Pathways Press.com

Written by Lyn Lloyd-Smith from the Village Church

I love graveyards. There is so much to be learned about a community in reading the headstones and seeing families buried together through the generations.  I love researching birth, marriage and death certificates, and following family lines through history. And yet, my heart breaks a little every time I see the deaths of so many small children, taken by epidemic and infection, diseases not seen today. This was brought home to me in January when I was helping a friend with her family tree and discovered that between 1920 and 1930 her great-grandfather had lost 7 of his grandchildren, as babies and toddlers, to diphtheria, whooping cough, and pneumonia. While doing this research two of my own grandchildren, in the space of three weeks were in hospital on IV antibiotics, thanks to medical care they both recovered quickly and are back in good health. I thought of Matthew 10:8 where Jesus says “Heal the sick…. Freely you have received; freely give.” Christians, in monasteries and homes, through the ages have sought to follow this calling but for many centuries their tools were of comfort and care, bringing the love of God to the sick and the dying; often there was little they could do practically. However, the rapid expansion of medical science and community health since the late 19^th century, and particularly since the 1940s with the introduction of widespread vaccination and antibiotics, has changed our world. Today I give thanks for the hand of God, the love of Jesus in the medical research, the scientists and doctors who have made this a healthier world for all our children.

Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. [Matthew 10:8]

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From the Heartlight devotional website. 

God can be seen in my home when I love those in my family. The Father of the universe lives in my church, and his presence can be recognized when I love those in my church family. Almighty God’s love is recognizable in my life when I love those around me and when we choose to be loving instead of petty, unforgiving, critical, and harsh to our brothers and sisters in Christ. God reveals his presence, power, and perfection in us! God is love; we reveal his presence when we do love each other.

No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. [1 John 4:12]

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Written by Carole Holiday, a contemporary writer.

My doctor paused as she left the exam room, her hand on the door. She opened it a bit, then turned to offer a final prognosis. “There’s a new chapter coming for you.” I love how God provides encouragement in the unlikeliest of places. In my thin paper gown, I shivered — my body’s involuntary response to her verbal gift that provided salve to my sore soul. My internist, a woman of my age, had listened well. Our conversation about aging, difficult diagnoses and caregiving had touched both of us, and she knew I was hurting both physically and emotionally. Some would say that in moments like this, we enter “thin places” — where the distance between heaven and earth diminishes and the two seemingly overlap. I found this in the sacred serendipity of another human hearing and seeing my heart and responding with empathy and understanding, as Jesus would.

He reminds us in Luke’s Gospel that the Kingdom of heaven is already superimposed over our earthly realm…Through image bearers of God, the Kingdom of heaven flourishes on earth. Every time we live like Jesus and point to His beauty, it’s like we wander through heaven’s gates and offer a bit of its mystery and wonder to our fallen world. I sense this most in encouragement from His saints: the kind word, the unexpected message, the text from a friend on a gray day when my faith is shaky. On those days, I find myself whispering, God, I need to see You today. And then a P.S.: God, I need the strength to show You today. As if I’m pausing at the door, prying it open just enough to usher the Kingdom of heaven into the broken places.

The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst. [Luke 17:20-21]

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Written by Donald Macleod (1940-2023) a Scottish theologian. This is an excerpt from his book “A Faith to Live By: Understanding Christian Doctrine.”

[Jesus] did not, as incarnate, live a life of detachment. He lived a life of involvement.

He lived where he could see human sin, hear human swearing and blasphemy, see human diseases and observe human mortality, poverty and squalor. His mission was fully incarnational because he taught men by coming alongside them, becoming one of them and sharing their environment and their problems. For us, as individuals and churches in an affluent society, this is a great embarrassment. How can we effectively minister to a lost world if we are not in it? How can we reach the ignorant and the poor if we are not with them? How can our churches understand deprived areas if the church is not incarnate in the deprived areas? How can we be salt and light in the darkened ghettos of our cities if we ourselves don’t have any effective contacts and relationships with the Nazareths of [our day]? We are profoundly unfaithful to this great principle of incarnational mission. The great Prophet came right alongside the people and shared their experience at every level. He became flesh and dwelt among us.

 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. [Philippians 2:5-7]

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Written by Judy Walters from the Village Church

How and when do I encounter Jesus in my everyday life? Especially since I live on a relatively quiet street with 2 cats for company. Let me count the ways! My neighbors are “Jesus” personified. First of all, having a plumber next door is an extraordinary gift- he has saved me from disaster more than once.  Pat’s wife loves to garden and presents me with the best pickles ever! Did Jesus ever make pickles? Then, there’s Jane, a trained chef, a few doors down who drops by with delicious cookies for no reason! Another, really awesome guy has helped me and others in countless ways. Got the rattlesnake out of my backyard! Held my sweet 18-year-old dog as he crossed Rainbow Bridge.  And spent the whole day in the ER with me as I cried in pain. Other kindly neighbors did my grocery shopping and walked my dog daily while I suffered from agonizing back pain.  Obviously, I have been blessed in so many ways by these dear people.  None of these neighbors expected anything in return. Their actions were not especially spiritual in nature.  However, they show real LOVE, Agape Love.

Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.  [1 Corinthians 10:24]

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Written by Tim Tebow, a contemporary former NFL quarterback.

Twenty-three-year-old Jaden Barr has had Type 1 diabetes since he was 15 years old, as well as recurring cholesteatoma, which has resulted in hearing loss in both ears. While he admits he has fallen short time and time again, Jaden aspires to live what I call a “mission-possible life”: a life that glorifies God through living out his unique purpose. I had the opportunity to spend a few days with Jaden in 2015. Part of my mission was to encourage him, but by the end of our time together, he was the one encouraging me! It’s funny how God works that way so often…Jaden told me, “God created me with a purpose: to know Him and to make Him known. It’s easy to fall into the temptation of thinking life is about me and my plans, but I’m always reminded that the mission I’ve been given by God is much bigger and better than any worldly pursuit. By giving God control over my plans and following His instead, it makes the work I do have meaning and significance.”… Even at his young age, my friend Jaden has the wisdom to point out the dangers of me-centric living. This is tempting for all of us, no matter how young or old, no matter if you’re a parent or a preacher, a student or a teacher, a web creator or a music maker. I love what Jaden once shared with me: “You’ll end up empty if you make life or your mission about yourself. I feel most fulfilled and in line with my purpose when I’m looking outside of myself and my own desires and putting that energy into pouring into others. When you look outside yourself, that’s where true mission is found.” This reminds me of the power and passion that comes when you are focusing your energy outside of yourself. I want to live each day more alive and more passionate because of what Jesus has done for me. The past — His death and resurrection — keeps me motivated in the present to change the future.

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]

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Written by Kevin DeRaaf, a contemporary director of Resonate Global Mission.

Johnny is a missionary I work with who served for several years in Haiti. Because of the political struggles and increased violence there, he came back to the United States with his family. It was a difficult transition. How do you leave behind the colleagues and friends you love dearly? How do you process the trauma of living in such an unsettled environment? But as Johnny and his wife began to settle and heal, they discovered a remarkable thing. Thousands of Haitians had also moved to where he and his family were now living, and God was creating opportunities for them to minister among the Haitian community right where they were. So now Johnny is working with a Haitian pastor to raise up Haitian leaders and plant Haitian churches. They have a dream to launch 10 new Haitian church plants in the next few years! God took a painful situation and used it to open up new opportunities in North America! God did something like that with the early Christians too—like Philip, who was forced to flee to Samaria. In all kinds of situations, the Holy Spirit continues to spread the good news of Jesus in surprising ways around the world.

Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. [Acts 8:4]

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Written by Sergei Sosedkin, a contemporary Russian language ministry leader.

On March 11, 2011, a powerful earthquake struck the Pacific coast of Japan. It triggered a massive tsunami with waves that engulfed entire towns. Over 20,000 people lost their lives, and tens of thousands were displaced. In just a few weeks the members of my denomination, the Christian Reformed Church in North America, raised over a million dollars to help those in need. Our relief agency, World Renew, used funds effectively, thanks to a partnership with Japanese Christians. Our media outreach, Back to God Ministries International, began producing a special radio program in the Japanese language to bring spiritual comfort to those living in the affected area. Natural calamities in faraway communities challenge us and trigger all kinds of responses. Some people prefer to do nothing. Others limit their involvement to a pious prayer and theological reflection. Still others start blaming God. We, as Christians, are called to do good and share with those in need. We serve and worship a God who always reaches out in love and compassion. That’s why we have to go beyond condolences and kind wishes. If we truly know his saving grace, it is only natural for us to reach out to hurting people with a helping hand and caring heart.

Do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. [Hebrews 13:15-16]

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Written by Vickie Stone of the Village Church.

In 2020 I received a phone call that my name was suggested to fill in as a deacon for someone that had to step back from their role. I felt so busy yet I prayed on it, and felt compelled to serve. COVID times had me feeling as if the Holy Spirit was inviting me to accept an opportunity for this new path of service. After my 15 months I agreed to serve another 3 years. Learning my role of having a flock, (church members assigned to me that I checked in with for needs and their prayer concerns) I attended monthly meetings and joined the prayer ministry team. It was overwhelming,  the amount of prayers that were needed by so many.  Early on, I confided in Pastor Jan Farley of my feelings of being overwhelmed since praying didn’t feel like it was enough.  I would get emotionally exhausted thinking of how many people were hurting, especially the health prayers, as it took me back to my personal anguish of when my sister had cancer. Pastor Farley helped me by reassuring me that praying was enough, and with our prayers, our goal was to release it into the care and the hands of God for “His will be done.”  Jesus modeled that we should pray earnestly, often, and with hopeful faith. His time on earth was limited, but He prioritized getting away by Himself to pray. Life can be so difficult. We may not always receive what we ask for, but we can be sure that God is working in and through every prayer. My hope was and is, that people felt/feel the prayers lifted on their behalf. And I pray still for the current Deacons as they serve their flocks, demonstrating Jesus’s work in action.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. [Ephesians 6:18]

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CREATIVE BRIDGE MAKING

Written by Stan Kruis, a contemporary retired missionary in the Philippines.

One highlight of our ministry in the Philippines was to work with young adults in discipleship. A group on Negros Island developed an evangelistic team that they called Halieus (“Fishermen”). They practiced pantomime presentations (sometimes in our home) portraying the gospel story. Then they worked with churches to hold rallies in local neighborhoods where they presented the pantomimes. A shiver would go up and down my spine when I watched them. God used them to open the hearts of people for whom words alone were inadequate. One reason why some people groups have not been reached, or have not responded to the gospel, is that typical strategies are not effective with them. To bridge those barriers, we need to understand the people and their culture more deeply, and to find creative strategies that can reach their hearts. That can also be true close to home, with people who live with us and around us.

[Jesus] said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. [Matthew 9:37-38].

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