Posts - The Electric Gospel

Jan

2020

A mother’s letter

Originally published on The Electric Gospel on July 22, 2017.

A letter to my son

Author’s name withheld for privacy.

A mother penned this letter to her son, a young adult who has been through much and has pulled away from church. May we all heed this appeal to love — and forgive — one another more fully in the church.

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My dearest son,Many years ago, before you or your sisters were born, your father and I took a Bible class through church. I am not sure what the topic was, but I will never forget the statement the pastor said. He said, “I can’t wait to get to heaven, as I have so many questions for God.” All I could think was there must be something wrong with me, as I have no questions. I felt that when I get to heaven all I will say is, “Thank you.” … Boy has that changed.

We have been through so much, and life has certainly not been easy for you, most of all. My question for God now would be, “Why did my beautiful children, especially my son, have to suffer so much?” I know that we were never promised a ‘charmed’ life as Christians. In fact, we were told the opposite. As Christians we will suffer for our faith. But why you, my sweet boy?

When your Christian friends were cyber-bullying you, and a Christian mother was talking about you negatively to others, it was nearly backbreaking. You chose then to stop going to church. You felt that if this is how Christians act, then you didn’t want any part of it. It is hard to argue with that; but blaming sinful people for their sins is one thing, blaming God is another.

I know that you have faith. We still talk about God, but not enough. You know that God loves you. You have gone through hell and back … but the main point is that you came back. You couldn’t have done that without God’s help. God has given you a new life, a new outlook, a new hope. He has never left you. You have started over with so many things in your life to get to this point; it is time to start over with your attitude about those people that hurt you. Yes, they were and still are Christians; but they are also sinners. God has forgiven even the worst sins that you and I have ever done. Don’t you think that it is time to forgive them?

I was angry too. But, that anger is sinful when we hold onto it, when we use it as a punishment. Forgiveness may be selfish, a way to make ourselves feel better, but it is also necessary to show love to God’s people. Jesus’ beloved disciple John said, “Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him. This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters” (1 John 3:15-16). My only real job on this earth was to make sure you and your sisters get to heaven. I want to be with you someday in eternity. Find forgiveness in your heart and come back to church.

All my love,

Mom

Jan

2020

To change a nation, you must change souls

Originally published on The Electric Gospel on July 3, 2017.

To change a nation, you must change souls

by David Sellnow

Blessings to you as we celebrate Independence Day in the USA. Political turmoil has abounded in recent months. For a holiday installment of The Electric Gospel, I thought I’d dig out a bit of a sermon I once preached on 4th of July weekend. I’ll just post a snippet from the sermon here, but enough to make the point.

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There were two men from two countries. Both men were married. Neither man loved his wife. In the one country, the divorce laws were very lenient. Divorce was a casual affair. So the man in that country summarily divorced his wife and gave the matter no further thought.

In the other country, laws were stern and severe. Divorce was almost unheard of; it was only rarely granted. Only with strong proof of infidelity or deadly abuse could a divorce be obtained. So the man in that country did not bother going to court. He knew the law. He stayed married to his wife. But he never loved her or showed her any love.

Which wife was happier? Neither. One was unhappily divorced; one was unhappily married. What would have made a loving wife happy in either country had nothing to do with the divorce statutes. It had everything to do with her husband. A change of heart and soul in him was needed, not just a different set of laws.

As we look at the country we live in, we see plenty of problems and moral confusion. Some may think the solution is to legislate stronger city and state ordinances, enact constitutional amendments, insist that the Bible’s commandments must be enshrined as the law of the land. But you can’t change a nation’s character with laws any more than you can pass a law that makes a husband love his wife. To change a person, you must change his soul. The change a nation, you must change the souls of the people within it.

Whatever messes we see around us in society, the way to effect change is not merely through political action but spiritual activity. We’re not going to save souls by picketing city hall or state capitols to try to force everyone in town behave as we would like them to behave. Besides, if we’re honest, we each must admit that our own behavior isn’t pure and perfect either. We ourselves have needed a Savior just as much as any of our neighbors need him.

Our calling in Christ is to get out and speak God’s truth. His “word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart” (Romans 10:10). The Lord “richly blesses all who call on him” (Romans 10:12). So we make it our mission to represent Christ as his ambassadors in the world, “as though God were making his appeal through us,” imploring people on Christ’s behalf: “Be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20). And if the world around us puts pressure on us because of our Christian confession, we take that all in stride, heeding what Christ’s apostle urged us:

“Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. … Even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened. But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander” (1 Peter 3:9,14-16).

Jan

2020

Christ-esteem

Originally published on the Electric Gospel on June 26, 2017.

Esteemed by God in Christ

Author’s name withheld for privacy

I have never had a lot of self-esteem, and I still don’t have much. It may not seem like it on the outside, but it’s true. My lack of self-esteem has caused me to put up barrier after barrier, and I’m not quick to take them down.

Growing up, there were many things that contributed to this. I was bullied, I didn’t have a lot of friends, I was not skinny like I was supposed to be, I was a “nerd,” and so on. Most of the kids in my grade school made me feel like I wasn’t worth anything until they needed my help for something.

High school was better, but I still wasn’t skinny, I still was a “nerd,” I was the teachers’ pet, etc. Things actually were better, but in my mind, they weren’t. It was during high school that I started to become involved in several activities. It was my way to feel important. I made sure that I gave more than my best, even if it made me stressed, unhappy, and even depressed. I had turned into a perfectionist with little to no self-esteem.

I have now had two years of college under my belt, and I’m happy to say that in some ways, things have gotten better. However, I’m still a perfectionist. I strive to give my best no matter what, but more often that not I find myself falling short. It is because of this that my self-esteem goes up and down. I still lack confidence in my own abilities, and I set very high standards for myself that are oftentimes far beyond my reach. I still bury myself in activities that I love and enjoy, because I want to feel like I belong or that I can succeed. I struggle with the fact that I don’t like parts of myself–such as how I look or how I act. Yet I know that God made me unique in my own way, and that he loves me for who I am. I struggle with feeling like I don’t fit in or belong. I struggle with wanting to be something or someone I’m not.

While this seems like it’s all bad, it’s not. Being very involved gives me something to work hard at and enjoy. It’s good that I strive to give my best in everything I do. Being the way I am gives me the opportunity to look at things differently and understand others going through the same thing. I find myself constantly encouraging others, because I know what the opposite feels like.

Things have been getting better, but I know I have quite a way to go yet. I know that I can never be perfect, and there are so many passages that I find comfort in–ones that show me that I’m important, that I’m worth something, that I am God’s child. (A few such verses are shown at the bottom of this blog post.)

It truly is such a blessing to know that because of Christ’s death and resurrection, I don’t need to be perfect. I am saved no matter what; it doesn’t depend on what I look like or how I act. I am perfect in God’s eyes, and that’s what matters.

Comfort in the Scriptures:

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced (Isaiah 41:10-11).
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9).
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth” (Psalm 46:1,10).
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30).
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. … In all things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:28, 37-39).

Jan

2020

Trusting God’s Word

Originally published on The Electric Gospel on April 6, 2017.

Written as a letter to someone doubting their faith and realizing that they are merely “going through the motions” of attending church. They often question and doubt that the Bible is, in fact, the Word of God.

God’s Trustworthy Word

by Sarah Couture

My dear friend,

I know you have been struggling lately. First, I want to reassure you that you are not crazy. Having questions about the Bible and its teachings is completely normal. In fact, I think it is healthy to ask tough questions. You may feel like these concerns you have are driving a wedge between you and your Savior, but I truly believe that expressing your concerns and seeking answers will only bring you closer to the Lord.

You have previously expressed that you are not completely convinced that the Bible is God’s inspired Word. I can understand this concern. Many Christians defend the validity of the Bible using circular reasoning. For scientific thinkers, such as you, circular reasoning does not hold much weight. “The Bible is God’s Word because it says in the Bible that it is God’s Word” leads people like you to have further doubts and questions. I’d like you to take a step back and look things from a different angle. A friend once explained it to me this way:

We have numerous accounts, outside of the Bible, that speak of Jesus. In fact, we have more proof that Jesus existed than Julius Caesar. Knowing that a man named Jesus existed is where we’ll start. Now let’s take a look at the resurrection. We see accounts of this event in all four of the Gospels. Each of these accounts provides a unique view and different details of the resurrection of Jesus. If the authors of the Bible were writing about a fictional event, they would try to keep their stories vague in order not to contradict each other. In reality, the testimonies are unique and provide unique perspectives on the event. Furthermore, during this time in history, women had little to no power or influence. Therefore, if the disciples were trying to convince people of a fake resurrection, why would their accounts have women be the ones to find the empty tomb? Finally, after the resurrection many disciples were martyred for their beliefs. In the case of Peter (as told by the historian Eusebius), he was forced to watch his wife die before him, and was told that all he had to do was admit Jesus was not God and did not resurrect from the dead. None of the disciples gave in. If the resurrection was a lie, why would these men let their families and themselves be killed brutally? They would not.

I know you have many other questions running through your brain. For so many years, you have gone to church and Bible study and believed everything that was taught to you because a master of theology with a white robe said it was the truth. Friend, I encourage you to voice your thoughts and concerns openly. Ask questions and seek answers. I promise you that others have similar questions. You will not be judged. People will not look down on you for asking challenging questions. And if they do, they are not acting as proper ministers of the faith. The fact that you are concerned about your lack of faith is comforting because it shows you continue to have faith. Please do not be discouraged. Read the Bible, especially on days you have doubts. You’ll be amazed how the Holy Spirit works through the Word.

Jan

2020

A letter to my peers, under pressure

by Hannah Mielke

Originally published on the Electric Gospel on March 10, 2017, this is a letter intended for young Christians who are feeling the pressures of the world around them. It is intended to remind them of their sin, but more importantly to remind them of God’s love, encouragement and peace.

Thanks to social media, the modern generation is a tight-knit community. Of course, it can be argued that person-to-person connections have a greater value. This is true; there is a large benefit to talking to someone in person. However, in-person connections are limited by distance and time. Social media allows an opportunity to forge connections with people all around the world. This is great; there is a network of support and encouragement for everyone who may need it. However, there is a downside. We violate this command: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29). I am guilty of this and I know you are as well. It is so easy to let negative and degrading words slip. Maybe to fit in, maybe to blow off some steam – pick your reason. Any words that are spoken, whether in person or online, have the potential to be heard, but social media can make that all the more likely. When words are exchanged in “the real world,” the speakers tend to be more careful of the other person’s feelings. The person is a real, physical, being who is standing before them. That physicality is lost on the Internet, and so it is even more vital to be careful about words that are exchanged through online posts.

When people are ridiculing you for something your life centers around, it can be hard to respect them. Respect is a word that applies to every aspect of our lives. We all know that we should respect our parents and others in authority. However, we sometimes forget just how far that respect should extend. Christ asks us to respect and show honor to those whom we may feel deserve the least respect from us. We are the tools through with the Spirit changes hearts … and you never know whose heart is about to be softened.

What you say is a big deal. People judge you based on your words. This is especially true when it comes to poor language. You may not mean this intentionally, but people will judge your faith based on the words that come out of your mouth. So “simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one”(Matthew 5:37). If your language is filled with cuss words, you will not stick out from the coarse world around you. As Christians, God asks us to stick out, to be different. That difference can be hard. People who are different attract attention and not all that attention is good attention. However, we can face any amount of ridicule because Christ’s love protects us. He never leaves our side, and he sees what we are facing daily. He is pleased to call us his own.

Right now you are rolling your eyes, because you have heard this all before. I am not the first one to tell you that you are sinful. Every generation looks down on the generation after them. They judge those younger than them in every way possible. It seems like the judgment is especially strong for the youth today. We have different beliefs than the generation that came before us. God understands those struggles, and he will see you through them. He speaks straight to your soul: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12).

One of the struggles that young people face every day is anxiety about their lives ahead. More people speaking out about those fears has led to an increased awareness of mental health in young adults. Anxiety is overwhelming and frustrating. God knows that, and he has spoken about it. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). God understands; Christ promises peace.

You know those days when your worries are so great that you feel that you are nothing special? Well, guess what? It is that feeling that makes you special. It’s okay to be a bland person. God took the blank canvas of your life and turned it into a breathtaking piece of art. Some of my favorite verses in the Bible are these: “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things–and the things that are not–to nullify the things that are” (1 Corinthians 1:27-28).

So don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young. Live in truth and purity. God will do amazing things with you.

Jan

2020

Precious Lord, Take My Hand

Originally published on The Electric Gospel on March 30, 2017, from a chapel message delivered on a college campus.

Precious Lord, Take My Hand

by David Sellnow

Thomas Dorsey’s father was a preacher and a sharecropper. His mother was a church organist. Already from the time he was a boy, Thomas wanted a career in music. At age eleven, he left school to take a job in a local vaudeville theater in Atlanta, Georgia – where the family was living. From ages twelve to fourteen he was earning a living playing piano in bars and brothels and for house parties. By the time he was seventeen, he headed to Chicago to pursue his music further. After working for a time in a steel mill in Gary, Indiana, Dorsey studied music at the Chicago School of Composing and Arranging. He found success in the music business in Chicago as a composer and arranger and piano player. He was known as “The Whispering Piano Player” from playing after-hours parties where the music had to be kept quiet enough so as not to attract the attention of the police.

Dorsey was so frantically engaged in his musical life that at age 21, he suffered a nervous breakdown. He went back home to Atlanta to recuperate. His mother wanted him to stop playing the blues; he should “serve the Lord,” she said. He didn’t listen. He went back to Chicago. Coming to be known as “Georgia Tom,” he amassed even greater musical success as a sought-after band leader or accompanist for blues performers such as Ma Rainey, Tampa Red Whittaker, Scrapper Blackwell, Big Bill Broonzy, Frankie Jaxson, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Memphis Minnie, and Victoria Spivey.

In 1925, Dorsey married his sweetheart, Nettie Harper, who was Ma Rainey’s wardrobe manager. But Dorsey continued to struggle with depression and mental stress and suffered a second major breakdown in 1926. He was suicidal and unable to compose or perform music. Doctors didn’t seem to help. Taking time off didn’t fix things. His sister-in-law urged him to come to church, and he did. He even visited a faith-healer, who told him, “Brother Dorsey, there is no reason for you to be looking so poorly and feeling so badly. The Lord has too much work for you to let you die.” From then on, Dorsey began to do what his mother had always wanted – write and play music for the Lord. He saw connections between the blues and gospel music. He once said, “If a woman has lost a man, a man has lost a woman, his feeling reacts to the blues; he feels like expressing it. The same thing acts for a gospel song. Now you’re not singing the blues; you’re singing gospel, good news song, singing about the Creator. But it’s the same feeling, a grasping of the heart.”

But most churches didn’t want his music. From 1928-1931, as Dorsey tried to sell his gospel music to churches, he was rebuffed. The churches didn’t like how he infused sacred music with blues and jazz. His music didn’t align with the conservative culture preachers were trying to promote. Dorsey had to return to composing and playing the blues in order to make a living. But he kept working on his gospel-based music at the same time.

In August, 1932, Thomas Dorsey had gone to St. Louis where he was to be the featured soloist at a large church revival meeting. His wife was in the last month of pregnancy with their first child. While he was in St. Louis, he received a telegram. Nettie had gone into labor and had died in childbirth … and the baby died too. The man was overcome with grief. It took many days before he could to pull himself together at all. When he did, it was by playing piano. And at the piano, about a month later, in the midst of all that grief, he wrote the most famous song of his musical career: “Precious Lord, Take My Hand.” In the years to come, Dorsey continued writing songs for the church and influencing church music. Writer of around 800 songs in his career, he became known as the father of gospel music in America.

The circumstances of our lives don’t always go in the direction we envision. We have hopes. We have dreams. We have plans and ambitions. And then things don’t go as we plan. Life takes turns in directions we didn’t expect. Sometimes everything comes crashing down around us. Our lives collapse in on top of us. Problems pile up to where we can’t see past them. We find ourselves shaken, confused, wondering what happened, wondering where was God. We so often don’t see what God plans to do for us and with us as he shepherds us through the valley of the shadow of death or whatever turmoil he lets us go through. What we do know is that God intends always what is good for us, that in all things he is working for our good – for our eternal good, in line with his eternal purposes (cf. Romans 8:28). God never abandons those whom he has called as his children. Our precious Lord is always working to bring us home to himself, bring us back to his promises, to anchor us in the love and hope that are never in doubt – in the Messiah, in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Thomas Dorsey wanted a career in popular music. The Lord chastened him severely, and turned him toward a deepness of faith and toward writing songs that convey the comfort of the gospel – songs that have greatly benefited Christ’s church.

There’s a similar sort of story in the Bible – the story of Joseph. When he was 17, in the fabulous dreamcoat that he’d received from his father, Joseph had fabulous dreams about his future. People would be bowing down to him. He was going to be somebody! It all sounded so amazing and exciting. Little did Joseph know then what his future actually would hold. His brothers abused and mistreated him. They dumped him in a pit and then sold him off like they would a cow or a donkey. He served as a slave. He was accused of a crime he didn’t commit. He languished away in prison. Ultimately, he did end up in a position of power and authority – but only after the Lord had worked hard on his heart and soul through deeply painful experiences in his life.

In the end, when Joseph’s brothers found themselves in a desperate position—coming to Egypt for food because Egypt was the only place that had food—Joseph tested them to see that God had been working on their hearts and souls too. They didn’t recognize him after all those years and in his Egyptian appearance. When Joseph revealed to them who he was, he made it clear he held no grudges against them. He saw how God had guided the path of all their lives up to that point, and trusted that God would be the hope of their people (and all people) for the future.

Today’s Bible reading is Genesis 50:15-21 – from the years in Egypt after Joseph had revealed himself to his brothers and the whole clan of Israel had moved down to Egypt.

When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.

His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.

But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, teach us to trust you through the whole course of our lives – not only when things are going well or in ways we hoped or planned, but also when life is a struggle, when things go horribly wrong, when tragedies strike us. You hold us in your hand. You guide us by your Spirit through your Word. Keep us in your care, and help us to confess that whatever happens, you will be working in all things to bring about good for us as your children – with the ultimate good being that we join you in life eternal. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Jan

2020

Who are you?

Originally published on The Electric Gospel on February 2, 2017.
Author’s name withheld by request.

The Value of Your Name

What’s your name? If you’re anything like the typical human being, you’ve been asked this question so many hundreds of times you’ve lost count. In fact, you’ve been asked this question so many times your response has become automatic. It’s been automatic for a while.

“Hello, what’s your name?”

“I’m ______.” Fill it in how you’ve been filling it in for your entire life. With your name.

Names are powerful things. I think in our modern culture today, we’ve really lost the magic and meaning that names have. Now don’t get me wrong, plenty of our modern day names still sound great, and they’re great names. But sometimes I wonder if many of the names people have today really mean something. For example, Suzannah means “Lilly of the Valley.” Peter means “Rock.” You get the picture. I wonder if people even know what their name means. If you don’t know already, go ahead right now and look it up.

Now I’m going to ask you a different question. What does your name mean? What does it say about you?

We all have different names for ourselves, depending on the context and situation. I’m sure you have plenty of names. Take a minute. What are you called? What do you go by? What do those names say about you? Names are powerful, so think about it. Think about it.

I have one more question for you. Who are you?

If you answered that question with your name, you’re only sorta getting it.

Before I explain what I mean by that, let me clarify. By all means, your name is part of who you are. Maybe I should italicize a different word there, though. Your name is part of who you are. Certainly, it tells a lot about you. It has a story behind it. It tells about you, and that’s pretty awesome.

But the answer to that question is more than that, because there is one name that we haven’t mentioned yet. And it’s the most important name you could ever, ever have. It was given to you by the One who cared more about you than anyone else who has ever lived. More than you could ever imagine. He gave you a name. He called you Beloved.

Take a moment and look up one more name. Your name. The name the Savior of the world gave you. What does your name mean? Who are you? Take a look at Galatians 4:7 – “So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.”

You are called God’s “dearly loved” (Ephesians 5:1). You are his beloved.

Maybe you’re going through a sort of Identity crisis right now. Maybe you don’t really know how to answer that last question. But I can tell you the one name you can never change. The identity you can never lose. A beloved child of God. Don’t lose hope. Don’t lose your worth. Because if you find your worth and identity in Christ, you have more worth than the brightest diamond in the sky.

Dec

2019

Forgive and Forget

Originally published on the Electric Gospel on December 2, 2016.

Forgive and forget

by Annalisa Schuette

How long can you hold a grudge? If you’re anything like me, a grudge can be held for a long time. Some grudges are even held so long that the people involved have forgotten what it’s about.

You hear the phrase “forgive and forget” everywhere, but what does it mean? You might wonder how you can do this. God’s Word tells us how; he responds: “I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more” (Jeremiah 31:34). God is speaking about the Israelites in this passage. God continually forgave the Israelites, even after they turned away time after time. Yes, he disciplined them, even sending them into exile. But his aim always was loving and caring for them. He promised to forget their sin. The same God who is omniscient somehow forgets sin. We, as Christians, ought to follow this example, but it is so difficult for us as sinful human beings to forget the sins of others. We enjoy the feeling of power that we have dangling someone’s sin in front of them. We hold people’s sins against us over them. We feel better about ourselves comparing our sins to theirs.

This is not what God wants us to do. In Ephesians, Paul tells us, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32). If we truly forgive someone, we have already forgotten the sin. There is no more bringing up of past offenses. No revenge is planned. You no longer feel anger towards the person or about the event. Forgiveness is a gift from God, so precious that Christ died on the cross to give it to us. We will treat it as the precious gift that it is and not take it for granted. Jesus said, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:14-15). God wants us to forgive others.

This does not mean, however, that we should allow ourselves to be taken advantage of. In Genesis, we learn about Joseph. Joseph was abused by his brothers. Yet when they came to him for help, he gave them the aid they needed, but he did not tell them who he truly was. He tested them first. He made them prove that they cared for Benjamin, the youngest brother. When Joseph’s servants found his silver cup in Benjamin’s bag, Judah begged that he be taken as a slave instead of Benjamin. The brothers proved their repentance with actions. Then Joseph had a joyful reunion with his brothers. He forgave them for their sins against him and provided for them.

God does not want us to be abused and walked all over because we forgive and forget when the offender is not truly repentant of his or her sins. We want to bring offenders to repentance so that they change their ways. We deserve to be respected. We want to see a change of heart. But when we see that others are truly repentant and have changed their ways, then we will forgive and forget.

Stop holding grudges and ask God to help you forgive. He has forgiven you for so many sins, so you can forgive those who have sinned against you. Don’t allow yourself to be taken advantage of, but don’t hold sins against others. Reflect the love that God has shown you.

Dec

2019

Jesus, my Lord

Originally published on the Electric Gospel on November 22, 2016.
A musical acquaintance shared with me a hymn she was working on, and permitted posting of the lyrics on the Electric Gospel blog.

Jesus, My Lord

by Raquel Freese

Jesus, my Lord, how can it be?
My God was crucified for me.
Your precious blood for me was shed,
A crown of thorns placed on your head.
As I stood idly watching by,
And saw my friend and Savior die.

You came down from your heavn’ly throne,
And took on human flesh and bone.
You humbly bore my heavy cross
And suffered deepest pain and loss.
You let your love for sinners show-
Your grace is more than I can know!

Now from my sins I have release.
Lord, let my wonder never cease.
Allow me always day and night,
To show the world your glorious light.
And help me, Lord, in all I do,
To fix my eyes solely on you.

We wait until that day you come
To take us to our heavn’ly home.
And when you come from up on high,
The church in unison will cry:
“Our Savior’s blood has set us free
To live with him eternally!”

Dec

2019

Letter to a pregnant teen

Originally published on The Electric Gospel on November 6, 2016.

Letter to a pregnant teen

by Maggie Schmudlach

In a college Bible course that I taught, we worked through Spirit-inspired letters to churches and individuals — the epistles of the New Testament. I asked students to write spiritual letters of their own, usually thinking of a particular individual or sample individual as the intended audience. Maggie wrote the caring letter below with a pregnant teenager in mind, someone with a strong Christian background. The girl did not want anyone to find out about the pregnancy, and because she was afraid it would wreck her plans for the future, she contemplated aborting her baby.

Here is the letter Maggie wrote …

Dear sister in Christ,

I am very sorry to hear about the struggles you are facing at this time in your life. Although it may not seem clear to you right now, God has a plan for you and your baby. We are assured of this by our loving Lord: “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

We know from Scripture that life starts at conception. We confess to God, “You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:13,14). The world looks at a baby in the womb as just another part of the mother’s body and believes she has the right to choose what do with it. They do not see the unborn child as a human life until the baby is further developed. Abortion is seen as an easy way out for women who don’t want a baby or feel they are not ready. Since abortion ends a pregnancy, it also ends a life. The 5th Commandment tells us that murder is a sin. Life is an amazing gift from God. He loves your child and already has a plan for him/her.

I know you are ashamed of the whole affair, since you are thinking about ending the pregnancy. But, instead of trying to hide a mistake by committing an even more tragic action, you can turn to God and the love of your Christian friends. God is forgiving. Paul’s words in Ephesians 4:3-5 provide a great reminder of God’s love for us, even when we sin. The Word says, “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” So, repent of your sin; God, in his forgiveness, is waiting with open arms.

Starting a conversation with your family and friends about this situation may seem scary, but pray to God for strength. He will help you. It will be difficult, and you might get the feeling that you are alone. So, if you would like me to go with you when you talk with your family, I would be happy to be there for you and offer my support. But, also remember that Jesus never leaves your side. He promises, “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

With everything that is going on in your life right now (graduation, college, this situation), no doubt you have been tempted to be stressed and worried about the coming days, weeks, and months. However, Jesus tells us that we do not have to worry about the future because he will take care of us. He says, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life… Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they” (Matthew 6:25-26)?

Always remember that Jesus holds you safe today and will continue to hold you safe tomorrow. You can rest peacefully in the comfort that Jesus is the ultimate friend who loves you unconditionally and will never leave your side.

In Christ,

Maggie

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The Value of Your Name

Forgive and forget

Jesus, My Lord

Letter to a pregnant teen

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