Being My Sister's Keeper - Part II

I would be the person who sincerely intends to lift others up in prayer... but then totally forgets! Two things are helping me overcome this awful habit.

One is writing the matter for prayer down. When I come across it in my devotional time- or if I wrote it on a scrap, it's when I'm cleaning out my purse- I remember to pray. Writing down requests has been my practice for a long time, but definitely has its flaws... like when I use the scrap of paper to throw away gum. Oops!

When I heard Elyse encouraging us to pray immediately, the lightbulb went off! Aha! I can be a means of grace for my hubby, children, friends, or even strangers by praying as soon as I hear of the need.

Often, I pray with the person. But when that is not possible, I do pray as soon as possible... when I hang up the phone, as I'm typing a reply email on the computer, or when I hop in my car after visiting with a friend. And when the Lord brings friends or situations to my mind later in the day or week, I can assume it is the Lord's will for me to be "a means of grace" to them. Again, I pray.

It isn't enough for me to shake my head saying to myself, "She must be having such a hard time this week, bless her heart!" I'm grateful for these teachings by Elyse and for Rhonda bringing them to us. I'm praying that the Lord will continually use them in our lives as a church body to develop Biblical relationships. And I'm praying right now!!!

Being My Sister's Keeper - Part II

Listening to the second message one thing I heard Elyse say over and over is that we need to be a means. She said that we could be the vessel that God uses to be a means in another woman’s life. Speaking into someone’s life can be challenging and difficult. We don’t want to rock the boat and so often than not we choose to just not say anything. We think we are being nice but really we are not loving that person. If you see a sister sinning the most loving thing you can do is to bring it to her attention when it’s appropriate.

Has the Lord placed a woman in your life as a means of grace to you? Throughout my adult life there has been a person (you know who you are) that the Lord uses to be a means to me. Although I haven’t always responded in gratefulness for the loving correction she brings to me, I am always thankful in the end that she did. And after I have wallowed in self pity I take some time and pray and ask the Lord to show me where I am sinning so I can change. And wouldn't you know that her assessment is usually right. It’s a difficult process but the Lord is kind and He is glorified through it all. And although it’s not easy for her either, her love for me is so evident as she is faithful to the Lord to bring me the correction. I have grown so much because of it and our relationship is stronger too.

God, in His kindness, brings people in our lives to be a means to us. They help us when we are too weak to see our sin. I am thankful for those relationships in that it has been for my sanctification. ~ Sharlyn Eddy

Being My Sister's Keeper - Part II

Step-by-Step Through Galatians 6:1-3

A. "Caught in any trespass"
B. "You who are spiritual women"
C. "Restore"
D. "Spirit of Gentleness"
E. "Looking to yourself, lest you be tempted"
F. "Bear one another's burdens"
G. "Fulfill the law of Christ"
H. "Don't deceive yourself"

"My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins."-James 5:19-20

I was twenty years old and felt very settled. I loved where I lived, had wonderful friends, a good job and adored my church family. Relocating anywhere else wasn't even in my thoughts...it wasn't even in my imagination! But when I heard that my parents felt like the Lord was calling them to move, I didn't have the selfless, eager, God-centered attitude I would have liked. Instead, idols were revealed and sin abounded. Though I willingly made the decision to move with my parents, I made it clear that it wasn't what I wanted. Bitterness, despair and loneliness were my companions and I distanced myself from my family in the process. To my constant vexation, my mom daily pursued me. She helped me to see the deep rooted idols in my life that I had allowed to take God's place. Some days my mom would come to me boldly, but gently preaching the gospel to me and confronting me about my sin. Some days she would simply sit close to me and cry with me. She was literally bearing my burdens. It didn't happen over night, but through my mom and the Holy Spirit, God had stripped me bare and was beginning to build me up again. I was able to see my sin for what it was. I understood that this was God's sovereign plan for my life. I became excited about what God was calling me to in this new city and new season. Almost three years after having moved, I couldn't imagine being anywhere else. God's plans truly are better than our own. God graciously used my mom to rescue me. She embodied James 5:19-20 and Galatians 6:1-3 in my life. If it hadn't been for my mom "keeping" me, I don't know where I would be today. So, knowing what my mom has done for me, only inspires me to do that for others and to welcome that in my own life. How exciting to be able to fulfill God's call for us to be keeper's of our sister's souls and to have our souls kept as well!
~ Lana Calabello

Being My Sister's Keeper - Part II

Patience is a fruit of the Spirit that is much needed as we seek to serve our sisters in Christ through bearing one another's burdens and bringing Biblical correction. If you are wondering why it is taking a sister so long to change ask the Lord to remind you how patient He has been with you, especially with battling sinful habits that are long-standing. You have discovered that His mercies are new every morning. Allow the Holy Spirit to bring to mind Scriptures abounding with grace and hope: "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed." 2 Corinthians 9:8. A little later in Chapter 12:9, 10 he writes "And He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' " As we learn how to care for one another may we ask the Lord for hearts that are full of compassion, the ability to stand with a sister as she learns to walk in a manner worthy of the Gospel, and tender hearts that are willing to be patient and wait for the Lord to do His work in our sister. Learn to call out her name in fervent prayer rather than grumble or complain about her lack of progress. Entrust her to God who knows best what her exact needs are. When she comes to you again and confesses her failures be quick to remind her that she is clothed in Christ's righteousness, not her own works. Turn her eyes back to the Savior and away from her failings. Agree to stand with her as she learns more and more to entrust herself to Christ. Hear the words of Jude and his confidence in the Lord: "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen." Jude 24,25.
~ Brenda Edwards

Being My Sister's Keeper - Part II

Last week we in our review of Elyse Fitzpatrick’s series on Am I My Sister’s Keeper we learned that God is ultimately our keeper.

Psalm 121:3-8, “He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber, Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD
is your keeper, the LORD is your shade on your right hand. The sun will not smite you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will protect you from evil; He will keep your soul. The LORD will guard your going and your coming in from this time forth and forever.”

But we also saw that we are to “keep” one another.

“A charitable concern for our brethren, as their keepers, is a great duty, which is strictly required of us, but is generally neglected by us. Those who are unconcerned in the affairs of their brethren, and take no care, when they have opportunity, to prevent their hurt in their bodies, goods, or good name, especially in their souls, do, in effect , speak Cain’s language.” Matthew Henry

Please join us this week as we discover “What the Lord Teaches about Our Responsibility to “Keep” Each Other. (click here to listen to the second message)

I have always been intrigued by Galatians 6:1-3 which says, “Brethren, even if a (sister) is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual (women), restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, lest you be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks (she) is something when (she) is nothing, (she) deceives herself.” (Paraphrased)

I’d like to share with you a season of my life where I was caught in sin, gently rescued, and restored to God through the ministry of biblical friendship. Though I will spare you the endless details I do want to share with you the process that took place that I believe will set the context for this week’s topic.

In 1996 our family relocated to El Paso, Texas after a lengthy process. Prior to Joe being asked to prayerfully consider relocating to El Paso, he along with some other men were in dialogue about Joe planting a church in a particular city in Florida. This had been a desire of Joe’s for sometime and it seemed it would be only a matter of time before this would take place. But God had other plans. So the adventure begins.

We began taking exploratory trips to El Paso and after our third trip it was obvious that God was leading us there. Joe was full of faith, but I was not. I had made the statement many years ago while driving through El Paso on our honeymoon headed to Colorado, “Who would ever live in this God forsaken place?” I remember thinking how ugly and why would anyone live here. As I reflect back on that arrogant comment God reminded me that He had not forsaken El Paso and He would give me faith for the move. Over time God was faithful to his promise and did give me a growing faith to trust my husband’s leadership in this matter.

However, following God’s clear leading brought about much change for our family, especially for me. Relocating to El Paso was certainly an adventure to say the least. Everything that was familiar was unfamiliar. We left our dear family and friends. The church we loved. The ocean and everything that was lush and green.

For me began a season of God’s discipline as he began to reveal my sinful heart through the changes we were making. A new church, new culture, new geography, new responsibilities and the list goes on. What should have been an absolute joy and privilege to serve the Savior was a burden to me. Change for me revealed my pride, selfishness, unbelief and bitterness to name only a few.

I was caught, overtaken, ensnared, and trapped in a depressing world of self-absorption and my thinking was dominated by my dislike of God’s providential leading. In my pride I thought I knew what was best. Due to my pride and unbelief and choosing to view my circumstances through my selfishness and feelings I lacked faith and joy, peace and contentment. To my shame I projected my unbelief to others through criticism, judgment, and bitterness.

Galatians 6:1-3 was a description of me. But thankfully God does not leave us in our sin, but rescues and restores us. Oh how I thank God for my sweet and patient husband. I am so grateful to God for my friends (you know who you are) who loved me enough to confront me with gentleness and who walked along side me. Joe continually reminded me of God’s sovereignty with great patience. He would often encourage me to embrace this season as designed by God to reveal my sin and to give me a deepened revelation of the Gospel.

What a faithful God, what a faithful husband and what faithful friends. By God’s grace I truly grew to love the culture, the geography, and especially the church. God rescued and restored me through the gently correction of others. I shuddered to think where I would be spiritually today had he not used these precious means of grace in my life. ~ Rhonda Calabello