The following is an email that John Bueno, the Executive Director with the Assemblies of God, sent to missionaries. I am putting it on my blog because what he has to say is very true and I don't want to forget it. May God help us be dispensers of grace, not judgment and hypocrisy.
Missive
January 2010
As this new year begins, I am drawn to a passage in a work written by
Helmut Thielicke. Painting a vivid word picture, he writes:
"The sulfurous stench of hell is as nothing compared with the evil odor
emitted by divine grace gone putrid. The grace of God actually can be
corrupted by spiritual vanity."
I have often observed this phenomenon as people, in the name of
holiness, actually disgrace the greatest gift God has for His children.
They go around sanctimoniously, living out their own laws and requiring
others to do the same. A judgmental spirit creeps in, compelling us to
correct our brothers and sisters or at least judge them in our hearts
regarding their walk with God.
While each of us has a responsibility to guide and direct our fellow
travelers in some of the issues of life, it isn't our responsibility to
judge them. In doing so we forget the grace that God gives all of us.
I pray that spiritual vanity will not diminish the purity and peace that
comes only through Him. All of us must come under the umbrella of His
grace. When we move out from that canopy and travel in the judgmental
spirit of our own understanding of righteousness, we are in dangerous
territory. May we never experience, as Thielicke describes, "the evil
odor of divine grace gone putrid."
L. John Bueno
Executive Director
AGWM
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
No More Fear!
So lately, God has been working on some of my problem areas. (I think He's always doing that, but right now, I'm really noticing!) You know how that goes--God brings an issue to the surface that He wants to change and gets busy letting little things happen that will force me to deal with it in an, "I have something better for you," kind of way.
One of my many weaknesses is fear. I'm not talking about a normal kind of fear, like fear of living in a foreign country or being afraid of really big cochroaches. (smile) I'm afraid of talking to people. Crazy, right? I've struggled with this since I was a little girl. When I am in a group or around people that I feel uncomfortable with, I clam up and the words won't come. Now, I will be the first to say that God has brought me a long way with this, but it still happens much more than I would like it to.
Okay, so how am I learning to deal with this fear? God has placed me in a great 'ladies only' class at church and today our subject was fear. We read many Scriptures about fear and how to handle it. I hope you don't mind, but I'm going to share what I learned with you. (Maybe I'm not the only one who deals with this??)
There are 2 kinds of fear:
1. Healthy--Fear of (reverence for) God
Psalm 25:14- "The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them."
In other words--God tells secrets to those who honor and obey him!
Isaiah 33:6- "He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure."
2. Unhealthy--Being Afraid
Romans 8:15- "For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, 'Abba, Father.'"
Fear puts us in bondage!
2 Timothy 1:7- "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."
Solution: Control your thoughts by filling them with Scripture
Josh 1:8-9- "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
Wrapping it upI'm preparing to go to Mexico and the final months are going to pass by very quickly. I have a lot of things to do and I still need about $612.00 a month in pledges. And yet, God is speaking to me about overcoming my fear of people. If you read this and God places me on your heart to pray, please would you join me in this? Also, I want to be obedient and work at controlling my fearful thoughts with Scripture. Will you consider keeping me accountable?
Thank you! I consider myself extremely blessed to have people who love me and pray for me. I know I have a team of great supporters who are backing me up and all I can say is thank you. You have already touched my life in a beautiful way and I haven't even left yet! God bless you!
Here's a blessing from Numbers 6:24-26 for you:
"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace." AMEN!!
One of my many weaknesses is fear. I'm not talking about a normal kind of fear, like fear of living in a foreign country or being afraid of really big cochroaches. (smile) I'm afraid of talking to people. Crazy, right? I've struggled with this since I was a little girl. When I am in a group or around people that I feel uncomfortable with, I clam up and the words won't come. Now, I will be the first to say that God has brought me a long way with this, but it still happens much more than I would like it to.
Okay, so how am I learning to deal with this fear? God has placed me in a great 'ladies only' class at church and today our subject was fear. We read many Scriptures about fear and how to handle it. I hope you don't mind, but I'm going to share what I learned with you. (Maybe I'm not the only one who deals with this??)
There are 2 kinds of fear:
1. Healthy--Fear of (reverence for) God
Psalm 25:14- "The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them."
In other words--God tells secrets to those who honor and obey him!
Isaiah 33:6- "He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure."
2. Unhealthy--Being Afraid
Romans 8:15- "For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, 'Abba, Father.'"
Fear puts us in bondage!
2 Timothy 1:7- "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."
Solution: Control your thoughts by filling them with Scripture
Josh 1:8-9- "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
Wrapping it upI'm preparing to go to Mexico and the final months are going to pass by very quickly. I have a lot of things to do and I still need about $612.00 a month in pledges. And yet, God is speaking to me about overcoming my fear of people. If you read this and God places me on your heart to pray, please would you join me in this? Also, I want to be obedient and work at controlling my fearful thoughts with Scripture. Will you consider keeping me accountable?
Thank you! I consider myself extremely blessed to have people who love me and pray for me. I know I have a team of great supporters who are backing me up and all I can say is thank you. You have already touched my life in a beautiful way and I haven't even left yet! God bless you!
Here's a blessing from Numbers 6:24-26 for you:
"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace." AMEN!!
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