Archive | January 2022

Chaplain’s Corner – Rechargeable

Jan26

It is interesting to me to consider how I prepare for a trip now as compared to years ago.

  • I used to leave my destination phone numbers with my family in case they needed to reach me. Now that’s not necessary because I have a cell phone and can be reached anytime.
  • I used to take a stack of books (I like to read), but now I take my Kindle, or I just read on my cell phone.
  • I used to print out directions from MapQuest, now I just check Google Maps on my cell phone.
  • I used to make all kinds of advance preparations, but now I don’t worry so much because I have my laptop and can email or check balances—all that kind of thing; or I can use my cell phone.

These electronic devices are life savers, so long as they are charged! And, as important as it is for me to bring my cell phone, Kindle, and laptop, it is equally important that I bring my chargers. Without these chargers, I am helpless because all these devices that I depend on are useless when the battery runs down.

Now, the important thing is to ensure that my devices are charged before they run down at the most inappropriate time. I must have chargers and access to an electric outlet, or I must have battery backup. These are now essential to my life. Does this sound ridiculous? I hope not. In fact, I’m sure you must agree with me. It’s just a physical fact. We might get mad at our cell phones when the battery runs down, but aren’t we usually more mad at ourselves for not taking the obvious step to get the thing charged?

Guess what: our bodies are no different. They can only run so long without recharging. It is a physical fact of nature. This is how God made us. In most cases, to think we are different is to deny God’s plan for us. Remember, our God gave us the Sabbath, and Jesus said that Sabbath was for man. God desires good things for us, and that includes good overall health.

In fact, there are four dimensions to our overall health. These are mentioned in Luke 2:52 – “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” If we want to imitate Jesus, then we also will see the need to grow and be daily recharged in these four areas.

  1. Physical Health (stature)

“For you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:20).

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

“The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27-28).

  • Mental Health (wisdom)

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4:8)

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:1-2)

  • Spiritual Health (Favor with God)

“Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, so you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man” (Proverbs 3:3-4).

“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:32).

  • Relational Health (Favor with Man)

“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; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God” (1 John 4:7).

I realize that many of you are working so many hours that you can’t think about doing anything else. However, the whole point of this message is to grow more Christ-like and to be refreshed, renewed, and recharged so that we can be our best selves as we serve God. We work hard, but we take care to ensure that we are also making good use of whatever time off available to eat well, work out, sleep, read the Bible, talk to God, and spend quality time with our family and friends. Most of us, if we are honest, waste time; for example, watching mindless television during which we say we are resting. But, is that the best way to rest? Are we really recharged by watching Homeland, Scandal, or even Hallmark?

Just like it seems to be inconvenient to put the cell phone on the charger regularly, it may seem inconvenient to recharge ourselves. However, if we don’t, the cell phone, and ourselves, will become useless over time, and potentially unrevivable. Don’t let that happen. Take care to take care of yourselves. To be an adult is to realize that no one will take responsibility for your health but you.

But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:20-24)

In Christ,

Judy

Chaplain’s Corner – What Is God Doing?

Jan19

 “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us?” Judges 6:13a

You are not the first person to have ever said or thought this, just saying.

Gideon was a leader in the time of the judges. The Israelites were resettling in Canaan after their exodus from Egypt. Although many of the surrounding nations had been conquered, there were still some remaining groups who were causing trouble, especially the Midianites during this particular time.

Gideon, encouraged by the Spirit of the Lord (Judges 6:33-35) had called his people to arms and had assembled a large army of 32,000 men. What happens next defies logic. God told Gideon he had too many men and proceeded to systematically whittle down the army to 300 men. Yes, you read correctly: from 32,000 to 300 men (Judges 7:16-22). God said that anyone who was afraid could go home, and 22,000 men went home! Then God devised a test based on how the remaining men drank water from a brook. The 9,700 who knelt to drink were sent home, leaving the 300 men who lapped the water like dogs.

With these 300 men, a tiny fraction of the original army, Gideon went up against a Midianite army of 135,000. (This would have been intimidating with the original army of 32,000.)  And here’s what happened (Judges 8:10-12):

“Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with a force of about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of the armies of the eastern peoples; a hundred and twenty thousand swordsmen had fallen. 11 Gideon went up by the route of the nomads east of Nobah and Jogbehah and attacked the unsuspecting army. 12 Zebah and Zalmunna, the two kings of Midian, fled, but he pursued them and captured them, routing their entire army.”

When I read this story in my daily Bible reading last week, I could not help but think about our Nashville Rescue Mission staff. Despite all our efforts, we cannot seem to get to a full staffing situation. With the labor shortage and the pandemic, we have too many unfilled positions and too many who cannot come in because they are either sick or have been exposed. It is disheartening to see our numbers dwindle, and overwhelming when we are faced with numbers of desperate people we are called to serve with such short staffing.

This is what we need to take away from this story:

  • Our work is God’s work. “Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s’” (2 Chronicles 2:15b)
  • God is sovereign. “Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you” (Jeremiah 32:7)
  • God has already won. “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,

and every tongue shall confess to God” (Romans 15:11)

So, I’m going to say something that you may not like, but know that I am talking to myself as much as to you. Because we have this assurance, we don’t need to worry or fret when someone doesn’t show up for their shift. We don’t need to get frustrated. We don’t need to feel defeated. And, we don’t need to complain.

God has chosen us as his “Gideon’s Army.” We may be tiny, but we have the Spirit of the Lord to go with us and fight for us. Therefore, we need to believe that every challenge is an opportunity for God’s providence to be magnified. We need to be confident, joyful, patient, persevering, positive and trusting.

I know this is hard; I know it’s human to feel down when you are so tired and frustrated, especially when you don’t see results or even some gratitude. It seems like it takes more energy to be positive, but that’s not really the case. According to WebMD: “We may not have the technology to measure it, but you probably know what negative energy feels like. It can come from negative people, from your surroundings, or from your own psyche. It can leave you exhausted both mentally and physically. Negative energy perpetuates itself, therefore, breeding more negativity. Learning to deal with negative energy is important for your health and happiness.”

On the other hand, according to this Johns Hopkins website: “…there is definitely a strong link between ‘positivity’ and health. Additional studies have found that a positive attitude improves outcomes and life satisfaction across a spectrum of conditions—including traumatic brain injury, stroke and brain tumors.”

The website references some ways to develop positivity. But the most effective way is to just ask God. If you genuinely want to share this victory with God, just tell Him and then follow His lead. “For nothing will be impossible with God” (Matthew 19:26).

God has a way of taking something small and doing something big. Don’t let the enemy take your joy, no matter what the circumstances. We saw that God reduced the forces of Gideon to prove that the victory would be His. God was fighting for Israel. God is fighting for us. “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).

The Battle Belongs to the Lord

In Christ,

Judy

Chaplain’s Corner – Dirty Jobs

Jan12

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap a harvest, if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).

Did you ever watch the series, Dirty Jobs, hosted by Mike Rowe? I was first made aware of it back when I worked for Caterpillar (immediately before coming to the Mission). Rowe thought Cat was ideal for partnership with his business, so he became our spokesperson because our construction equipment was used in the most basic and, let’s face it, dirty, endeavors. As he put it, Caterpillar was there, first on the scene, ensuring that the dirt was moved and the basic infrastructure was put into place for many of America’s buildings, bridges, dams, and highways. When a project is completed, you rarely see the part that Caterpillar played, but the work was essential all the same.

If you were to ask an equipment operator what he was doing while at work, he might say “I’m digging a hole, or just moving dirt.” But he could say, “I’m participating in a project (hydroelectric dam) to ensure that millions of people will have affordable electricity to heat their homes and cook their food.” The latter statement recognizes the big picture, and that vision should keep him going, even when the bulldozer gets stuck in the muck.

From my vantage point, I can’t think of a literally dirtier job than what many of you here at the Mission are faced with daily. And I know it is discouraging because for all your efforts, it seems we never make the progress we would like; we don’t see the life change that needs to be made, it seems like the complaints exceed the gratitude, and it seems like the more we serve, the more helpless and hurting people continue to walk through our doors.

Daily, you are a witness and obedient to the Scripture from Deuteronomy 15:11a “There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore, I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.”

It can be so disheartening and discouraging. What can we do? How can we go on, working these “dirty jobs?” Here are some reminders that should help:

  1. Remember that God sees everything that you do.

He sees the work of your hands, and he knows the desires of your heart. He sees your circumstances, and the reactions to all your efforts. “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:17-18).

2. Remember that God cares for you, even if it seems like no one else does.

1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

3. Remember that God will protect you.

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you” (Isaiah 43:2).

4. Remember that God will strengthen you.

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).

5. Remember that our God is Sovereign.

We may not know His immediate plans, but we know His character and we know the outcome. God says in Isaiah 43:19, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”

The reference to dirty jobs above reminds me of the story about the stonecutter, who when asked what he was doing, said he was building a cathedral. All anyone could see were the big rocks he was chipping away on, but he knew his higher purpose. That cathedral probably wouldn’t be finished in the stonecutter’s lifetime, but he was fulfilling his purpose.

It’s the same with us here at Nashville Rescue Mission. The work that you perform daily, mostly unseen and unrecognized, is fulfilling a higher purpose. You are doing God’s work. Like the bulldozer digging the foundation hole, the results of your labors may go unseen; however, know that when you are obedient to His will, He will bless you in His loving way and in His timing. God is Good, All the Time. All the Time, God is Good.“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world!” (John 16:33).  

In Christ

Judy

Chaplain’s Corner – We Will Not Be Overcome

Jan5

“They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord” (Jeremiah 1:19).

As we have been learning in our weekly Tuesday Bible Study, Jeremiah was called as a prophet to the nation of Judah during its last years before the inhabitants were deported to Babylon. He was active for some 40 years, from the thirteenth year of Josiah in 627 BC, through a total of five kings, to the fall of Jerusalem in 587. He was called to tell his people that they would be punished for their sins. He told them they would be removed from their Promised Land and that they would need to accept this as the consequence of turning away from God. As this was an unpopular message, he was very unpopular and was threatened and attacked many times. For this reason, he was known as the “weeping prophet.”

Perhaps you feel this way, as if you are called to a thankless task. You show up, day in and day out, and minister to our guests, program participants, and staff. It seems like the problems are insurmountable, and no one is grateful. In fact, you may become the object of their frustration stemming from everything else in their lives because you are a convenient target. Like Jeremiah, God has a word for you:

“They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you.”

The good news for us, as it is for them, is that for all who believe, we will be rescued. In fact, Jeremiah gave the Jews this truthful and hopeful message from the Lord, as recorded in Jeremiah 29:10-14:

10 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

Friends, you have the same promise from God. Your time on this earth may feel like captivity. Have hope. God has better plans for you.

“And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you” (Romans 8:11).

And the same power that rose Jesus from the grave lives in you. Take heart from these Scriptures and from this encouraging and inspiring song from Jeremy Camp.

Same Power, by Jeremy Camp

I can see
Waters raging at my feet
I can feel
The breath of those surrounding me
I can hear
The sound of nations rising up
We will not be overtaken
We will not be overcome

I can walk
Down this dark and painful road
I can face
Every fear of the unknown
I can hear
All God’s children singing out
We will not be overtaken
We will not be overcome

The same power that rose Jesus from the grave
The same power that commands the dead to wake
Lives in us, lives in us
The same power that moves mountains when He speaks
The same power that can calm a raging sea
Lives in us, lives in us
He lives in us, lives in us

We have hope
That His promises are true
In His strength
There is nothing we can’t do
Yes, we know
There are greater things in store
We will not be overtaken
We will not be overcome

The same power that rose Jesus from the grave
The same power that commands the dead to wake
Lives in us, lives in us
The same power that moves mountains when He speaks
The same power that can calm a raging sea
Lives in us, lives in us
He lives in us, lives in us

Greater is He that is living in me
He’s conquered our enemy
No power of darkness
No weapon prevails
We stand here in victory

In Christ,

Judy