Articles by Russ Lawson at Heartlight

Calling Home

rlawson@mfth.net (Russ Lawson) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Today we phoned back over 1,800 miles of America to talk to our son and his family -- just to see how they were doing and to keep in touch. Our 2 year old granddaughter, Allison, said she wanted to talk to us so they put her on the phone.

She piped up, "Hi Gram-ma! Hi Gram-pa!" I have to admit that it made my eyes light up and I smiled and so did my Melody. How sweet that was to hear her voice speaking to us. We had heard through my sister that Allison had bumped her nose and she told us that it was OK now. Our 8 year old grandson, Christopher, got on the phone and told us some things that were important to him right now. We shared a little of our life with him. The call left us with a warm feeling when we were done.

I believe that is how God feels about us! I think he longs to hear us call his name and tell him about how we are doing and how much we love him. Yes, I know he knows all that we do, but don't you think he wants to hear it from us personally at least as much as we want to hear it from our grandchildren?

We hear the words repeated so often that I think they sometime lose their impact on our heart:

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16 NIV).

Most of us love our children or our grandchildren enough to give up the most precious thing in the world for them! That's how much God loves us!

How about taking some time to talk with our God! Paul gives us some insight into what we need to be doing as we talk with our Father in heaven:

Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT).

Some folks say, "I really don't know how to pray, I just don't know what to say." Notice again what Paul said, "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done." Can it be any simpler than that? How about stopping right now and talking with your Father? I know that God is just waiting for you to call!

Russ Lawson is a former missionary to Africa and minister in Ohio. He now works with World Christian Literature Outreach and writes a weekly email devotional, Messages from the Heart. For more information about Russ, click here.

Website: Messages from the Heart

Playing Second Fiddle?

rlawson@mfth.net (Russ Lawson) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Many people in our world are motivated by praise of others; that is not a bad thing if dealt with properly. After all, the scripture repeatedly reminds us to encourage and exhort one another. Some folks though live their lives in search of, perhaps in pursuit of praise from the lips or pens of men and women. I have known people who have such an ego that they cannot function if there is someone who does not appreciate them. It may be of interest to know that the word "Ego" originated from the Latin word for "I". This can be understood by listening to the conversation of a person with an "ego problem." You will find that the word "I" is used repeatedly as if they are the center of all there is.

Leonard Bernstein, the celebrated orchestra conductor, was asked, "What is the hardest instrument to play?" He replied without hesitation: "Second fiddle. I can always get plenty of first violinists, but to find one who plays second violin with as much enthusiasm or second French horn or second flute, now that's a problem. And yet if no one plays second, we have no harmony."

How are you at "playing second fiddle"? You see, God's church only functions properly if people work "in the background" or "behind the scenes" playing "second fiddle" without recognition. I thank God for all of the men and women within His church who are not grasping for recognition, who are willing to work quietly in the background. They are happy to serve God for his recognition, not for the recognition of others.

The apostle Paul gives us this instruction from God:

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. ... Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves (Romans 12:3-10).

In other words, we are all equal in God's eyes and we should be happy just knowing that.

Pride is a terrible thing and has proven to be the downfall of many people. The common saying we here is "Pride goes before a fall." This is actually a bible principle. God warns us through the wise writer of Proverbs: "Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18). Pride causes some to view others as less worth, less valuable to God and our world, than they themselves are. Pride causes some to abuse or misuse someone they should cherish as God's creation. Pride causes some to be lost because they won't submit themselves to God. Perhaps some just cannot make themselves serve God without the praise of men.

Only One is truly worthy of our praise, and it surely isn't us!

You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being (Revelation 4:11).

You see, playing second fiddle is not a bad thing. It doesn't become a problem unless we do think of ourselves as being "just a little better" than someone else. We will understand that point if we keep our egos -- our desire to see "I" as being of first importance -- under control. James said it this way:

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:7).

God and His church need you to be the support and encouragement to others, not the one that gets his or her feelings hurt because you were not recognized (i.e. "They didn't speak to me today"). Are you willing to play second fiddle if that's what it takes to be a blessing to God and His church? It may just take that for your church to have and to produce the harmony God desires.

Website: Messages from the Heart

Do People Hear What Your Life Is Saying?

rlawson@mfth.net (Russ Lawson) — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0500

The church had just completed the installation of a new sound system which had a special "boost in volume" capability. All the speaker had to do is push a button and the volume would increase. The preacher was commenting on the new sound system one Sunday morning and said: "If your children get a little noisy, don't worry about it. I have a little button now to take care of it." A little girl who was usually very noisy during services sat very quietly that morning and her mother asked her, "Dear, are you not feeling well today?" The little girl answered, "No, Momma, but what happens if he pushes the button?"

Obviously, the preacher was not very effective in communicating his message!

I wonder sometimes how effective we are at communicating what is important to us. If you are a Christian, sharing that fact should be at the top of our list of things to communicate. How are you doing? The word effective is defined as: "To be productive, efficient, to have the desired effect or to be successful."

Is your Christianity having the desired effect on the world around you? Do people even know you are a Christian? The scriptures tell us:

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven (Matthew 5:16).

A modern translation puts it this way:
"In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father" (NLT).

Let me suggest this week that you "let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father." How? I'm not sure, but look for opportunities! Write that card or letter to a neighbor, co-worker, friend or fellow Christian. Encourage them. Let them know about the love of God and how it can bless you.

Call someone who may be struggling! Take a plate of cookies to a neighbor; visit someone who can't get out much themselves. Let your light shine, let folks see God living in you, communicate what God is doing in your life and what he can do in the lives of others.

In other words, start being effective in communicating! God has given us a message, now share it with others. What's the message? God cares and living in him can change you and give you a life worth living, for now and through eternity!

Website: Messages from the Heart

I'll Be Happy When?

rlawson@mfth.net (Russ Lawson) — Mon, 18 May 2009 00:00:00 -0500

We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another. Then we are frustrated that the kids aren't old enough and we'll be more content when they are. After that, we're frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage. We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, when we are able to go on a nice vacation or when we retire. The truth is there's no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when? Your life will always be filled with challenges. (My friend Jerrie sent me this. I thought I would expand on it a touch.)

When you talk to most of the folks my age, sooner or later, the subject of retirement comes up as does talk of what they plan to do when they retire. The thought is that when they no longer have to worry about going to work, then things will be different, and then they will have time to do the things that really make them happy.

While thinking about this, I remembered what Jesus said, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own" (Matthew 6:34 NIV). I know we are not necessarily considering worry, but also being happy with your life. I believe the principle is basically the same. Also, notice what James wrote.

"Now listen, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.' Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:13-14).

Perhaps the question we need to ask ourselves is, "What is keeping me from being happy?" Am I waiting for some future event that I think will change everything, make everything better, or make things different? Am I waiting for someone else to change their life, their attitudes, their likes or dislikes, believing that will make me happy?

The psalmist gives us some insight into finding happiness when he tells us, "Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God" (Psalms 146:5).

Where is your hope? Where do you try to find happiness? True hope and happiness is based on and found in our relationship with our Lord.

May God grant you true happiness this day and forever!

Website: Messages from the Heart

Mother's Day in Retrospect

rlawson@mfth.net (Russ Lawson) — Sat, 09 May 2009 00:00:00 -0500

They say -- whoever "they" are -- that confession is good for the soul, so maybe it's time for me to reveal that I have not always been the wonderful, considerate husband that I now am! (Don't laugh too hard!)

As I look back on past Mother's Day weekends, I realize that I really blew it sometimes. The first years of our marriage, Mother's Day rolled around and I reasoned that Melody was my wife -- not my mother -- so I didn't get her anything to recognize the day as special.

The next year, however, I had learned my lesson. I had discovered the hard way, that my wife was indeed a mother, and that I needed to recognize that fact. I thought about it for awhile, and came home with the perfect gift (I thought), a rubber tree plant. Melody was not impressed! Kirk (9 months old) liked it better than she did. He proceeded to pull all of the leaves off of it in the following weeks.

I still didn't understand why Melody wasn't impressed with my thoughtfulness, but eventually, somewhere along the past 41 years, I figured it out. I don't make those foolish mistakes as often now. Now, when I suggest doing something special to celebrate Mother's Day she says, "It's not necessary. Our boys will make it special for me!" I've wondered if it could be she just doesn't want to take a chance on another rubber tree plant!

Guys, just in case you need some help, jewelry, perfume, clothing, thoughtful cards, a nice meal, or a visit to some place special to her are appreciated by the mothers in your life -- whether they are your mother or the mother of your children! Rubber tree plants, tools, and oil changes are not usually seen as something very personal or appreciative for one who carried you for 9 months in her body and gave you life!

The apostle Paul, writing to the church in Ephesus, penned these words:

Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. 'Honor your father and mother.' This is the first of the Ten Commandments that ends with a promise (Ephesians 6:1-2 NLT).

Mother's Day is a national holiday, not a religious one. But, this is one special day that I am in favor of celebrating. It's a small way to honor our mothers and recognize all they have given us in our lives. I realize that not everyone has "the perfect mother," but if the opportunity presents itself, bless yourself by doing something good and positive for your mother anyway.

While some of you moms might be thrilled to get even a rubber tree plant, I pray that you all will get what you really need in the way of love and recognition for the role in which God has placed you!

Website: Messages from the Heart

Always Saying the Right Thing

rlawson@mfth.net (Russ Lawson) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Have you ever meant to say something that didn't come out just the way you wanted it to? Being a preacher, it seems that I have a constant problem of "foot in mouth." I have heard other folks do the same thing, sometimes a complement that didn't come off just the way we wanted. Sometimes a word of correction that came off much harsher than we had intended.

I received this little story from a friend of mine in Missouri (Raymond), which illustrates the problem.

A bashful young man asked a friend for advice on what to talk about on a date. The friend said to flatter the girl, "Tell her when you see her face, time stands still." What the rattled young man said to his date was, "Your face would stop a clock."

How do you get into messes like that, and more importantly, how do you get out again? Most of the time, it is as simple as saying, "I'm sorry, that was not what I meant to say."

Notice what Paul writes those who followed Jesus in his day:

Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man (Colossians 4:6).

"Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt ..."* I don't know about you, but I need an almost constant reminding of that principle. Why? Because I often don't do so well at accomplishing it.

May our God guide you in all that you think and say!

* The phrase "seasoned with salt" does not mean "salty speech," which comes from the concept of "speaking salty like a sailor (who sails on salt water and the language used at sea is, well, salty)." Instead, the phrase refers to being correctly seasoned like using the correct amount of salt.

Website: Messages from the Heart

In God We Still Trust

rlawson@mfth.net (Russ Lawson) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Our nation and our world are struggling with trust in and having faith in God. Everyone seems to be asking the question, "Why is this happening?" Some even ask, "If there is really a God, and if there is, why is there so much suffering?" Many people look at the incidents recorded in the scriptures and find strength, but then Satan plants the seed of doubt, and we can give in to their fear and want to give up on life.

You most likely are not familiar with the name, Gladys Aylward, but you may have heard her story which was made into a movie many years ago. The movie was titled, "The Inn of the 6th Happiness." It was the story of a single woman who became a missionary to China, but was forced to flee before the invading Japanese army in World War II. She, however, could not leave the people she loved to suffer, and especially the many orphans. With only one assistant to help her, she led more than 100 children over the mountains to reach freedom.

In the book "The Hidden Price of Greatness," the authors tell us the unknown story of the struggle which Gladys fought with herself:

During Gladys's harrowing journey out of war-torn Yangcheng, she grappled with despair as never before. After passing a sleepless night, she faced the morning with no hope of reaching safety. A 14 year old girl in the group reminded her of their much loved story of Moses and the Israelites crossing the Red Sea. "But I am not Moses," Gladys cried in desperation. "Of course you aren't," the girl said, "but Jehovah is still God!"

WOW! What faith! Don't you wish you could always have the faith and trust of that 14 year old girl?

Often in the scriptures, the apostle Paul lets us see his very human side. He had struggles with his own weaknesses, with his physical problems, with discouragement from dealing with other less than perfect people. Yet, he could write words of encouragement that let us understand that he never gave up hope or trust in God, like these familiar words of faith:

I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need (Philippians 4:12-13 NLT).

Gladys was pursued by those who wanted to stop her. They rejected her faith and would have had no regrets in killing her. Perhaps you are struggling with despair and discouragement in your life right now. The question that perhaps you need to ask yourself is the same one with which she struggled: "Do you trust in God for deliverance?"

My prayer for you today are the amazing words of Paul prayed thousands of years ago:

May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope (Ephesians 3:19-20).

I don't know about you, but for my wife and me, "In God we still trust!" We may not be Moses, but He is still Jehovah!

Website: Messages from the Heart