Walking in Newness

Walking in Newness

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

While we are always cognizant of the new year, we are not so often aware of our own newness in Jesus Christ.  Our God is the Father of new beginnings:  Passover begins a new spiritual year.  Rosh Hashanah marks the new civil year.  Hanukkah is a time of rededication.

The prophet Jeremiah declared in Lamentations 3:22-23 (NKJV): “Through the LORD'S mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.”

In the Lord, each day, each moment is a chance for a new beginning and an abundant life.  John 10:10 (NKJV) “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”  Being reborn by accepting Jesus as both our Savior and our Lord, we have access to life abundantly.  It is never too late to step into that abundant new life.

In our born-again experience, we actually become new creations. Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

Each day we can walk in that newness.  Romans 6:3-4 (NKJV) “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

Paul gave both the Galatians and the entire Church advice in walking in newness. Galatians 5:16-17 (NKJV):  “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.”

In Romans 8:14-15 we learn that when we walk according to the Holy Spirit, we become sons of God.  ^“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”

“Abba” is the Hebrew word for “Papa.”   The word embraces more that a legal relationship.  Abba connotes an emotional and spiritual tie.  A few years ago, I was sitting in the lobby of a hotel in Jerusalem.  A group of orthodox Jewish men were mingling in the lobby as well.  They were dressed in the traditional garb of black suits, white shirts, and black hats.  A small boy of 3 or 4 was dressed similarly. 

Suddenly he broke from the group, ran toward a young man who had just come through the door.  He called “Abba, Abba, Abba” as he threw himself in the arms of his father.  His abba picked him up, held him close and kissed him all over his face while the little one giggled with delight.

That is the Abba relationship.  It is the relationship that God wants with each of us.  That relationship brings newness of life.

Romans 8:16-17 continues:  “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” 

Paul confirms what David wrote:  Psalm 16:5-6 (NKJV): “O LORD, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance.”

As a new creation, I am a child of God and I have a good inheritance in Him.  That inheritance is manifested in the fruit of the Spirit:  “Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV):  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”  

Love is foundational to all the other gifts and nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.  Romans 8:37-39 (NKJV):  “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

When we digest the truth of our newness, when we abide in an Abba relationship with our God, when we know that we are loved unconditionally by the One Who is Love, no matter the circumstances in our lives, we will have a joyous new year.

Everything God touches becomes new.  Let’s allow Abba to touch our lives even more deeply in this new year.  

May this new year find your heart  filled to overflowing with the Abba love that our God desires to shower upon us. 

May the ashes of the past be changed to beauty.  May your years of mourning be exchanged for the oil of joy.  May your spirit of heaviness be replaced with a garment of praise.  May you be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. 

(Isaiah 61:3) 

Simeon and Anna (Hannah): Blessing the Christ Child

Simeon and Anna (Hannah): Blessing the Christ Child 

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

In relating the Christmas story, we often overlook the significance of Simeon and Anna (her Hebrew name is Hannah.)  These two elderly people, who had long waited for the coming of Messiah, picture the hope, the contentment, the fulfillment of the coming of Messiah into each of our lives. 

They picture the ministry that can come in our glory years.  (Proverbs 16:31 (NKJV): ^“The silver-haired head is a crown of glory, If it is found in the way of righteousness.”

We must never feel that we no longer have a ministry. I often think of a lovely lady in her nineties who used to call me, a young mother, and say, “Honey, I have some extra time today.  Is there anything you want me to pray about?”  Always, I poured out my heart to her and she prayed, comforted and consoled.  She had the spirit of Simeon and Anna. 

  

We learn much from knowing the meanings of Biblical names.  Simeon means one that hears or obeys; one that is heard. Simeon was obedient to the call of God on his life.  It had been prophesied that he would not die until he had see the Messiah.

Luke 2:29-32 (NKJV)   "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel."

Simeon was righteous man who spent his waiting for the Savior. He was waiting  for the comfort  promised in Isaiah 40:1 (NKJV)  "Comfort, yes, comfort My people!" Says your God.Upon seeing the Christ Child, Simeon called forth the salvation of both Gentiles and Jews who will accept the light of Jesus Christ into their lives.

Luke 2:33-36 (NKJV) : "And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." 

 

Simeon revealed that Jesus will shake up the world around Him.  Not everyone will accept Him as Lord and Savior.  Many will speak out against Him. Mary will suffer the heartbreak of seeing her Son suffering on the Cross. Salvation came with a price.

In times of persecution and vilification, Christians in every age are call to pay the price of salvation as well:  

Matthew 16:24-26 (NKJV): ^“Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”  

We, too, are to shake up the world around us.  How do we do it?

It is a spiritual war and we must come in the opposite spirit of the one that permeates so much of the world today.  The world will be shaken by our words and our behavior.

The Tenors sang of that spirit.

An Instrument of peace

Where there is hatred, let me bring love
Where there is doubt, let me bring faith

Where there is falsehood, let me bring truth
Where there is pain, I'll comfort you

Where there is silence, let me sing praise
Where there's despair, let me bring hope

Where there is blindness, let me bring sight
Where there is darkness, let me bring light

And that brings us to Anna.

Luke 2:36-38 (NKJV); “Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity;  and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.  And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.”

Anna lived in the Temple.  That speaks of relationship with the Lord.  Her name means gracious; merciful; one that gives. She was the daughter Phanuel.  Phanuel means face or vision of God.  She was of the tribe of Asher.  Asher means happiness.

Her relationship with the Lord brought mercy and grace into her life.  She had the gift of prophecy and with it visions from the Lord.  Therefore, she happily awaited the fulfillment of God’s word. After that, at the age of eighty-four she preached redemption.

As we walk through this season, may we shine forth the spirit of Simeon and Anna.  May we be obedient, merciful and happy because the joy of the Lord is our strength. The world needs our strength and our joy.

Let Your Light Shine: Happy Hanukkah

Let Your Light Shine:  Happy Hanukkah 

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

 Hanukkah is a festival commemorating the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem. It is also a festival of lights.    It is a time of rededicating our lives to the Lord and a time to let the light of Jesus shine out into the world.  Jesus celebrated this festival and so should we.  John 10:22-23 (NKJV) “Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon's porch.”

The eight branches on the Hanukkah menorah represent the miracle of the oil that kept the Temple menorah lighted for eight days after the rededication.  Notice that the eight branches are attached to a taller candle that is called the Servant candle.  The Servant candle is used to light the other candles.  To Christians, the Servant candle represents Jesus Who lights our way through the power of the Holy Spirit Who resides within us.  In Him, we are to be servant candles to light the way in our world.

During these 8 days of Hanukkah, let’s meditate on the following:

1.     Light was the first order of creation.  It is foundational to the rest of creation.  Everything in creation was good because it was created in the light of the Creator.  Since the Fall of Man, Creation itself has been yearning for God’s people to bring the light.  Romans 8:19 (NKJV):  “For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.”

2.      Light dispels darkness.  Darkness is not the opposite of light.  It is the absence of light.  A tiny flicker of light diminishes darkness. Light exposes that which is hidden in darkness. Luke 8:16-17 (NKJV) "No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light.”

4.     Light  lessens the anguish of wintertime seasonal depression.  Just as we await the lengthening of days that comes with the winter solstice, we await the coming of our Lord and the eternal light of the New Jerusalem,  Revelation 21:22-23 (NKJV) “But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.”

5.     Jesus is the light of the world. John 8:12 (NKJV) “Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."  In the darkness that surrounds us, He is our Light, our Hope and our Redemption.

6.     He has called us to be light in this world.  Matthew 5:14-16 (NKJV) “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” 

7.     There is light at the end of the tunnel and wise people follow that light.  During the Exodus from Egypt, the Israelites followed the light that appeared as a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.  That light was the Shekinah glory of God that both led them and protected them.  The Magi followed the star, the supernatural light, that led them to the Christ Child in Bethlehem.  Jesus is still the Light and knows the way through the morass of this life.  All we have to do is follow.

8.     Avoid the trap of doubt, fear and unbelief.  Rise up, take your candle and go light your world.

 

Prayer in the Midst of Discouragement and Despair

Prayer in the Midst of Discouragement and Despair

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Oh, Lord God, we know that you are our refuge and our strength.  Your desire is that we should not walk in fear.  Therefore, You have placed within us Your love, Your peace and Your joy so that, in spite of what is happening around us, we rejoice in Your Holy Spirit Who is our Comforter  (John 14:26).

If we allow terrorism to terrorize us, we allow terrorism to win.  Therefore, we stand against the spirit of terrorism, that Hittite spirit, with the sword of the word of God in our right hand. We stand in the promises of Your peace and protection.

Because Jesus is the Name above all Names, we are unafraid to name our enemy.  In naming our enemy, we come to understand our enemy.  In that understanding and in the wisdom from above, we find strategy to defeat that enemy.

You have told us, "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you”   (Matthew 5:44 NKJV).The greatest good that can come to those who are now raging against us is for them to come into covenant with You through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. 

Therefore, we pray for those who deny that Jesus is the Son of God, who deny that He paid the ultimate sacrifice for sin, who deny that He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords to come to know Him, to embrace Him as Lord and to come into His peace.  The enemy of our souls has them in the bondage of fear.  We pray for them to be released into the love of God in Jesus Christ.

Lord, we, too, step out of the bondage of fear and into the security of Your love.  We remember the words that Paul wrote to the church, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:35-39 NKJV).”

Amen.

To Shepherd our Nation

To Shepherd our Nation

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Psalm 78:70-72 (NKJV)
⁷⁰  He also chose David His servant, And took him from the sheepfolds;
⁷¹  From following the ewes that had young He brought him, To shepherd Jacob His people, And Israel His inheritance.
⁷²  So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, And guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.

God chose David to lead Israel, not because he had political experience, but because he had the heart of the shepherd.  True and trusted shepherds have concern for the sheep given into their care.  Their concern is not for self-aggrandizement.  Their concern is not for their legacy.  Their concern is not to satisfy the demands of those who have lined their pockets with the shekels of their choice. 

The integrity of David lay in his shepherd’s heart.  In that integrity, he shepherded those God had given into his care. 

Yes, I know the weaknesses of David.  I am aware of the mistakes he made.  Yet, God said that David was a man after His own heart.  Acts 13:22 (NKJV) “And when He had removed him (Saul), He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, 'I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.”

A person who is after God’s own heart, is one who, in spite of earlier foibles and mistakes, comes to terms with the truth that is better to do what is right rather than what is politically expedient.  Doing what is right is always the will of God. 

Because of his desire to do the will of God, David was able to lead the people with skillfulness of hand.  He did not rely on unconstitutional mandates, stealthy manipulation, lies and threats that permeate our political atmosphere.  This is not a partisan issue.  It is a generational curse that affects the nation as a whole.  It is as much the fault of the people as it is the fault of the politicians.  If we want leaders who govern with integrity and skillfulness of hand, we must first become a people of integrity.

We must take to heart the words of James 4:1-10 (NKJV): “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?
You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.
You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously"?
But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”

In the above passage, the phrase “adulterers and adulteresses” refers to all who chase after things that are not of God. 

If we want leaders with the integrity and skill of David, we must first become a people of integrity.  In submitting to God, we submit to His wisdom, His provision, His love.  We will no longer naively accept the empty political rhetoric that promises to fulfill all our desires and then causes us to be devoured by our own naivety and greed. 

Church, we must rise and shine forth the light of God that is within us. When the Church in our nation becomes great again, our nation will become great again.

Rise Up, O Men of God

William P. Merrill

Rise up, O men of God!
Have done with lesser things.
Give heart and mind and soul and strength
To serve the King of kings.

Rise up, O men of God!
The kingdom tarries long.
Bring in the day of brotherhood
And end the night of wrong.

Rise up, O men of God!
The church for you doth wait,
Her strength unequal to her task;

Rise up and make her great!

Lift high the cross of Christ!
Tread where His feet have trod.
As brothers of the Son of Man,
Rise up, O men of God!

Teaching Morality, the Foundation of Civilized Society

Teaching Morality, the Foundation of Civilized Society

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

In spite of individual political beliefs, we must come into an agreement that a civilized society cannot succeed without a moral code that transcends politics.  In the government’s effort to remove religion, especially Judaism and Christianity, from our educational and political systems, it has also removed much of the moral code which is foundational to any civilization. 

George Washington wrote, “Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion.  Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.” Yet, in the present atmosphere of “political correctness”, leaders in our nation and around the world are endeavoring to evolve a utopia devoid of religion and, therefore, devoid of moral principle.

One of the reasons that this has so easily come about is that moralists too often declare that something is right or wrong without explaining the reasons for that moral stance.  Likewise, too few people ask or answer questions such as, “Why is honesty the best policy?”  Instead, we discuss at length those times when we feel that, in spite of a moral code that favors honesty, it is in our best interests to be dishonest.  In doing so, we are undermining the moral code.   

How can we Christians hope to stop this immoral intrusion into our culture when it has so infiltrated our churches that often when morality comes in conflict with what the world system has declared politically correct, we dilute our doctrines and by-laws to the point where they only vaguely resemble the Word of God?

I conducted a brief, unofficial survey asking, “What moral characteristics are important to you so that you can comfortably co-exist with others?”  I questioned members of the Bible study I was leading at an assisted living facility, my church congregation and my Facebook friends.  People responded most often by listing honesty and integrity.  Other thoughts included respect for life and for the individual, a positive attitude, a good sense of humor and the ability to enjoy life.  One of my favorite responses summed up everything, “Live life to express, not to impress.”

Although most of my respondents are Christians, I sense that the general population feels much the same way.  Yet, we continue to lie to others, to ourselves and to God.  We continue to put people into leadership positions who are not known for their either their veracity or their integrity.

While most people can quite adequately define “honesty”, they struggle with a workable definition of “integrity.”  We know we should want it, but we aren’t sure what it is.  Integrity is being true to our core beliefs; it is being true to ourselves no matter what the circumstances.  

 Authors, through the ages, have portrayed integrity in their characters.  Shakespeare’s Hamlet features Polonius advising his son Laertes, “This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day,Thou canst not then be false to any man.”   

Mark Twain gives us Huckleberry Finn who will lie whenever he thinks it is expedient, but in the end maintains his integrity by helping Jim to escape.   

Dr. Seuss’ book, Horton Hatches the Egg, depicts the elephant Horton as one whose belief system is based on being faithful.  He proves himself faithful, “100 percent”. Horton is an elephant of integrity. 

             

(When we discuss the importance of honesty and integrity, the question always comes up:  What if a lady asks, “Do I look good in this dress?” Isn’t it better to lie than to hurt her feelings? First of all, I have been young and now I am old, and I have yet to hear a lady ask that question.  However, if one should ask, the answer is, “If you have to ask, it means that you aren’t comfortable in that dress.  Change into something that you’re comfortable in.”)

             
Because morality is essential in establishing and maintaining a civilized society, it is imperative that we both practice morality and pass those values to upcoming generations.  The teaching of values is problematic because we are concerned that it will include promulgating liberal attitudes toward sexuality.  Liberal sexual attitudes, however, are the result of a lack of the moral education.   

 Moral education must begin in our homes and in our churches.  Children must have strong moral values before they enter the education system.  We must encourage educators to reaffirm the importance and the value of honesty and integrity.
            
Moral education is not only teaching the difference between right and wrong; it must include the importance of choosing the right. In MPowered Parenting, Dr. Michelle Macrorie, writes, “The problem, however, is that the true heart of morality, is not only to know the difference between right and wrong, but more importantly, it is the ability to care about what is right from wrong.

“It’s quite possible to be able to distinguish right and wrong but not care about doing the right thing. A child on a playground who knows it’s right to be nice and wrong to hurt others might still push a classmate to the ground when the teacher is not looking because his classmate raced to be first in line before they went out to recess.

“This is where parents and other important caregivers come in.  It is the responsibility of the parents to take the teachings of their belief systems and to make it matter to their children.  The parents must be the instruments by which children learn to care, for moral integrity is an essential quality that connects people to one another and creates a world in which people can live together in peace.  No lectures, sermons, or Sunday school lessons can ensure that your child will care about doing the “right” thing.  He’ll learn about ethics and morality not from what others tell him, but from how you treat him.”[i]

             “Even a child is known by his deeds, Whether what he does is pure and right” (Proverbs 20:11 NKJV). 

             

             Now is the time to make honesty and integrity priorities in our lives.  Let’s demonstrate their value by the way we live.  Let’s teach world by our example.

Pray:  Declare the following before the Lord:

▪Psalm 101:2 (NKJV)
²  I will behave wisely in a perfect way. Oh, when will You come to me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.

▪Proverbs 20:7 (NKJV)

Because my righteousness is in You, I will walk in my integrity and my children will be blessed after me.

▪1 Peter 2:12
I will keep my conduct among the worldly honorable, so that when they speak against me as an evildoer, they may see my good deeds and glorify God.

Act:  As Dr. Laura Schlessinger often says, “Now, go do the right thing.”
           

---

[i] http://www.mpoweredparenting.com/secret-to-teaching-morality-to-our-kids/

Seated in Heavenly Places

Seated in Heavenly Places

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

In his song “Jesus Is Coming Soon”, R. E. Winsett wrote: “Troublesome times are here, filling men's hearts with fear/Freedom we all hold dear now is at stake./ Humbling your hearts to God saves from the chastening rod /Seek the way pilgrims trod, Christians awake” Although the song is about the returning of our Lord, it is a reminder that we must be awake and aware of the strength and power of our God to overcome even in these difficult times.

In that light, the Holy Spirit has led me to contemplate the right and left hands of God.  I remember the mother of James and John asking that one of her sons sit on the right hand of Jesus and the other on the left.  Our Savior answered, “Matthew 20:23b (NKJV): “to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father."  

So where do I sit?

Ephesians 2: 4-6 teaches, “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),  and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

Many scriptures tell us that Jesus is currently seated in at the right hand of God.  Two of those are found in the book of Mark:

Mark 14:62 (NKJV) ^“Jesus said, "I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven."

Mark 16:19 (NKJV) ^“So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.”

The right hand of God is the seat of God’s omnipotence, of His almighty power.  Jesus is the manifestation of that power.

If Jesus is at the right hand of God, I am content to sit at the left hand of God.  Recently, the Holy Spirit deepened that contentment with further revelation.  From out of my spirit arose the truth that if I am seated at the left hand of God, He is seated at my right hand.  His strength becomes my strength.  “I am weak, but He is strong.”  Because I am seated on the left hand of God, I can do all things because He is my strength. (Philippians 4:13).

The psalmist wrote in Psalm 121:5 (NKJV): “The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade at your right hand.”

Father, I am thankful that while I am seated to Your left, You are seated to my right. You are my right hand of power.  Hallelujah!

Let’s Be a Proactive Blessing in Education

Let’s Be a Proactive Blessing in Education

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Deuteronomy 6:4-7 (NKJV)
⁴ "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!
⁵ You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
⁶ "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.
⁷ You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.

            One reason that education in our nation has lost its moral focus is that Christians, in general, have not been proactive in our faith.  Proactive people act in order to prevent a negative outcome instead of simply reacting to the negative outcome when it is accomplished. Even though we have been negligent in the past, we must live and move in the hope that, in Christ, all things can be made new. 

            If we follow the Word of the Lord and diligently teach our children, they should enter the school system already steeped in the truth that will set them free. However, many Christians removed prayer from their homes before it was removed from their schools.  If we are not praying with our children in our homes, what right to we have to expect prayer in our schools?

Now is the time to act and to act effectively.  Before we can act effectively, we need strategy. The first step in formulating strategy is to pray for strategy.  When I took that step, the Holy Spirit led me once again to Steven R. Covey’s book, Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. 

            The first habit of highly effective people is to be proactive. “Proactive people use their resourcefulness and initiative to find solutions rather than just reporting problems and waiting for other people to solve them. . . . Being proactive means assessing the situation and developing a positive response for it.”[i]

 

            Being proactive means focusing attention and energy where we have the most influence.  Because we have the most influence over our own behaviors, our behaviors should be where we focus attention and energy.  As a teenager, I often read the comic strip Pogo by Walt Kelly.  Pogo was an opossum who lived in the Okefenokee Swamp.  Pogo was no ordinary opossum, he was a philosopher filled with wisdom concerning worldly situations.  One of my favorite scenes pictures Pogo saying, “We have met the enemy, and he is us.”  That simple comic strip changed my life. I knew with whom I had to battle.  Because of our passivity and inaction as Christians, we have become our own enemy and have actually fed into Satan’s plan to secularize the world. It is time to battle the enemy within.

            Now that we have assessed the situation and know where we must focus our attention and energy, it is time to develop a positive response..  We must, personally, become a blessing to the educational system.  We can do that by becoming involved.

            Even if we are not allowed to speak or act overtly, when we enter a location or situation, we carry with us the presence of the Lord. Therefore, even if we have no children involved, we can carry the presence of the Lord into athletic events, concerts, plays and other activities. If we have children and grandchildren involved, if possible, we must to be in attendance for support and encouragement. We can prayer walk/drive around the campuses of our schools, colleges and universities.  We can find out what volunteer programs are in place and make ourselves available. We can run for school boards where we can have a voice.

            While we should be cautious about supporting all the tenets of the National Education Association, we can support American Education week, November 16-20.  Make plans now to touch the lives of both educators and students.  Place an ad in a newspaper sending a positive message; send cards, “goodie baskets” and/or flowers to faculty workrooms.  Perhaps your church can sponsor a “Bless Education Sunday” on November 15.

            While we are not happy with much that is taking place in our educational system, we must remember Proverbs 10:12, “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins” (NKJV).  When we fail to act in love, our words become “sounding brass or a clanging cymbal” (1 Corinthians 13:1).  Acting in love must be an integral part of our strategy.

              We must pray, not only over our educational system, over ourselves as well in order act in love and to be successfully proactive.

1. Pray Psalm 19:14: “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.” (NKJV)
2. Pray Psalm 49:3:  “My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall give understanding.” (NKJV)
3. Pray for wisdom.  James 1:5: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” (NKJV)

Let’s follow the admonition of the apostle James and become doers of the word lest we become deceived. (James 1:22)  It is time to return to the basics: let’s reestablish the altars of prayer and godliness in our homes.  It is the responsibility of the home to teach diligently the Word of the Lord to our children.  It is, likewise, our responsibility to be a blessing to our educational system.  Blessing opens the door to possible intervention and influence

---

[i] “Summary of Stephen R. Covey’s The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”, QuickMBA, http://quickmba.com/7hab/  (Used by written permission.)