We’re Just a Bunch of Comfort Carrying Christians

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Has a person just come to your mind out of the blue and you know God has put them on your heart to pray for them? Well, that happened to me this week.

Let me go back in time and set the scene. When I was young and innocent and ignorant I knew of another girl who was young and innocent and ignorant. She was a blond darling and everyone loved her and she was one of the churches’ and society’s “chosen” ones. I watched her and thought, “Wow, she’s got it all!”

Well, we grew up in separate circles but I happened upon a recent picture of her all grown up. Tears came to my eyes to see the person she had become. She couldn't even smile for the camera. Even on my darkest days I can summon up a “cheese” when a camera is pointed in my direction. When I looked into her eyes it was like staring into pain. God thumped my heart and said, “Pray for her. Carry her burden with her for a while. Pass on a little of the comfort I've given to you.” It’s not like I can call her up and say, “Hey, thinkin about you today…so how you dooooin?” She didn't know me then and she won’t know me now. But I will secretly walk with her and carry her burden for a while.

And I thought, that’s what we do as Christians; we walk with those who need us and carry their burdens for a time. Then God brings another person to mind and we exchange one person for another, one’s burden for another’s burden. And on and on….. That’s just what we do. We exchange our comfort for their burden. We pass on the strength from God we found through difficulties.

So even though she may never know she was on my heart and mind, I will silently walk beside her and carry some of her pain. I will pray that God will comfort her.

That’s what I will do.

That’s what someone will do for me.

We’re just a bunch of comfort carrying Christians.

I Don’t Like Stingy Roses

I love roses. I like to get them from the Grocery store or the florist. But mostly I like to grow them. I have a lot of rose bushes in my yard and they put on a grand first blush (that’s rosarian speak for the first blooms in the spring.)

If you asked a real rosarian (btw, I’m not one) they will tell you all the kinds of roses: climbing, shrub, tea, etc…. But as far as I’m concerned there are only two types: repeat bloomers and what I call stingy bloomers. The stingy ones have a great first blush and then a week later nothing but leaves. And this continues for the rest of the rose year. It’s such a letdown. Now the ones I have are repeat bloomers. You dead head them (rosarian speak for cut off the dead blooms) and they bloom again and again and again. All spring and all summer and into the fall if the weather cooperates.

This year has been great for roses. I told my neighbor she could cut all she wanted to give to her mom for Mother’s Day. At first she was hesitant. She said, “I can’t take away all of your roses!” To which I said, “Sure you can. The more you cut them the more they bloom.”

 That’s when I had an “AHA” moment.

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5

This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. John 15:8

Yes, yes, I knew this story. Bear fruit. Bear much fruit. The Greek word is “polus” and is about quantity, more and more, repeating often. We are to be repeat bloomers! Aha.

I know the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (From Galatians 5:22) But I had mistakenly looked at these fruits from “I gotta have these things” instead of “I gotta give these things.”

If I just pat myself on the back and say, “I have the fruits of the Holy Spirit, “ I’m being stingy with the fruit. I think I’m supposed to give these fruits away to others and then repeat bloom, again and again. Give people what I know about Jesus so that they can know Him.

Give love.

Give joy

Give peace.

Give patience.

Give kindness.

Give goodness.

Give faithfulness.

Give gentleness.

Give self-control.

Give and produce more and give it again.

The more you give the more you will bloom. It sounds kind of hokey but it’s true.

Whatcha Doin There Philemon?

Well, I've finished my Bible study of Philemon and in record time for me. OK, I know it’s only 25 verses but let me have a moment to celebrate. 

Yay! 

Moment is over.

Give theologians a chance to have a controversial topic and they will jump on it. And it seems little Philemon falls in this category. Paul wrote it so it should be in the Bible. Right? But why is it relevant to me? And that is the debate.

1.       An antislavery proclamation especially when Christians are involved. (I agree. Our country would have had a different history if we had taken these 25 verses to heart.)

2.       A unity proclamation especially when Christians are involved. (I agree. Our churches would have a different history if we had taken these 25 verses to heart.)

3.       A restoration proclamation especially when Christians are involved. (I agree. Our relationships with others would have a different history if we had taken these 25 verses to heart.)

So which one of these does Paul and God want us to accept and major on? I think all three. I have never been and probably won’t ever be a great theological debater but I wouldn't take on theologians over this.

1.       We shouldn't treat anyone as subservient. We are equal in the family of God and in the sight of God and all deserve the same love and fellowship. That kind of convicts me because sometimes I treat people differently according to societal stations. I may give them more respect or more attention according to their wealth or power. But every brother and sister in Christ deserves loving equality.

2.       We should live in harmony as a church and fellowship of believers. When we have knock down drag out fights over stuff that doesn't matter to God or eternity it’s so wrong. That kind of convicts me because sometimes I just want my way in a group. But that destroys Jesus’ intention for His bride the church.

3.       We shouldn't kick a Christian when He flubs up. Hey, we’ll all be there at some point and will need to be lovingly restored. That kind of convicts me because, yes, my ears perk up when someone says, “Did you hear about so and so and that they did such and such? Can you believe that?” Our question should be, “How can we help them get back to where they should be with God?” Then help and lovingly graciously put them back as a friend and partner in Christ.

Then Paul ends his little letter with this closing:

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. Verse 25

Or I like to say:

May the very breath of God on your life bring blessing, joy, favor and grace because He looks at you through the work of our Master and Savior Jesus the one and only Christ. Amen!

Thanks Paul.

I’m glad you wrote that to help Philemon.

It has helped me too.

Level 5 Friend

They say:

There are five levels of friendship with 5 being the deepest level.

If you have as many real friends as you have fingers on one hand you are very fortunate.

You may have many acquaintances but only a few friends.

Some friendships are temporary but some stand the test of time.

A true friend accepts you unconditionally warts and all.

All these sayings are true. Paul said something like this to Philemon when describing their friendship.

Verse 4 – You’re a level 5 friend and I give thanks for you all the time and pray specifically for you.

Verse 5 – Even when we are not together I trust you to remain faithful to God and to the people around you.

Verse 6 – When we’re together I see how you treat others and it makes me closer to God.

Verse 7 – You make me happy when I’m down. You give me the “want to” when I don’t want to. You make me a better person because you are in my life.

Of course, I paraphrased and interpreted these verses and I hope with Paul’s feelings and intentions. Philemon was his good friend; good to him and good for him.

Then he described his friendship with Onesimus that he was sending to Philemon:

Verse 10 –He is like my child and I feel that type of relationship with him.

Verse 11 – He is so very attuned to needs around him and is ready to serve. He has changed from his old ways to become this new person.

Verse 12 – I beg you to accept the new him because this Onesimus is also my level 5 friend.

Verse 13 – I wanted to selfishly keep him here with me but I’m so excited about his progress and I think you need to see this change. You need to restore your broken relationship with him because he can be a level 5 friend with you.

Again, I paraphrased. Onesimus found his true ministry and Paul was very proud of him. Onesimus was his good friend; good to him and good for him.

 All this made me consider my close friends. Can I say these things about them? More importantly, can they say these things about me?

This is the definition of friendship to be used when you are counting your real friends. The on one hand kind of friend. The level 5 friend. The you can be you around them and it's OK friend.

It makes me want to work a little harder on my friendship skills. It makes me want to be closer to people who possess theses friendship skills.

Who can you bump level 5 with?

P.S. I miss my Gary, my love and friend.