Words express ideas of the mind and heart. Silence can also express ideas quite clearly. Now, the recipients may not always grasp those inherent messages immediately. But just give them some time. Eventually, they’ll get it.
Some never get it. Their hearts are set in a particular direction. For such people, your silence, nor your words will get through. We can hope that life will eventually get them on the right track. Maybe their hearts will be softened by the work of God’s Spirit within them.
For those whose hearts are open, your silence at the appropriate times will communicate a clear message. Silence will have a better effect than words because it gives an opportunity for self discovery. Rather than being told, they “learn” it or they “discover” it for themselves..
Thus silence at the appropriate times will produce greater and longer lasting results than your words.
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Resources are available to most people in their troubles. Some reach out and take advantage of those resources, while others ignore it and continue to struggle deeply in their agony.
Those who use the resources may initially view them as a coping mechanism. But as they continue to deal with their issues, something amazing begins within them. Hope begins to emerge. The caring presence of others in their struggles will put a new perspective on their pain.
Then, as part of a small group, they begin to receive prayer for their situation. As God’s presence is invited, they begin to experience healing of their emotions and bodies as well.
Those who don’t use the resources continue in the same condition without any change. They are needy, in pain, and all alone in the midst of caring communities.
You do have a choice.
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A few drops of water can’t fill a bucket. But if the drops continue, the bucket will eventually get filled.
Some water will evaporate and some will get used up. But the continuous dripping will keep the bucket full in spite of constant use. The dripping will eventually exceed the usage.
If the dripping is too much of a hassle, you could wait for a downpour, but you may end up waiting a long time. It’s nice to get the downpour and get filled up quickly, but the downpours are few and far in between. While you wait for the next one, you’ll surely get empty.
The dripping is better. Dripping comes in various forms: Reading, exercise, eating healthy, good relationships, writing, investing, etc.
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Sometimes, there are special God ordained events that will surprise us. We speak to someone for the first time, and the discussion begins to move in a fruitful direction. Within a short time, they are ready to make a full commitment to Jesus (like Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:26-40). And we are surprised.
But the surprise should be unwarranted. You see, the Holy Spirit is working in hearts all over the globe at this very moment. He is drawing people to himself in ways we do not see. This goes on in the hearts of many people for many years. Then finally one day, they meet up with you (or God brings them to you). Their hearts are ripe for the harvest of the Gospel because the Spirit of God was working in them for years.
No need to be surprised. One day evangelism is rare and maybe non existent as God was already at work in them for a long time. And when that one day thing happens, don’t get too hung up with your special evangelistic gifting. The Master Evangelist, the Holy Spirit was already at work.
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To get your foot in the door, minimum is all you need. Minimum signifies that you are in, you are a part of the team, accepted.
Once you go beyond the minimum, you enter a different sphere. Your investment is greater, and the risks are higher. Your perspectives change. Your buy-in is greater. Your level of engagement advances from casual observer to one of deep involvement.
But minimum is all you need to be on the team. But daily, choose to go beyond minimum to a greater level of engagement. Just because you can.
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The more you have been hurt, the more difficult it is to forgive. You begin to think: “I have the right to hold a grudge.” A right is an entitlement. By virtue of something, you are endowed with a right.
As human beings, we have the right to forgive. We are entitled to that. As children of our wonderful Father in heaven, you are entitled, endowed, and obligated to forgive. It’s your right. Don’t let anyone steal that from you.
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So what does God owe me? Where is the balance sheet tipped in my favor? The bigger question is, if such indebtedness is possible. Although I understand the concept expressed through those words, I question it’s logic.
God has given us life, breath, and everything we need to live. As Creator and sustainer, he has given us all that we have. For God to be indebted to us, we would need to give him excess of what he has already given us.
The problem with the above statement is that it implies that God will repay according to the good you’ve done. It’s as if he owes us something due to what we have done. But is that possible?
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I’d rather love my enemies from a distance. But to love and do good to them? That’s too much connection. That much proximity puts me at risk of being hurt again. Yet the words of Jesus continue to disturb us.
“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you” (Luke 6:27-28).
Doing good to your enemies may impact their heart and change their attitude towards you. But it may also give them more opportunity to do harm. You enmity would continue to grow and develop into something completely unbearable.
But what if you allow God to change you in the process? We know your enemies won’t change. The Holy Spirit will begin working on your ego. You’ll learn a better way to handle pain. You’ll experience the comfort of the Holy Spirit in a deeper way than ever before. Your value as a person loved by God will become your identity. So go ahead. Love your enemies. And do good to them.
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When your world view is limited, you are confident that you are right. There are no alternative options other than your view.
While I was a student in Seminary, I remember a wise neighbor who questioned me about my reading habits. She was older than my parents and quite wise to discern my narrow way of thinking. She said, “Alexi, you’ve got to read people you disagree with. It’s the only way to sharpen your mind and your perspectives.”
That was a challenging time for me as I was sure of my point of view. But I’m glad I took the advice. Now I challenge myself with journals that oppose my perspectives in numerous ways. I’m still a bit hard headed, but hopefully smoother on the edges.
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Why can’t we all get along? Why are some people so irritating? Why are some so down right evil?
Although we don’t want any of these negatives, there is a place for them. They contrast and highlight the good. Without the evils, the good won’t seem so good. We would just take it for granted.
Evil was not part of God’s plan, and there will be an end to evil. But Satan has impacted our society so much that there are many who think doing good is only an alternative. But for an appointed time, let it be so. These evils will help in highlighting the good.
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