masterpiece - cmi sealed orders #1 - "who do you think you are?"

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:10

Mary had grown up knowing she was different from the other kids, and she hated it. She was born with a cleft palate.  She had to bear the jokes and stares of cruel children who teased her non-stop about her misshapen lip, crooked nose, and garbled speech.

With all the teasing, Mary grew up hating the fact that she was "different".  She was convinced that no one, outside her family, could ever love her . . . until she entered Mrs. Leonard's class. Mrs. Leonard had a warm smile, a round face, and shiny brown hair.  While everyone in her class liked her, Mary came to love Mrs. Leonard.

In the 1950's, it was common for teachers to give their children an annual hearing test.  However, in Mary's case, in addition to her cleft palate, she was barely able to hear out of one ear.  Determined not to let the other children have another "difference" to point out, she cheated every year.  The "whisper test" was given by having a child walk to the classroom door, turn sideways, close one ear with a finger, and then repeat something which the teacher whispered.  Mary turned her bad ear towards her teacher and pretended to cover her good ear.  She knew that teachers would often say things like, "The sky is blue," or "What color are your shoes?"

But not on that day.

Surely, God put seven words in Mrs. Leonard's mouth that changed Mary's life forever.  When the "whisper test" came, Mary heard the words: "I wish you were my little girl."

God loves you so much.  Sure, you aren’t perfect – no one is.  But God created you just as you are – with all your flaws, shortcomings, gifts, talents and personality – for his eternal purpose.  You are his masterpiece!

When you are tempted to feel discouraged about some way that you are different than those around you, remember that God loves you.  Remember that he has a plan for your life and that he created you to live out that plan.

The Apostle Paul reminds us, “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

As you sit quietly, listen as God whispers his words of love to you: “You are my precious child.” 

Does knowing God uniquely created you with his love motivate you to live for him in the world?

What good works does he have prepared for you to do?

"who do you think you are?" - CMI Sealed Orders 2011

Over the next ten days, I will be posting the "Sealed Orders," a personal quiet devotional that is shared every afternoon as part of Central Music Institute, an intensive musical and spiritual retreat for Salvation Army youth.

The theme for Sealed Orders is "who do you think you are," which is an exploration of our identity in Christ.  Because of God's love, grace, mercy and purpose in our lives, we take on a new identity as defined in Scripture.

The purpose of this series is to point out different aspects of this new identity and to discover to what action that new aspect calls us.

In other words,

if you know  who you are,  you will know  what to do.

With only eight devotionals, we won't cover every aspect of our identity in Christ.  I will leave that to you to discover as you explore Scripture on your own.  What an exciting study!

So about this time every day, a new post will be available.  

Please consider joining us online for this devotional journey.

Why It's My Responsibility

Photo credit: Ladyheart from morguefile.com

I am currently taking a class on Spiritual Formation.  It is difficult to take a week away from my family and appointment, but it is a productive retreat.

The professor mentioned that while he was a pastor, he was only asked a few times how healthy his spiritual life was.  That statement gave me a reason to think about how many times that question has been asked of me.  I can't really count them, but I know it doesn't happen very often.  

I suppose that hesitation comes for two reasons.  First, the person who asks the question makes himself vulnerable.  In other words, if my spiritual life is weak, what ground do I stand on to ask someone else?  Just to ask the question is a scary thing.  Second, I think that for people like me who are in ministry positions, it is assumed that I am doing the things necessary to stay healthy on my own.  To ask the question could imply that the other person is failing in some way.

However, at the same time, there seems to be inadequate instruction as to how to maintain and grow spiritual health.  We are told that it is important to have daily devotions, but few specifics are shared.

At an earlier point, I privately bemoaned this neglect that I experienced.  I wondered why someone did not take the time to walk me through the process, to show me the way and to encourage me along the way.  I guess perhaps an assumption was made (or I didn't speak up enough about my shortcomings) that I knew how to do it.

I am making a new determination to give these instructions to those under my care, but I have to realize that, like me, at some point, must move on without someone holding their hand.

After all, while I did (and still do) need help on my spiritual journey, I must take ownership of my own spiritual growth.  

I remember the first car Beth and I bought.  Taking care of it was easy at first - fuel, car washes and oil changes.  But at some point, I needed the help of a mechanic when things started to go wrong.  I didn't sit at the side of the road whining about the fact that no one was helping me.  It was my car - I needed to get it to someone who could fix it.  It was my car - I needed to pay the bill for parts and labor to make the car "healthy" again.

In a similar way, it is my spiritual life.  Sometimes I need help, but it is foolish to wait for someone to notice and whine until someone helps.  I need to know when to ask for help.  I need to be willing to take the time and spend the resources to help my spiritual engine run and run well.

Are you willing to take ownership of your own spiritual life? 

Why I Don't Drink

Photo credit: arker from morguefile.com

Recently, we enrolled some new soldiers at the corps.  Soldiers and adherents.  Some people apologize to me, their Corps Officer, when they decide to become adherents.

I try my best to encourage them, saying that I am glad that (1) they are becoming members of the church, and (2) that they are honest enough to say that they, with God's help, are working on something in their lives.

That gave me a reason to pause and think.  Why have I made the promise not to drink?  Is it just because it's part of our tradition?  Is it merely a step to membership in the Army?

As I talked with my friend Ken, he reminded me of the vision and beauty of this commitment.  I enjoy learning from others around me, especially gentle lessons that bring more grace into my life.

Paul said, "Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall." (Romans 14:19-21)

As long as there are men and women - brothers and sisters - who struggle with alcohol, I choose to abstain because I love them.  I give that up for the sake of those I minister to, in order to support them and help them be stronger.  Even though I don't have a problem with alcohol, I also have no problem giving it up, simply because others do.

Are you also willing to give up something, not because you have a problem with addiction, but because someone else does?

What are you willing to give up for your brother or sister?

Doing the Most Good - 1 Peter 4:12-19

These are the study notes for tonight's Men's Bible Study at the Oak Creek Salvation Army at 6:00 p.m.  Join us for this last study of the year!

What kind of anesthesia do you use at the dentist?

What were your first reactions to the Army’s brand, "Doing the Most Good?"

Rejoicing in Suffering
Read 1 Peter 4:12-19.
In what sense is the suffering of the Christian part of Christ’s suffering?  What are we asked to do in verse 13 when we suffer?  What is the promise for those who rejoice?

What would you tell a new believer about what to expect from the Christian life?  In what ways were you surprised?  What would you have done differently?

Judgment
Where does Peter think judgment should begin?  What do you think this will be like?  How do you think those outside the "family" will react?

What is the answer to Peter’s questions in verses 18 + 19?

Do you agree with him (and the writer of Proverbs 11:31) that it is hard for the righteous to be saved?  In what way is this true?

What does it mean to commit ourselves to our faithful Creator (v 19)?

What is my part in continuing to do good?  What is God’s part?

"Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can."
    John Wesley

Application
What will be hard for you about the judgment?  What part of your life needs "saving?"

Homework:
Read 1 Peter 5:1-13.

Trading One Set of Friends For Another - 1 Peter 4:1-11

These are the study notes for the Men's Bible Study at The Salvation Army in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 1, 2010.  Join us if you can!

Opener:
What was one of the worst things you did as a child?  Did you confess, or were you caught?  How did others react to you?

Perspective on Change
Read 1 Peter 4:1-6.
How did your life change when you turned it over to Christ?  How did those around you react?  Was it similar to what he describes in verse 4?

What kind of abuse have you experienced for your faith?

Others
Read 1 Peter 4:7-11.
What keys for effective prayer does Peter suggest?  Why is there urgency to these steps?

What habits help you in your prayer time?

What is the focus on our behavior in verses 8-10?  Is this service to others easy or difficult?  Why?  (Compare with Hebrews 10:24-25)

How would serving suffering people give them strength?  What does it do for us?

Application
What part of verses 8-11 is most difficult for you?  What can we do today to serve suffering people better?

Homework:
Read 1 Peter 4:12-19.

Three Radical Ideas to Make Thanksgiving More Meaningful

Yes, it's that time of year.  For a brief respite before the Christmas rush, we pause, take a day or two off work, stuff ourselves and watch parades and football.

And it's a great time to take a few minutes and count our blessings: Family, friends, job, house, etc.

But let me suggest to you a few things to make this Thanksgiving more memorable.

1.  Invite someone who might otherwise be alone this Thanksgiving.  If you're like us, there's more than enough food, and it will make someone's holiday.  You might work with or go to church with someone who is away from family, lost a loved one recently or for any other reason might be alone.  They probably won't seek you out - but they might be wondering if anyone cares.  Make them part of your family tradition.

2.  Call someone with whom you have had a split or misunderstanding.  Maybe this is a family member that you have struggled with, a neighbor whose tree grew over the fence.  Call just to say you are grateful for what our relationship means, and that you want to take steps to make amends.  Make the first move to mending a broken relationship.

3.  Give someone in your family the gift of tradition.  In other words, find a younger person - maybe your own child, a niece or nephew - and impress on them the value of pausing and being thankful.  Draw a picture, make a list or shoot a video talking about what you all are grateful for.

I hope you have a fantastic Thanksgiving this year.  Let me know what comes of these challenges in your Thanksgiving this year.