To Know Him is to Love Him

To Know Him is to Love Him

In the quiet of the morning, I opened my bible and flipped through its thin pages to the book of Philippians—the book of joy. My fingers slowly traced the apostle’s words looking for treasure. I read, over and over again, the first chapter of Paul’s love letter to the church at Philippi. It was inspired by his affection for God’s people and his enthusiasm to both magnify Jesus Christ and his reason for his imprisonment. They are one in the same. Paul calls himself a bondservant of Jesus, and he certainly is, both literally and spiritually.

His testimony is riveting and it brings to my mind a promise the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart a few weeks ago as I began my search for joy—

“Joy is found in a deeper understanding of God. Gain wisdom, know joy.”

Excitement rekindled in my heart as I began to uncover what God had for me in this beloved, though familiar book.

I couldn’t help but stop at verses 9 and 10. I must’ve read it a dozen times.

“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ” Philippians 1:9-10

And there it was. The key to joy—love God. As believers, we know this is the first and greatest command. And the second is just like it: love others as yourself.

To love God and love others is the high calling of the Christian. Paul makes this very clear as if Jesus Himself is speaking to the church at Philippi.

I can almost hear him saying, “Yes, I know you love God. That’s wonderful. And I know you love each other. Praise God! You even show your love for those far away. You’ve really got it. But, I want you to love more. Excel in agape.”

Love more. More? Now that’s a noble challenge. But what does that look like? And how can I make myself love Him and others more than I already do?

Without the insight of God’s Spirit we can only imagine what love is—what it looks like—and how it ought to feel. To know God and love like Him is absolutely impossible without a renewed mind.

Paul illustrates this very thing in the book of Titus:

“For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior. Titus 3:3-6

Then it all began to make sense. I sat there amazed by this simple, yet powerful insight: to love God and people requires God. And to love God and people more requires more of God.

Oh, how I relish in the deep truths of God. I think it's called joy.

by Dana Lange

The Evil Three

The Evil Three

“And his brothers envied him, but his father kept the matter in mind.”
Genesis 37:11

Jealousy (which is insecurity), envy (wanting what others have) and coveting (unnatural yearning for possessions) are ugly attitudes. They have the power to destroy faith, wreck marriages, ruin friendships, and turn brother against brother. Envy, jealousy, covetousness—anger—the motivation behind the plan of Joseph's brothers to sell him into slavery.

“So when the Ishmaelites, who were Midianite traders, came by, Joseph’s brothers pulled him out of the cistern and sold him to them for twenty pieces of silver. And the traders took him to Egypt.” Genesis 37:28

Jealousy stems from insecurity but, Child of God, you have nothing to be insecure about.
However, jealousy is something the devil feeds on and—in this day and age—it’s all around us. We turn on the TV and there it is: the commercial offers beauty and youth in a jar. Open a magazine and there it is: the purse you must have or the perfect woman/man you aspire to look like. What hopelessness these evil three impress on our hearts and minds...our souls.

Integrity, honor, truth, thanksgiving and joy—beautiful words that speak of the nature of God and of the child of the King.

How do we keep ourselves from this onslaught of Satan? We put on the mind of Christ.

“So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.”
1 Peter 1:13

Sounds good, but how do we do that?

Stay in the Word of God and see your worth in God’s eyes.

“Keep me as the apple of Your eye, hide me in the shadow of Your wings.”
Psalm 17:8

Surround yourself with friends who encourage you, who will speak beauty and truth into you. People who seek to build you up in the Lord.

“And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.” Ecclesiastes 4:12

That third cord—yeah—JESUS.

If you have a problem with any of these three—or you’re tottering at the edge—seek help. Don’t try to beat it on your own. Pray—ask Jesus to direct you to the right person.

“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8

Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that you are not alone.
Never alone—

“The mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but it is now disclosed to the Lord's people. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:26-27

There is nothing in this world that is not going to decay, burn or go the way of all man. So don't waste your time, money or desires on things that won't last.

“You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.” Ephesians 5:5

by Eve Montano

On the Move in Ireland

On the Move in Ireland

“To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven”
Ecclesiastes 3:1

As a woman, wife, and handmaiden of the Lord it is my heart to follow the leading of God in the life of my husband. This may mean leaving everything familiar and comfortable to follow a call God has placed in his heart! This means a dying to self, a releasing of my will, and being obedient to the Lord. I am called to come alongside and trust the Lord as He brings about change. An absolute privilege! 

Recently, I looked up the definitions of three words I feel are relevant in our family life right now. These words are change, transition, and season.

Dictionary definitions for each of these words are: 
change: to give a different position, course, or direction to; 
transition: to make a change from one state, place, or condition to another; and
season: to make fit by experience, to make suitable for use, a period of time associated with something special.

As women, words like change/transition can be a bit taunting and even a bit frightening. But God can bring about a beautiful new season in the midst of a change/transition that He is readying us for.  

We are thankful for the amazing privilege to serve our great God, Jesus Christ. To be His ambassadors not just among the Irish, but also of CCEA. It is a privilege!

Our time serving the Lord in Dublin has been fantastic. We have poured into the Community relentlessly. They have watched, listened, and participated…children, moms, dads, Muslims, youth, staff, cancer sufferers, local politicians, skeptics. Our time in Dublin has been preparatory, We were being made fit and suitable for use in Gods next steps for our family.

June 30, 2018, with a moving truck and six vehicles from CCD loaded with our things, we made our move to the West. We are now in Sligo and have 60% of the house unpacked. Our home in Collooney is quite a bit smaller, so we are trying to be creative with storage. Sligo is a much slower culture than Dublin. People want you to take time. They want you to listen, to hear, and to value each conversation. We are excited to see all the Lord will do here.

We are, with all of God’s grace and aid, seeking to establish a new church plant in Sligo--a calling God placed in Shawn’s heart. The seeds of this move began back in 2005. It is my privilege to come alongside Shawn as his wife in this new venture of faith. As we set our face forward we will seek the Lord for every ounce of strength, every step, every move--all for His glory--that we may be Salt to Souls.

Here is a fact founded upon research by Irish Christians: Ireland is the least evangelized English speaking country in the world. This statement might be met with disbelief--after all, Ireland is called ‘The Land of Saints and  Scholars,’ isn’t it?  Yes it is. However, research reveals that evangelical (Biblical) Christians make up less than one percent of the population.  What’s more, there are more than fifty towns with no evangelical church! Our family, in obedience to the Lord, has stepped out in faith to share the love of God here in Sligo.

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye." Psalm 32:8

It would nearly be an understatement to say that we are critically reliant upon this direct influence from the Lord. As we venture from our new home to various places, expanding our points of reference, we pray for the Lord to lead, to show us the way in which we ought to go.  We ask that you would pray diligently for the many untold and unknown needs. We are starting with all of God’s grace, His calling. We are starting with these abundant relational realities, but little else.

by Deanna Tebbe, CCEA Missionary to Ireland

His Work in You

His Work in You

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”
Philippians 1:6

The day I read this verse and realized its significance is indelibly etched in my mind. The sense of joy and freedom that washed over me and filled my soul still turns the light of hope on in my spirit. God began a good work in me when I first believed in Jesus. He will continue working out good in me until I am safely with him. That promise is written with the blood of my Savior.

The other day I heard an interview about “bullying.” The authors* spoke about the Christian being bullied by four states of mind we battle. I’ve battled them in different ways over the years, but never thought about them as bullying. Then I realized each one of them produced guilt in my life. The kind of guilt that wreaks havoc on my insides. The guilt that I’m not good enough…and never will be.

I wonder…does it do that to you, too? Have you ever thought that you were being bullied? The Bible exhorts us to be alert because our battle isn’t against what we can see.

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
Ephesians 6:12

The enemy is a bully. He deceives us through standards of the four “P’s:” Perfectionism, performancism, people-pleasing, and procrastination. What we do must be perfect or it’s not worth doing. We need to be the best at whatever we do or it’s not worth doing. We need approval—validation—or it’s not worth doing. We can’t do any of those three so it’s not worth trying—procrastination.

“Good” in the Greek is “agathos (ag-ath-os). It means good in character, honorable, pleasing to God. Jesus, in Matthew 19:17, says there is none good but God. And God has imparted the good nature of ‘God the Son’ to all who have believed. We’re a work in progress. As we turn our backs on the desires and emotions of our self-natures and embrace the gift of Christ’s nature, good grows in us.

“By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.” 2 Peter 1:3-4

We have exceeding great and precious promises we can stand on. We don’t have to be perfect. We don’t have to perform for others. We don’t have to please people. And, when it becomes our goal to glorify and please God, procrastination has no hold over us. He will continue his work in us until the day when Jesus Christ returns for his bride.

by Marilyn Allison

*”You Don’t Have to Try So Hard”
by Kathi Lipp and Cheri Gregory

Is it Worth it?

Is it Worth it?

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord." Colossians 3:23

We women know about serving, don’t we?  We do a lot of thankless, non-glamorous jobs that others grow to depend on.  

Recently, I read about Dorcas, a disciple of Christ, in Acts 9:36-40.  She was deeply loved and inconsolably grieved when she died, and I wondered, “Why?” What did Dorcas do that so profoundly affected others? Was it just making garments and tunics?  I imagine that she, too, might have wondered at times if sewing countless pieces of cloth really made any difference in the world.  Did she ever wish she could do something else, or wonder if she should do something else?   

I don’t know what you think of when you hear the word, “Missionary.”  I’ve had many people tell me, “I couldn’t do what you do.”  

Really?  What do I do? To be honest, a lot of regular, mundane things. 

Like you, I show up and love those God has put in my life and brought across my path.  I do life and serve in many “no big deal” ways. And sometimes I do wonder, “Lord, how does any of this make a difference? Isn’t there something else you’d like me to do?”  

After we joined MAF in 1991, there was such glorious expectation of what serving God in full time ministry meant.  Then after we arrived in Suriname in 1992 and started our “ministry” it didn’t take long to realize that there was a lot of uninteresting, everyday life involved, especially for me as a young wife and mother. 

God has spent many years working on my heart to shift my focus from “what I can do for Him” to “doing all as unto Him,” and then let Him work through me how, when, and where He wished. And when He does, I am always so amazed.  The results are so much better than anything I could have imagined.  And when God works through me, He gets the glory, not me!   

After our kids were grown, we lived in a communist country where our activities were limited and becoming a Christian could be dangerous. I taught English and developed relationships, but ached to be able to do something more significant. And then one day, God graciously allowed me a glimpse into His work behind the scenes.  

High in the northern mountains of that Southeast Asian country was a group of people to whom God began revealing Himself through healing and visions.  Despite persecution, this small group grew.  One man decided to teach his village to read so they could read the Bible. He needed to find elusive Bibles in their language; so, he began to pray.  

Sometime later, a woman from his village had a “chance” meeting in the capital with our friend, a long-time literacy worker.  In their brief encounter, the village woman found out that our friend was a believer and knew that some Bibles existed in their language.  

Sometime later, we unexpectedly found ourselves heading over the boarder to a non-communist country for aviation school supplies.  As we were driving, I suddenly remembered that my friend was already there recovering from a recent cancer treatment.  I knew she didn’t have any transportation or way to bring back supplies and might appreciate some help; so I called her. 

Little did I know that when I called, she had just received a call from the village man saying he was in town to pick up the Bibles--the ones she knew existed, but didn’t say she had! Amazingly, she just “happened” to be near the only repository of Bibles in his language in the region when he called, but she had no idea how to get them over the border to him. As soon as she hung up with him, my call came through. “Hi,” I said, “We’re heading your way. Do you need a ride?”   

What miraculous provision that simple act of offering a friend a ride turned out to be.  Like clockwork, as if it had been carefully planned, we met our friend on the other side of the border, went to where the Bibles were located, filled the truck, took her shopping, dropped her back off at her hotel, and sailed through customs with our truck filled with school supplies, groceries, and what they called “ancient history books.”  

Later, when several villagers made their way out of the mountains to help bring the precious books back to their village, we had the privilege to sit among them and hear of God’s wonders amidst persecution.  What a humbling and amazing experience!  These materials were going to make a difference not only for them, but for surrounding villages that needed to hear God’s Word.

And what did I do? Nothing much; just loved and served my friend.  What a difference that one simple, mundane act of offering a friend a ride made. 

Has it been worth it?  Yes!  In more ways than I will ever know here on earth.

Do not grow weary! There is so much more going on behind the scenes.  It is God you are serving.  And He is the one that does the work. 

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

"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

What does God want you to hear from Him today about serving Him with whatever He has placed before you?  

by Rebecca Emenaker,
CCEA Missionary to MAF
(Missionary Aviation Fellowship)

Editor's Note: Rebecca and her husband have been serving with MAF since 1991 in Suriname, Russia, Asia, and now in Idaho at MAF US headquarters. Rebecca has served in many roles including wife, mother, librarian, and English teacher.  She delights in pointing others to the hope and life we have in Christ and the wonders found in God’s Word and creation.