasons and others, he was highly respected by his colleagues and the world.

Added to that fine reputation, he was not afraid to call himself a Christian, even in one of the highest positions of leadership in our government. For that courage, I believe he will be honored by the Lord's approbation, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” - Matthew 25:23 Here's a Scalia quotation that I've pinned to my Role Models board.

“God assumed from the beginning that the wise of the world would view Christians as fools...and He has not been disappointed....If I have brought any message today, it is this: Have the courage to have your wisdom regarded as stupidity. Be fools for Christ. And have the courage to suffer the contempt of the sophisticated world.” - Antonin Scalia

Who are your role models? If you have young children, who are theirs? On Presidents Day and through the year, it's worth reflecting on the great men and women who have contributed so much to this country and to the world, especially those who honor the Lord Jesus Christ. Let's emulate those who “win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.” - Proverbs 3:4 NIV

Justice Scalia's passing is a call to prayer. In the Bible, we are exhorted to pray for all in authority over us, knowing that the Lord places people high and low, according to His plan. - 1 Timothy 2:2; Romans 13:1-5 NOW is the time to pray earnestly for the next person who will be appointed and approved for this key position on the highest court. The next person who bears this mantle will have tremendous impact in decisions before the court at this time: important issues such as abortion facilities, immigration reform, religious non-profit challenges to contraception, affirmative action, union rights, etc. are either already argued or set to be argued this year. And who knows what issues may arise in future years as our country slips away from its Christian heritage? Since all three branches of government are involved in the Supreme Court selection process, there has never been a more urgent need for prayer for the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches.

Challenge: I ask you to join me in praying for our government for just one minute each day. I know we're all busy with many cares and responsibilities, but this is only one minute out of 1,440 minutes we are given each day. The exhortation to not only respect those in government, but to pray for them as well, is a calling from God Himself. This will be one minute of guaranteed obedience to God's command. Think of the impact of thousands of God's people praying daily for His righteousness, goodness, justice, and sovereign plan for this nation! We don't know what God will do, but we know He answers prayer. Will you join me in this challenge?

God is faithful,
j

The Weekly Encourager – February 4, 2016 – Speaking of Political Candidates…

February 05, 2016 by Janet A. Marney

What do you think about our nation's current candidates for president? Each day's news seems to reveal a new reason to shake my head. Seriously? It's all too easy to think of witty yet cutting remarks about these people because of what they are saying and how they are behaving. After all, I love to make my friends laugh!

What does God think about these political candidates? No, I'm not going to tell you how to vote. I am going to share a few verses from God's Word which I believe are relevant to this campaign. I've been surprised by the way some Christians are speaking of the men and women running for office.

Daniel said, “Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to Him. It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings.” Daniel 2:20-21

Anyone who reads the Bible should know that “the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone He wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people.” Daniel 4:17 That last phrase is shocking! For His own reasons, sometimes God allows “the lowliest of people” to be the highest in authority. God is sovereign over all things, including this election. Of course we can work hard to try to elect men and women of honor, but in the end, we must honor all, even if we view them as “lowly.”

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged.” Matthew 7:1-2

“[Neither] thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 6:10 Does it appear that some candidates are greedy swindlers? Note that God puts slanderers (revilers) in the same list! Therefore, if we slander someone, we're just as bad as they are. It's hard, but we must strive to protect the reputations of others, as we would want them to do for us.

“Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.” Proverbs 26:4 If we call someone an idiot, we are just as foolish as they are. One day, “people will give account for every careless word they speak.” Matthew 12:36

“For the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, meekness, temperance, faith.” Galatians 5:22-23 Does our speech reflect the Spirit of God in our hearts?

Jesus says, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” and not just those of your political persuasion. “Love your enemies!” Mark 12:33; Matthew 5:44

All people are made in God's image; therefore we must respect all, whether or not we agree with them. We are not to lie, but to find a charitable way to express our views, or just remain silent. If the Lord has allowed us to discern that a particular candidate is uninformed, selfish, dishonest, proud, or foolish, then we are allowed an equal opportunity to pray for them. If you see something, pray something!

If we spent half as much time praying for the candidates as we do criticizing them, we'd be far better off as individuals and as a nation. Just saying.

God is faithful,
j

Update on 2016-02-06 15:22 by Janet A. Marney

Please feel free to post comments after each post. The prior problem in posting has been fixed - thanks, Dave!

The Weekly Encourager – January 30, 2016 – Where Is My Treasure?

January 30, 2016 by Janet A. Marney

What is the last thing you think about before you fall asleep, and the first thing that pops into your mind when you wake up? This just might be the thing that dominates your life. For me, in this quiet season of winter, snow and cold have put a damper on some of the interesting activities of life. Sleep is difficult with the brightness of the moon reflected on white snow everywhere. Health issues take more time than I planned. I have much to do, yet little motivation to do it. My body is calling for carbs and comfort, yet I need to work. I feel more like Mrs. Drudge than Mrs. Disciple. In this home-bound sea of sameness, it is tempting to forget God. Yet His promises are true, and they are no less real when I am struggling.

“Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not get tired; they will walk and not become weary.” – Isaiah 40:31
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” – Psalm 37:4
“Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” – Matthew 6:33

A challenging thought from Oswald Chambers: “Look again and think.” Citing Matthew 6:25, “Take no thought for your life,” Chambers says, “A warning which needs to be reiterated is that the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lust of other things entering in, will choke all that God puts in. We are never free from the recurring tides of this encroachment. If it does not come in the line of clothes and food, it will come on the line of money or lack of money; of friends or lack of friends; or on the line of difficult circumstances. It is one steady encroachment all the time, and unless we allow the Spirit of God to raise up the standard against it, these things will come in like a flood.

“'Take no thought for your life.' 'Be careful about one thing only,' says our Lord – 'your relationship to Me.' Common sense shouts out and says – 'That is absurd, I must consider how I am going to live, I must consider what I am going to eat and drink.' Jesus says you must not. Beware of allowing the thought that this statement is made by One Who does not understand our particular circumstances. Jesus Christ knows our circumstances better than we do, and He says we must not think about these things so as to make them the one concern of our life. Whenever there is competition, be sure that you put your relationship to God first.” – Oswald Chambers

Is my thought mainly for the duties and difficulties of this life, or the development of the heavenly one? Jesus Christ says, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth...but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven...for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” – Matthew 6:19-21 These “treasures” can be anything that distracts us from God, whether finances, work, relationships, health, reputation, leisure, education, home, anger, anxiety, fear, laziness, or fatigue.

Jesus told a parable of three servants who were given talents before their master went away. Two went out and used those talents to produce more for their Master, but one buried what he had received. During the “long time” the master was gone, the faithful two were working for the reward. Have you ever wondered what the third guy was doing all that time? He was occupied with the things of this world. Did he have difficult circumstances as we do? Did he have mental or physical problems, financial worries, challenging relationships? Did he have a gambling problem or drug addiction or trouble with the law? Did he live for his own pleasure and comfort, never bothering to exert enough effort to complete a task? (He never made it to the bank!) We don't know his personal story, but you can be sure that his master did. Whatever his circumstances, they were no excuse, because they were sent by God.

Chambers was right: we are tempted to think that Christ could not possibly understand our circumstances, and that excuses our lack of interest in His causes. That excuses our lack of obedience to His commands. That excuses our lack of love for the One who gave His very life to save us! The Bible says He was tempted in every way just like us; He knows our frame, that we are but dust; with every temptation He will provide an escape; trials are sent to build our character; He knows our needs; He cares for us; He will never leave us. The incarnate Christ does understand! Any excuses I offer are idolatry.

What am I storing up? Where is my treasure? If my treasure is not Christ first, Christ always, Christ only, then I will find it ebbing away as a sand castle is flooded by the tide, as snow melts into grass when the sun comes out.

God is faithful,
j

Oswald Chambers, “My Utmost for His Highest” 1935, p.27 January 27 “Look Again and Think.”

The Weekly Encourager – January 21, 2016 – Justification and Two Errors

January 21, 2016 by Janet A. Marney

It's been encouraging to think about the Why of Christmas. Why did Christ come to earth as a man? In Bible Study, we've been looking at justification in Romans 5. The concept of federal headship is helpful. Acting on my behalf, Adam sinned, therefore I sinned. Also acting on my behalf, Christ saved, therefore I am saved. By physical means (DNA), Adam brings death, but by spiritual means (faith), Christ brings life everlasting. Therefore let us rejoice!

Over the years, many well-meaning Christians have fallen into error on one side or another. The legalists focus on God's holiness and the impossibility of us ever meeting His standard of perfection in the Law. Feeling a strong sense of guilt, they try to work off their debt of sin by their own good works, rather than trusting in the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice. Deep inside, they believe Christ's death could not possibly pay for all of their sin. They need to hear more about Jesus our Advocate, and salvation by grace.

On the other hand, the liberalists focus on God's love that covers every sin, no matter what we do. They are more likely to push away any thoughts of personal failing, believing that their mistakes are no big deal since they are saved. Deep inside, they think they're good enough for God already. They may be tempted to take Christ's death far too lightly. They need to hear more about God our Judge, and sanctification by obedience.

Timothy Keller reminds us that “this great doctrine of justification” hangs between these “two opposite heresies,” but “the gospel keeps two truths together.” Here's what Keller says:

“1. God is holy, so our sins require that we be punished. The gospel tells us: You are more sinful than you ever dared believe. To forget this leads to license and permissiveness – to what we might call liberalism. 2. God is gracious, so in Christ our sins are dealt with. The gospel tells us: You are more accepted in Christ than you ever dared hope. To forget this leads to legalism and moralism.

“If you eliminate one or the other of these truths, you fall into legalism or liberalism, and you eliminate the joy and the 'release' of the gospel. Without a knowledge of our extreme sin, the payment of the gospel seems trivial and does not electrify or transform. But without a knowledge of Christ's completely debt-satisfying life and death, the knowledge of sin would crush us or compel us to deny and repress it.”

Do you tend to fall down on one side or the other? How about your church? Your children? I am convinced that the better we understand the great truths of the Bible, the more joy we will have, and the more victory we will experience in our daily lives. Just for today, I will ponder justification and let its implications expand in my mind and heart. Thank the Lord!

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

God is faithful,
j

Quotation from Timothy Keller, “Romans 1-7 For You,” Chapter 9 “Why Justification Comes,” p.135-136. Published by The Good Book Company, 2014.

Hymn “Jesus Paid It All” by Elvina M. Hall, 1865. Public Domain.

The Weekly Encourager – January 9, 2016 – Burdens and Blessings

January 09, 2016 by Janet A. Marney

Does someone else have an easier life than you do? Would you trade your burden? My friend Anne told me a little story. Imagine that you could take all your pain, sorrows, worries, problems, heartache, and difficult duties and roll them up together into one bundle. Then place your bundle at the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ. Now there's a big pile of everyone's burdens, and you can see what everyone else has to bear. With that new knowledge, would you trade your burden for that of another person? Most people say no. Recall what Galadriel says to Frodo, “This task was appointed to you, Frodo of the Shire. If you do not find a way, no one will.” I was feeling the weight of my load, but after Anne shared her struggles, I saw that both of our bundles are heavy, but we wouldn't exchange them for someone else's bundle of burdens.

Thanks be to God, we do not carry our loads alone. We have “a friend that sticks closer than a brother,” and He is infinitely more capable and experienced at bearing burdens than we are. I've been meditating on Psalm 68:19 “Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, the God who is our salvation.” (NASB) The ESV says He “daily bears us up,” and the NLT says “each day he carries us in his arms.” This is a beautiful picture of God's loving care for His children. Psalm 55:22 says “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.” (ESV)

Here's a game for the new year. Make two columns on a page. In one column, list all your burdens; in the other column, list all your blessings. Add to the list day by day as new things come to mind, then at the end of the week (or month), see which is greatest. What's your prediction? I suspect that my list of burdens won't change much in a week's time, or even a year. Most of my burdens are long-term in nature, and I'm sure some will challenge me for all my remaining time on earth. My list of blessings, however, will continue to grow day by day as I read God's Word and see His work in the world. The more I know about Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the more I will see my life from a heavenly perspective. Psychologists agree that we grow to resemble the people who populate our life, so the more time I spend in the company of my best friend Jesus, the more I'll be like Him in every way. That means that praise and thanksgiving will become as natural as breathing in and out. I'll see blessings in every bundle!

Do your burdens feel heavy? Here are a few more good thoughts to wrap around your bundle:

Psalm 62:8 “Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.” (ESV)

Psalm 37:3 “Trust in the Lord and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.” (NASB)

1 Peter 5:7 “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” (ESV, NLT)

Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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.” (ESV)

Jesus died for you and He loves you, no matter what. Do not let your burdens get so heavy that your heart is closed to God's abundant blessings all around you.

God is faithful,
j