Slow Teaching – The Mask of Zorro

This scene from Mask of Zorro shows an example of “slow teaching”

And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; – 2 Tim 2:24-25

Audience of One

Audience of One

For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. – Gal 1:10

Like a performer might feel receiving a standing ovation. Adoration and compliments coming in floods. Tangible. Exciting. Addicting.

When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. – Prov 16:7

I dropped the ball. By pleasing others first. Stretched too thin, overwhelmed, joyless, rushed … One would think that pleasing others is better than pleasing self – but at its core, isn’t pleasing others a somewhat selfish act?

God is pleased when you set aside parts of your life for others ( John 15:13 ) – but do so for the glory of God, the sake of Christ, being led by the Spirit.

An Audience of One. There is both less pressure and a more profound obligation.

And Then …

What's Your Testimony?

If someone asks you “How have you been?”
What an opportunity to share about the time when
From the depths you cried out to God, and then …
Let the redeemed of the Lord, Say So (Psalm 107:1-43)

What’s your testimony?

 

Not Enough

Enough by Will Davis, Jr.This time last week, we began our trek to Colorado.

We had a sense of the size of our living quarters, but not an accurate measure. So, we took just what we could fit in the car and would return for the rest of our stuff later.

In a week, it’s easy to tell we don’t have enough. We have too much. We’re only using a small percentage of what we packed. In the car. Not enough, too much.

Just before our move, I started reading Enough: Finding More by Living with Less by Will Davis, Jr. and it helped prepare my heart and mind for this season. We’re still “Moving Toward Enough” though we’re not there yet.

I’ve adopted this prayer from Prov 30:7-9

Two things I ask of you;
deny them not to me before I die:
Remove far from me falsehood and lying;
give me neither poverty nor riches;
feed me with the food that is needful for me,
lest I be full and deny you
and say, “Who is the Lord?”
or lest I be poor and steal
and profane the name of my God.

We are loving Colorado, and loving this living for the Lord. We are richer than we’ve ever been. Thank you, Lord, for our daily bread.