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Chaplain’s Corner – Lent 2026: Testing

Feb25

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry” (Matthew 4:1-2).

Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tempted by the devil. Our topic is testing. We will talk about temptation next week; but know this, temptation is not the same as testing in the biblical sense. Temptation comes from the devil, and it is for our harm. Testing is from God, and it is for our good.

When we are given instruction, whether it be at school, at work, or in life in general, we should be tested to see what we have learned. When we fall short, then we know what we need to work on. God tests our faithfulness from time to time, and when we fall short, guess what? We find out what we need to work on. God’s desire for us is that we be found ready when he comes to take us to our final home. God is testing us for our good.

There are many examples in the Bible of God testing his people:

  • In Genesis 2:16-17, God gave Adam an instruction: “And the Lord God commanded the man, ‘You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” This was a test; Adam and Eve failed.
  • God promised Abraham that he would be the father of the nation of Israel. Then, “By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son” (Hebrews 11:7). Also, reference Genesis 22:1. This was a test; Abraham passed.
  • When God brought the Israelites out of Egypt, “He gave you manna to eat in the wilderness, something your ancestors had never known, to humble and test you so that in the end it might go well with you” (Deuteronomy 8:16). In Hebrews 3:8, we learn how the Israelites performed on this test: “Do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness.”
  • In Judges 3:1, we learn that “These are the nations the Lord left to test all those Israelites who had not experienced any of the wars in Canaan.” Have you ever considered that wartime could be a test imposed on us by God?
  • In the New Testament, when Jesus was faced with the crowds of hungry people, hungry for his Word and for food, his asked one of his disciples, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat? He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do” (John 6:5-6). And of course, we know that Jesus fed the five thousand with the five loaves and two fishes, with food left over.
  • The Apostle Paul, who endured many trials and obstacles in his missionary work, acknowledged that God tests our faithfulness. “On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts” (1 Thessalonians 2:4).

These are just a few examples. Perhaps if we have this perspective on the tests and trials that come our way, we will be more eager to demonstrate our obedience and faith so as to be found pleasing to our Master. And as we continue to grow in faith, perhaps we can even model the psalmist, who in his wisdom writings communicated his desire to be conformed to the character of God by praying intensely for testing, examination, and trials.

“Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind” (Psalm 26:2).
“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts” (Psalm 139:23).

In Christ,

Judy

Chaplain’s Corner – Lent 2026: Preparation

Feb18

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.” (Matthew 4:1-2)

Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. It seems like we have just celebrated Christmas and the arrival of the New Year with all the associated festivities. We have been experiencing a challenging winter with snow and ice and power outages. We praise God for his supreme sovereignty over the seasons and his promise that Spring is on the way with milder temperatures and the greening of the grass and trees and the arrival of flowers (my personal favorite). During Spring, we celebrate Easter and proclaim the resurrection of Christ. For the forty or so days before Easter, we may also celebrate a special time in the formal Church calendar called Lent.

By observing the forty days of Lent, Christians remember Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and withdrawal into the wilderness for forty days. Lent is marked by fasting, both from food and festivities. Lent officially begins today, Ash Wednesday, and ends on Easter Sunday, April 5. In case you are doing the math, the forty days of Lent include all the days except Sundays between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. During Lent, we are celebrating Christ’s resurrection, and since Christians already celebrate resurrection every Sunday, Sundays are not included in Lent.

Many denominations do not formally recognize Lent, and you will not find it referenced in the Bible. Some people think of it as a time of fasting, and more especially giving up something you love, like chocolate or coffee as a personal sacrifice (or perhaps to lose weight or kick a habit and typically following a blow-out celebration on the day before called Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras in French).

Despite what modern culture might make of Lent, it is intended to be a season of reflection and preparation before Easter, which is the most solemn and significant season of the year. The culmination of Jesus’ earthly ministry was his crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension to heaven, which we celebrate during Easter. Jesus prepared to begin his earthly ministry with this time of temptation in the wilderness. It was intense, and he tested himself to the limit to prepare himself for the trials that were to come his way.

In only three short years, Jesus started a movement that changed the world. The number of Christians grew by approximately 40% per decade during the first and second centuries. As of 2020, Christianity is still the largest religion in the world with an estimated 28.8% of the world population. (Islam is next, with 25.6% and Hinduism is 14.9%. 24.2% are unaffiliated.) * Jesus began his public ministry when he found John the Baptist and asked him to baptize him. Here is the story, chronologically:

  1. Matthew 3:16-17: “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’”
  2. Then Matthew 4:1-2 records that “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted] by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.”
  3. After his time of temptation in the wilderness was completed, he withdrew to Galilee. “From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near’” (Matthew 4:13, 17).

By observing the forty days of Lent, Christians commemorate Jesus Christ’s withdrawal into the wilderness for 40 days following his baptism by John the Baptist, as he prepares for his active ministry. In the weeks ahead, we will explore more regarding Jesus’ time in the wilderness, his testing and temptation. We will learn how we can model Jesus to overcome temptation.

As we commemorate this act of Jesus, let us seek to set aside during this time of Lent to meditate on God’s word, with time for reflection, confession, and repentance.

“‘Even now,’ declares the LORD, ‘return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.’ Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and He relents from sending calamity. Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave behind a blessing — grain offerings and drink offerings for the LORD your God’” (Joel 2:12-14).

In Christ,

Judy

*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_religious_populations

Chaplain’s Corner – Fit for Special Use

Feb11

“In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master, and prepared to do any good work” (2 Timothy 2:20-21).

I believe that most of us serving at Nashville Rescue Mission believe that God has called us to serve here. And I believe that many of us, from time to time, feel a bit overwhelmed and underprepared in view of the daunting needs that we see in humanity every day. How do we deal with our feelings and more importantly, these needs? We know from Ephesians and James that he saves us to the work, and when He calls us, He also prepares us. How can we stay ready, willing, and able to face any situation?

First, realize that God is able to fill us to overflowing. David speaks of his cup overflowing; so, how can we possess the overflowing cup, or vessel, that David refers to in Psalm 23:5a? “You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”  In the Chaplain’s Corner two weeks ago entitled “Overflow,” We were reminded that when we are anointed as vessels for service, we share in the gift of the Holy Spirit; and the Holy Spirit is an endless, eternal flowing of God’s goodness and mercy. It is out of this overflow that we can not only enjoy the abundant life, but we can share it with others. Another word for cup is vessel. We pray to be vessels fit for God’s use so that we can serve from the overflow of our hearts.

Second, according to the passage above from 2 Timothy, we should participate in our own fitness by cleansing ourselves in order to be ready to be filled. Paul further explains that this refers to our cooperation with the Holy Spirit to rid ourselves of evil influences. The Bible tells us to flee from sin, to run from sin. We know that running is a good workout, so running from sin is a great way to get fit for service in a manner of speaking. Besides running from sin, Paul tells us to make every effort to purify ourselves. “With promises like this to pull us on, dear friends, let’s make a clean break with everything that defiles or distracts us, both within and without. Let’s make our entire lives fit and holy temples for the worship of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1 The Message). Again, to use running as a way to get fit, we not only run away from sin, but we chase after righteousness, faith, love, and peace.

And lastly, to be fit for special use, we must be available. There is a great story in 2 Kings 4. In the story, a widow sought help from the prophet Elisha to fend off creditors. All she had was a small jar of oil, vital for heating and cooking as well as symbolizing healing and holiness. Elisha told her to find some empty jars for more oil, and then he told her to start pouring from the small jar of oil into the empty jars. The oil flowed as long as she had available jars. When she ran out of jars, the oil stopped. How do we become fit for service? We simply make ourselves available. Every time I pray to God to show me an opportunity to serve, to do good work on His behalf, He comes through. Every time.

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’” (Isaiah 6:8).

In Christ,

Judy

Chaplain’s Corner – Extravagant Faith

Feb4

“Now to him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20).

This is Nashville Rescue Mission’s first core value, and the underpinning of all our other core values. We “value” this core value of extravagant faith even more when we are in survival mode such as the ice storm and power outages of last week. In fact, as I write this, I am trying to finish before my computer battery dies.

The battery provides an interesting analogy; one that we used in an earlier Chaplain’s Corner entitled “Rechargeable.” Of course, we recharge our devices using a power source that is subject to the whims of nature. But the Holy Spirit is not subject to the whims of nature; in fact, the whims of nature are subject to Him. The Holy Spirit is a much more trustworthy power source.

To understand extravagant faith, we must first understand faith. Faith is the means by which we receive the gift of salvation. It is similar to trust. In Hebrews 11:1, we learn that “…faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” And Paul writes: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it (salvation) is the gift of God— (Ephesians 2:8). For example, it was the faith of Abraham that was his righteousness. “Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why ‘it was credited to him as righteousness’.” (Romans 4:20-22).

Have you ever watched a movie where someone has been pushed over a cliff or roof and is hanging on to the edge for dear life? Someone sends a rope or hand, but in order to grab onto the rope, the person has to let go of the cliff. Easier said than done. Or perhaps the only way off the island is to push off into the current that is only going in one direction, hoping it will go toward eventual rescue. Or someone we know needs material assistance which will require our giving sacrificially, not knowing if we will be repaid. In each case, we must let go the feeble hold we have on this life and material things and grab on to the life that Jesus offers. This, my friends, is extravagant faith. Trusting (letting go)  so that God can save us; so that He can do “exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.”

What is also interesting is that opening our hands to let go also results in opening our hands to receive. Jesus tells us that he is “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). We stay connected to the vine by faith—by trusting in His Word. We may think that if we have enough faith, we can do great things. However, we in and of ourselves will never do great things. It is only God, working through us as we are connected to Him BY FAITH, that we will bear much fruit. It is the Holy Spirit working through us that is doing the bearing. In receiving power through our connection to the vine (power source) we are allowing ourselves to be used for God’s extravagant purposes.

It is the same with prayer. We may think that if only we had enough faith, God would do what we ask of Him in our prayers. But that is not how it works. With extravagant faith, we trust God to answer our prayers with the best possible outcome for all concerned for all time.

Extravagant faith is the means to salvation and our journey to sanctification and glorification. We acknowledge that we are sinners and unable to save ourselves except by the grace of God. When the jailor asked Paul what he must do to be saved, Paul told him, “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). Salvation comes through believing that Jesus is who He says He is and that He can do what He says He will do.

Open your heart and open your hands to receive the glorious gift of salvation. If you have never done this before, then right now, just stop and talk to God about it. Tell him you want to accept His gift of salvation. Acknowledge your need for the saving grace that only He can provide, ask Him to come into your heart and transform your life. Thank Him and then find someone to talk to about this. I would love to hear from you and to talk with you more about your decision. God has amazing plans in store for all those who trust and obey. Now, let us grab on to the rope, push off into the current, and follow Jesus. Have faith! Follow Jesus!

“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:8-10).

In Christ,

Judy

Chaplain’s Corner – Overflow

Jan28

“You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows” (Psalm 23:5b). 

Many years ago, I read a quote by George Bernard Shaw that inspired me. He wrote,” I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live.” Based on this quote I had this idea of giving/spending myself until there was nothing left to give. Sort of racing so hard that you keel over at the finish line because you have nothing left. Putting it all on the line. And please do not misunderstand, I believe the sentiment behind this statement (which is actually part of a much longer speech), is commendable. 

However, my pastor has been preaching on “All Things New” this year, and from his teaching I have realized that while possibly noble, the idea of being all used up is not biblical. It is not biblical because the implication is that what we have to give is totally of our own doing, that we serve out of our own power, but that is not the reality for believers. 

The biblical reality is that we are vessels for God’s use. The anointing described by David signifies the bestowing of God’s favor. David was anointed as we see from the passage above. Jesus was anointed as we read in Acts 10:37-38. And as believers, we are anointed, as described in this passage from Got Questions: “There is also a sense in which Christians today are anointed. Through Jesus Christ, believers receive “an anointing from the Holy One” (1 John 2:20). This anointing is not expressed in an outward ceremony but through sharing in the gift of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:11). At the moment of salvation, believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit and joined to Christ, the Anointed One. As a result, we partake of His anointing (2 Corinthians 1:21–22). According to one scholar, this anointing “expresses the sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit upon Christians who are priests and kings unto God.’” 

And as the psalmist states, his “cup overflows.” When we are anointed as vessels for service, we share in the gift of the Holy Spirit; and the Holy Spirit is an endless, eternal flowing of God’s goodness and mercy. In fact, that is what David says in the very next verse: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life” (Psalm 6a). The overflow cannot be hoarded; it is for us to share, to fuel our service, which we offer out of thanksgiving for the grace and mercy extended to us by Jesus, The Anointed One. 

When we serve out of our own power, we can become frustrated, exhausted, even hopeless, especially when it seems that our work is in vain. When we serve out of the gifting of the Holy Spirit, using the fruits of the Holy Spirit, then we are operating out of the same power that raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 8:11). While available, this power is not automatic. We must cooperate in obedience in order to fully benefit. In subsequent devotions, I will go more into the actions we must take to fully benefit, but I leave you with this most important first step: Pray! 

Pray. The power of the Holy Spirit is available to us when we ask God for it. In the morning when you first open your eyes, ask God to provide what you need when you need it, and He will. In the moment when you are confused, frustrated, frightened, overwhelmed, ask God to provide. He does not have to be an emergency backup for when the power otherwise fails (although He can be). And when you do not even know how to pray, the Holy Spirit will “groan” for you (what an unbelievably comforting image). And trust that as a believer, even when you forget to ask, God will never let you down. Jesus promised: “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper (the Holy Spirit), to be with you forever” (John 14:16). 

So for sure, one of my superpowers is the willingness and ability to work hard. I like to work; I love to serve. But I have my limits, and I have certainly come to the end of myself many times. Praise God, He is there to accomplish so much more through me that I could ever do on my own. And of course, I really never can do anything on my own anyway, it is always God. Praise God. 

Just know that whatever God asks of you, he will provide the means for you to accomplish it regardless of the role(s) in which you serve. One of my all-time favorite worship songs: Same Power, by Jeremy Camp. Now, rather than praying to serve until I am all used up, I pray to be going full steam under God’s power at whatever He calls me to do until I take my dying breath.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). 

In Christ, 

Judy 

Chaplain’s Corner – One Thing

Jan20

Last week, the Chaplain’s Corner was about recharging yourself for God’s work. I imagine that if you even had time to read the devotion, your first thought was: “When will I have time to do all this? Don’t you realize the hours I’m already working?” Let me respond by suggesting that you look at the life of Jesus. A participant in one of my Bible studies once made a remarkable statement about the life of Jesus. She said something like this:

“Even though Jesus knew he would only have about three years of ministry, and even though  he knew more than anyone the scope of his ministry, he was never in a rush.”

I’m telling you this really speaks to me. Just give me a deadline and I become a whirling dervish of activity. I can easily become more concerned about the “doing” than the “who,” just being honest. How can I become more like Jesus? Maybe another way to ask the question is how I can become more like Mary. In the biblical descriptions of the Mary and Martha (sisters of Lazarus), many of my friends (me included) identify more with Martha. We have experienced the times when we seem to be the only ones working in the kitchen to get the meal prepared or wash the dishes, while certain family members are just hanging out. Like the story from Luke 10:38-42: When Martha got upset about Mary who just wanted to hang with Jesus rather than helping in the kitchen (after all, it was nearly time for dinner and all these people are coming), Jesus chided her, “There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

What secret had Mary discovered? And what was Jesus’ secret? How could he always be so “in the moment” and focused on his people? Let’s look at some examples:

First, Jesus knew what his priorities were, and to whom he answered. Jesus had just fed the five thousand and then walked on water. The crowds have now chased him around the lake. He was probably exhausted, but he took the time to preach more words of life. “For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day” (John 6:38-39).

Second, Jesus knew that God was ultimately in control of his schedule. “So, the sisters sent word to Jesus, ‘Lord, the one you love (Lazarus) is sick.’ When he heard this, Jesus said, ‘This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.’ Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, and then he said to his disciples, ‘Let us go back to Judea’” (John 11:3-7).

Third, Jesus knew that God was sovereign over his time. Speaking to his disciples: “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Matthew 24:36). “Therefore, Jesus told them, ‘My time is not yet here; for you, any time will do. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil. You go to the festival. I am not going up to this festival, because my time has not yet fully come” (John 7:6-8).

The Gospels tell us that Jesus often got alone, not just for some rest and a change of pace, but also that He might spend time in communion with His heavenly Father. Notice these observations by His disciples:

  1. “Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, and He was alone there for forty days, except for when the Devil came to tempt Him” (Matt. 4:1–11).
  2. “After he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone” (Matt. 14:23).
  3. “Rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed” (Mark 1:35).
  4. “When it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place” (Luke 4:42).

Jesus often sought solitude to have time alone with his Father. Jesus not only modeled prayer in solitude, He exhorted us to do the same: “But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret” (Matt. 6:6). Jesus knew how to plug in to his power source to recharge (see last week’s devotion).

All this does not mean that Jesus didn’t also do the work he was called to do, and it doesn’t mean that he didn’t find time to enjoy being with his disciples, with his friends, and even with sinners and Pharisees. It seems that he liked a good party. There are stories about inviting himself to Zacchaeus’ (tax collector) house and also having dinner at Simon’s home. His first miracle was at a wedding, which was always a large family affair.

But in all things, He focused on the One Thing that mattered—submitting to the sovereign will of his Father in Heaven.

In 2026 I am challenging myself to live more like Jesus did, and to be concerned about the One Thing that is worth being concerned about, and that is to seek the presence of my heavenly Father, seeking to rest in his presence and to glorify him in obedience to His will.

”One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple” (Psalm 27:4).

In Christ,

Judy

Chaplain’s Corner – Rechargeable

Jan13

It is interesting (at least 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 for 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. Rest, renewal, and recharging are for us. 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).

      2. 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).

        3. 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).

          4. 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 Stranger Things, The Simpsons, or even Hallmark?

          Just like it seems 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 of yourselves.

          “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 – Fellowship

          Jan7

          “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42).

          Fellowship is one of those words that is a noun, a verb, and an adjective. I remember it from my youth related to the fun times in our church Fellowship Hall where we had meals and other informal gatherings. I honestly thought the Fellowship Hall was designed for recreational use so that we would not dishonor the sanctuary. I did not understand the biblical significance of “fellowship.”

          The word “fellowship” appears ninety-four times in the Bible, at least in the NIV translation. All but one of the Old Testament references refers to fellowship in the context of an offering—a sacrificial fellowship offering. The New Testament references are more closely related to how we would understand fellowship, but I would suggest that this practice is far more intentional and important than perhaps we, or least I, thought. Some of the New Testament references, in addition to the opening verse, are as follows:

          1. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:9)
          2. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Corinthians 13:14)
          3. James, Cephas and John, those esteemed as pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised. (Galatians 2:9)
          4. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:3)
          5. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. (1 John 1:6)
          6. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)

          As we can see from these verses, as believers we are called (see #1) to have fellowship with God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and with fellow believers (see #2, #4). This is a holy union (see #6), not to be dishonored by walking in darkness (see #5). What are some ways that we can understand and practice true fellowship?

          1. Open: True fellowship is open, welcoming to other believers, regardless of their background (see #3). James tells us not to be partial to those who are more well-to-do. In the Acts 2 church, thousands were saved and joined the early church. These new believers were from many ethnic, cultural, and economic backgrounds, and they were welcomed. From this, the church movement began that resulted in Christianity spreading throughout the world. We say we want revival, but we need to be prepared to be open and willing to welcome and fellowship with believers of every background. After all, isn’t this just a foretaste of what Heaven will be like?
          • Other-focused: “Around fifty times in the New Testament, Jesus and the apostles tell us to feel, say, or do something to “one another.” We are to care for one another and bear with one another, honor one another and sing to one another, do good to one another, and forgive one another. And then there is the grand, overarching, most-repeated one-another, the command that ‘binds everything together in perfect harmony’ (Colossians 3:14): ‘Love one another’.”
          • Offerings: contributions of ourselves–our time, our talent, our money. It’s not just being in the same room; it’s giving of ourselves to others. In the early church, the believers freely shared with each other. “All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:44-47). Fellowship involves giving of ourselves sacrificially. This doesn’t always mean money or even personal possessions. It can mean spending time together eating a meal, praying, offering a listening ear, perhaps even sacrificing our own personal opinions to hear someone else out—to take time to wholeheartedly BE WITH the other person.

          It is interesting to note that in the Old Testament, the only type of sacrificial offering that the giver could partake of was called a Fellowship–or Peace–Offering (all the others were to be totally consumed by fire or eaten by the priests). To be at peace with God or anyone else is to be reconciled to them, and in those days it was signified by the act of sharing a meal with God. We are called to be peacemakers, we are called to fellowship. So, next time we have the opportunity to participate in any meeting of believers, large or small, planned or spontaneous, let’s participate wholeheartedly with God’s purpose for fellowship in mind—to invest in each other in community in anticipation of the eternal Kingdom of Heaven.

          “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.” (1 John 1:1-4).

          In Christ,

          Judy

          Chaplain’s Corner – Knowing

          Dec31

          “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (Timothy 2:15).  

          It’s resolution-making time, and one of my favorite times of the year. I have always enjoyed looking forward, making plans, and visualizing goals. Although I am not so good at evaluating progress or always following through, I do honestly believe that I do better than I would have done by the practice of setting goals. I guess it’s a sign of my age that my goals don’t dramatically change, and even become more “ordinary,” over time. But I also think that as I get older and “settle down” the main thing becomes the main thing, if you know what I mean.

          The verse referenced above is my main verse to support three of my goals for this year.

          1. To please God in everything that I say, do, and think in all my roles and relationships. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23-24).
          • To have no regrets/leave nothing on the table when it comes to my service at Nashville Rescue Mission. “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free” (Ephesians 6:7-8).
          • To know and teach God’s Word truthfully and effectively. Only by knowing God’s word do we have the ability to discern what is truth and what is false, what is worldly and what is eternal. We can deduce that there must be a Creator when we observe creation; but we cannot know how to be reconciled with our Creator unless we hear and experience His Word to us, the gospel. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith’” (Romans 1:16-17).

          These are not necessarily new goals for me, but my motivation has changed over time. I’ve always wanted to be well thought of. I’ve wanted to do good, to be good. I’ve always loved and admired the Bible. But increasingly, what I long for is to know Jesus, to be known by Jesus, and to make Him known. This is the main thing.

          Brothers and sisters in Christ, my prayer for you as we move into the new year is taken directly from the words of Jesus in John 17 as he prayed for himself, for his disciples, and for all believers just prior to his arrest and death on the cross for our sins:

          “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made youknown to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”  (John 17:3; 25-26).

          In Christ,

          Judy

          Chaplain’s Corner – Advent (Hope)

          Dec24

          “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good” (Titus 2:11-14).

          Hope is traditionally one of the themes of Advent. In fulfilling the promise of the first Advent of our Savior, God demonstrates his love for us and promises us the second Advent during which Jesus will return to earth as King of Kings and Lord of Lords to reign in power and glory (Revelation 19:11-16).

          My real understanding of biblical hope came to me as a graduate student at seminary. I accepted Christ as my Savior around my tenth birthday and have always had a relationship with Jesus. However, I admit that I have also been a child of my culture and not immune to teachings of nonbiblical writers. I became infatuated with worldly definitions of success, love, power, comfort, entertainment, and security. The world view that is prevalent in our culture today denies the existence of absolute truth and good versus evil, and it encourages us to value worldly pleasures over the desire to please God.* These views have so infiltrated our thinking that they seem like truth—at least until really examined through the lens of the Scriptures. That is what Seminary did for me—it opened my eyes to the Truth. And here is the most important Truth that I learned (deep down I knew this, but I had really let the noise of current culture dilute it until it just wasn’t even obvious): Christ Is Our Only Hope in Life and Death.

          In this context, hope is not “wishful thinking,” as in “I hope so.”  The hope we have in Christ is defined as “confident expectation.” When we say, “Christ is our only hope in life and death” we are not saying that maybe Christ is the answer to our problems. No! We are instead saying that we can confidently believe what Jesus tells us in John 14:6 when He says: “I am THE way and THE truth and THE life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Hope is believing that Jesus is who he says he is and that he can do what he says he can do. Biblical hope is built on faith (Hebrews 11:1).

          I am convinced that through Christ, we can redefine what it means to be joyful, successful, and secure; and to know that true joy, success, and security come from “…looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).

          We know that Jesus not only authored our faith and through the gift of the Holy Spirit helps us to persevere and grow in our faith, He also seals our faith. “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ(Philippians 1:6). “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:13-14). This, my brothers, and sisters in Christ, is why we have hope. This is why our mission at Nashville Rescue Mission is “Hope for Today, Hope for Tomorrow, and Hope for Eternity.” This is why “Hope Lives Here” at Nashville Rescue Mission. This isn’t just a nice sentiment; it is literally why we exist. Just like the old gospel hymn “Rescue the Perishing,” the mission of the Mission is to proclaim the hope we have in Christ and His power to save. Offering shelter, food, clothing, case management, and programs are merely a means to that end.

          In the first Chaplain’s Corner of Advent, I wrote about the Promise of a Savior. Then I wrote about the Peace and Joy that we have in knowing that Jesus is our Savior. Hope is what unites us with the Promise, and Peace and Joy are the resulting fruits of the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives. My prayer for you, as we are ending 2025 and moving into 2026, is this: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).

          My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less (lyrics by Edward Mote)

          My hope is built on nothing less
          Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
          And I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
          But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

          When darkness seems to hide His face, 
          I rest on His unchanging grace;
          In every high and stormy gale,
          My anchor holds within the veil.

          His oath, his covenant, His blood
          Support me in the whelming flood;
          When all around my soul gives way,
          He then is all my hope and stay.

          When he shall come with trumpet sound,
          O may I then in Him be found!
          Dressed in his righteousness alone,
          Faultless to stand before the throne!

          On Christ, the solid rock, I stand;
          All other ground is sinking sand,
          All other ground is sinking sand.

          In Christ,

          Judy

          *For more information on this topic, read: https://www.barna.com/research/competing-worldviews-influence-todays-christians/