Month: June 2016

In response to some recent conversations and events, I have two questions to ponder.

1. What is your view of God?

In other words, what you believe about God leads to your view of God which determines your outlook and response to all areas of life.

Examples from Scripture:  Joseph (Genesis 50:20); Moses (Exodus 14:13); Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1:4-11); Job (Job 42); and Asaph (Psalm 73).

2. Are you doing what God wants you to do?

In other words, not solely in reference to the will of God for your life, but right now, this moment . . . is this what God would have you do?  This is closely tied to how you answer the first question.

Luke 10:38-40 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

1 Corinthians 10:31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (give the right opinion to others of Who God is).

2 Corinthians 5:9-11 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

I believe if we really stop and consider these two questions, it will alter our hectic, busy lifestyle, keep us on the right track, and bring rest to our souls.

It feels surreal that today my husband and I are staring our 35th anniversary in the face.  Of course all the math plays out perfectly – the ages of our girls, the number of years we h…

Source: Blessings and Lessons From 35 Years of Marriage

With Father’s Day on the horizon and my dad in Heaven since February 2003, I am grateful for the opportunity to write about a man who has had the greatest impact on my life.  Last week while reading through the book of Nehemiah, I was reintroduced to a man that brought back memories of my father.

Then it was, when the wall was built and I had hung the doors, when the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed, that I gave the charge of Jerusalem to my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the leader of the citadel, for he was a faithful man and feared God more than many. And I said to them, “Do not let the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot; and while they stand guard, let them shut and bar the doors; and appoint guards from among the inhabitants of Jerusalem, one at his watch station and another in front of his own house.” (7:1-3)

Nehemiah 1-6 describes the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem and chapters 8-13 give details of the restoration of the people. In Nehemiah 7:1-3, we see the safeguards Nehemiah put in place to protect the city from attack. In so doing, he selects a godly man, Hananiah, as his military leader.  It is this man that reminds me of my dad.

My dad was not well-known.

Certainly Hananiah is not a “household” Bible name, but he was known by his God.  Many people knew my dad, but his name was not in the “marquee lights” of spiritual leaders.  No matter, there is One Who knew his name for He redeemed him and brought him into the family of God by the crosswork of Jesus Christ.  Truth is, it doesn’t matter if our name is known among men, but it eternally matters that the Father knows you as His child through genuine, Christ-only salvation (John 10:3, 7-11, 27-29; Romans 10:9-13; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5).

My dad was a military man.

Hananiah was the leader of the citadel.  My dad was always proud of his military service for his country in the Army which included duty in Japan and Korea during the Korean War.  How special to visit the Korean War Memorial in Washington, D.C., in 2009, placed there in honor of my dad and thousands of other fellow soldiers.

Dad was a soldier for Christ and righteousness as well. He stood his watch on guard for our home, his marriage, the Faith, and the gospel of Jesus Christ.  He never dipped the flag!

My dad was a faithful man.

Faithfulness was one of the godly characteristics that led Nehemiah to choose Hananiah to lead his military.  Without reservation I can say my dad was a faithful man. The Hebrew word for “faithful” here refers to one who is truthful, reliable, firm, and upright.  Dad was a man who preached/spoke the truth, faithful to my mom and me, reliable on the job and in ministry, firm in his discipline, and lived with integrity.

My dad was a man who feared God.

Oh, for more men like Hananiah and my dad who lived their lives in reverence and awe of the majesty, power, holiness, love, and grace of God!!

So, on this Father’s Day, I am glad to honor my dad and to be known as the son of Robert Moris Cunningham, a man known of God, a soldier for Christ and America, a faithful man who feared God more than many to the end.  See you in Glory, Dad!

Have you ever got a “rude” before?  One of my favorite episodes of the Andy Griffith Show is “The Education of Ernest T. Bass”.   In an attempt to help Ernest T. receive his school diploma, he becomes a handful for Andy and Helen.  In one scene, he continues to interrupt class, and Miss Crump hands out a “rude” to him.  Watch this short clip:  I Got a Rude

As humorous as this clip may be, it’s not too funny when others are rude.  Here’s some examples:

• Pushing your way onto an elevator before others exit.
• Grunting when spoken to; no smile.
• Standing in the middle of the aisle with your shopping cart while others need to get around you.
• Walking through the left side of an entrance door and others are trying to correctly use that exit.
• Unsupervised children being able to run through another’s house, a store or at church.
• Talking with food in your mouth.
• Treating store employees or servers at a restaurant unkindly
• Checkout clerks who carry on conversations with fellow employees while you are going through the line.
• Misuse of the cellphone (i.e., while in the public restroom; in the checkout line)
• Children and adults with bad manners at the table, etc.
• Unkind words of shame, put downs, etc.
• Not holding the door for others.

To be rude is simply to have bad behavior or bad manners.  To be rude sometimes involves being loud, obnoxious, pushy, crass, crude, and uncaring. Being rude is simply a result of our selfish heart.

Have you ever wanted to give someone a rude or . . . have you been a candidate for a rude recently?

So, what is the opposite of being rude?  Let’s let the Word of God answer that one.

So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. (James 4:17)

Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. (Philippians 2:3)

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. (1 Corinthians 13:4-5)

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32)

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. (Luke 6:35)

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. (Colossians 3:12)

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:5-8)

And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” (Mark 9:35)

Let’s leave the “rudes” with Ernest T. Bass, and let’s walk in the Spirit so we can be servant of all.

How long have you been sitting in a church pew? How long have you been an attender of Sunday School? How long has your life been exposed to the Word of God? How long have you been a believer, a follower of Christ?

Now that you have answered those questions, let me ask, does your knowledge and application of Scripture reflect your answer? If you have been a believer ten years, have you been a student of the Word for those ten years? As you look back over the years of your growth in Christ, are you a forty year old man of wisdom? In other words, no matter how long you have been born again, do you hunger for the Word, know the Word, think the Word, walk the Word, apply the Word, make life connections through the Word, and share the Word?  Is the Word king in your life?

For a little test, what passages of Scripture come to mind when:

• You are afraid?
• You are determining God’s will for the day?
• You have been asked to serve in VBS?
• You are plagued with worry?
• Your children live many, many miles away from you?
• Your husband comes home and declares he has lost his job?
• Your spouse is undergoing major surgery?
• Your child walks away from God?

It is good to sit in a pew and/or attend a small group where the Word is taught. The main issue is always, the Word getting in you, changing you, and flowing out of you!

Blessed art thou, O Lord : teach me thy statutes. With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.
Psalms 119:12‭-‬16

It happened again!!  What happen again?  Well, let me explain it this way.  Read through the following truths and exhortations first.

2 Timothy 3:16-17  All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Matthew 28:18-20  And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Matthew 11:1    When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.

Hebrews 10:24-25  And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

2 Timothy 2:1-2 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

There are many, many great reasons why we should read God’s Word every day.  (Read through Psalm 119 for starters.)  But the one I want to mention obviously comes out of the passages listed above.  You read the Bible so you can have something to say!  Many are the times I have read a passage in the morning and while reading the Lord “taps me on the shoulder” and calls my attention to a certain truth in Scripture.  Then, in the succeeding moments or later on in the day, a situation arises in conversation with someone who is seeking counsel, encouragement, comfort, or direction, and the Lord brings that “light bulb” passage back to mind.  It is then and there that I have something to say; something that is powerful, true, life-changing, and Christ-exalting; something of eternal value to share!

It happened yesterday afternoon while discipling a young husband/father that the Nehemiah 4 passage I had read earlier in the morning was exactly what this man needed to hear. It helped him “connect the dots” and be encouraged! I, too, needed the truths from Nehemiah 4, but so did this young man, and how exciting for the Lord to led me to read that chapter in the morning for my friend’s instruction in righteousness later on in the day. You see, you cannot take someone where you have not been before.  If you are not in the Word, you cannot share the Word.  You are left to your human, temporal, short-sighted viewpoint.

Why should you read and study the Word of God?  So you can disciple, exhort, and teach like Christ . . . so you can have something to say!

Psalm 119:130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.