Month: April 2022

Unfinished Work

April 30, 2022Blog, Encouragement, Sunday Sermons, , Leave a comment

At 7 PM, on October 20, 1968, a few thousand spectators remained in the Mexico City Olympic Stadium. It was cool and dark. The last of the marathon runners, each exhausted, were being carried off to first-aid stations. More than an hour ealrier, Mamo Wolde of Ethiopia – looking as fresh as when he statred the race – crossed the finish line, the winner of the 26-mile, 385 yard event.

As the remaining spectators prepared to leave, those sitting near the marathon gates suddenly heard the sound of sirens and police whistles. All eyes turned to the gate. A lone figure wearing number 36 and the colors of Tanzania entered the stadium. His name was John Stephen Akhwari. He was the last man to finish the marathon. He had fallen during the race and injured his knee and ankle. Now, with his leg bloodied and bandaged, he grimmaced with each hobbling step around the 400-meter track.

John Stephen Akhwari

The spectators arose and applauded him. After crossing the finish line, Akhwari slowly walked off the field. Later, a reporter asked Akhwari the question on everyone’s mind: “Why did you continue the race after you were so badly injured?”

He replied, “My country did not send me 7,000 miles to start the race. They sent me 7,000 miles to finish it.” (1)

Archippus, much like this Olympic runner, found himslef in a position of having lost sight of the finish line. Whether he had stumbled, been injured along the way or had just plain lost his strength or vision, he had stopped running his race.

We find him mentioned only two times in the New Testament, and it is in the first that we see him being told by the Apostle Paul,

” Be sure you give Archippus this message, “Be faithful to complete the ministry you received from the Lord.”

Colossians 4:17 TPT

Archippus had unfinished work that he needed to complete.

During his time, he and his family, (Philemon – probably his dad and Appia, his mom. Philemon 2) were somehow involved in the city of Colossae in advancing the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. It must not have been without opposition and hardship for there were false teachings to be diffused, traditions to be dismantled, and Christianity was not even recognized as a legetimate or legal religion.

So whether he became sidetracked, exhausted, got mad and quit or just let it slide for others to handle, we do not know. What we do know is he needed to finsih the work that the Lord had given him. He had unfinished work to complete, and Paul had to remind him to finish what he started.

His race had somehow slowed and he may have been broken and bandaged, but his race was not completed. His work for the Lord had been started, but it needed to be finished. Paul reminded Archippus to get up, get back in the race and finish what had been started.

I love the way the Hawaiian’s say it –

” Tell Archippus dis: “All da work Da One In Charge tell you fo do, you betta do um now.”

Colossians 4:17 Hawaii Pidgen Bible

All da work!

If “The One in Charge” has given you a job to do, it’s best to complete it – all. All the way to the finish line. That is why He put you in the race, not just to start it, but to finish it.

I have a strong hunch that for you, my friend, there is unfinished work for you to finish. It is time to get back in the race, pick up that baton from where you left it, and run. It is time to complete that unfinished work.

Run strong and to the end,

Debbie

PS- Archippus did get back in the race, because Philemon 2, which was written 2 years later, tells us that he and his family formed a church in their home. He was back at it and ministering exactly where the Lord wanted him, completeing what he had been called to do.

  1. Edward K. Rowell, Fresh Illustrations for Preaching & Teaching; pg. 71, Finishing Well

Walking in the Spirit

April 27, 2022Blog, Personal Growth, video teachings Leave a comment

Spiritual How-to’s

Growing in relationship with Jesus means evidence of this relationship shows in our life. It is a process, iniated by the Holy Spirit and carried out by our mutual laboring. We choose to walk in the Spirit or in the flesh. That’s what this video seeks to explain and inspire you with.

Happy walking…no need to run.

Debbie

Amazing Monday 4.25.22

April 25, 2022Amazing Monday, video teachings, Leave a comment

Your amazing ear/hearing

At the beginning of each week I have tried to post something on the lighter side and with this post I will continue with that by adding a new category I am calling “Amazing Monday”. In these short, video snip-its I expect to share amazing facts about your body, or Earth, or some other practical factoids and draw some parallels.

Enjoy this first offering.

Keep your hearing happy.

Debbie

Adopted by Another

April 23, 2022Blog, Personal Growth, Sunday Sermons, , Leave a comment

She was the 20 year old daughter of the town’s mayor, who had fallen in love with and married a man whom she would soon discover had a dark side. He was charismatic and oozed charm on his exterior, but underneath there was a vicious temper that was flagrantly violent. His threats were frequent and she knew danger was imminent.

Finding out she was pregnant, in her fear, she asked for and received help from the child’s grandparents. Although she and her newborn were given a room in their home, one day her husband stormed in with a buthcer knife and threatened to kill her, the baby and the nurse. The police came and settled the issue and shortly therefter a divorce was granted. Although the court ordered the biological father to pay child support and alimony, he adamantly refused, paid nothing and choose not to be a part of his son’s life.

Time passed and the mother met and married a paint salesman, who loved her and her 2 year old son. This love, prompted Gerald R. Ford to adopt Leslie as his own son, renaming him Gerald R. Ford Jr.. The family grew in love and in numbers and this is how the adopted, adult Gerald later described his family – (1)

Gerald Ford Jr. as a child

“My stepfather was a magnificient person and my mother equally wonderful. So I couldn’t have written a better prescription for a superb family upbringing.”

Adoptions with Love – President Gerald Ford

Leslie Lynch Jr. was adopted by another, received his new name Gerald R. Ford Jr., and years later became the 38th President of the United States.

President Ford

“Adoption is the most intentional process on Earth.”

Jody Cantrell Dyer

According to the dictionary, adoption is the act of taking as one’s own, a choosing by way of preference or approval: formal acceptance. In adoption, a person assumes the parenting of another. Child Welfare Information Gateway describes adoption as, “full permanent & legal members of a family” – that occurs through mutual assessment and the process of “home study”. Child Welfare tells us that there are tens of thousands of children waiting to be adopted.

The thing so precious and powerful about adoption is CHOICE. The adoptee is chosen, fully and formally accepted, even preferred, and completely approved of! An adopted child/person is 100% chosen, hand picked, every bit intentional. What a secure feeling! What a relief. What love! President Ford experienced this love, acceptance and approval. He had been adopted by another.

Want to know and see something else powerful?

“For it was always his perfect plan to adopt us as his delightful children, through our union with Jesus… so that his trememndous love that cascades over us would glorify his grace – for the same love he has for his Beloved One, Jesus, he has for us. And this unfolding plan brings him great pleasure!”

Ephesians 1:5-6 TPT

God’s plan has always been to choose you. Select you. Pick you. Want you. He aproves of you, accepts you and prefers you. He has chosen to adopt YOU. That means He wants to assume His parental rights and place you in His family with all of the privileges, rights and inheritance you are due. You belong in His family, bear His name, have family relationships through Him. You also have family responsibilities.

Jesus told His disciples in John 14, that in His Father’s house there were many rooms and He was going to prepare a place for them. One of those rooms is for you. It has your name on it. The family room of heaven, and the dinning room of heaven are yours as well. Jesus is getting it all ready for the family reunion that will one day come, when all of the kids and relatives will be home, and at last, be reunited.

You see, when you have been adopted by another, namely God through Jesus Christ –

  • You are a full member of God’s family
  • You have full rights and privileges in heaven
  • You have immediate access to God
  • You belong to His family
  • You bear His name
  • You have full share in the inheritance he has promised (2)
  • The devil no longer has parental rights over you, because you are not part of His family anymore

You no longer have to fear being harmed or not being good enough because you have received the spirit of adoption, that enfolds you into the family of God. Romans 8:15

He loves you so much, He is not satisfied with partial custody. He wants full custody of His children, so that He can lavish His tremendous cascade of love upon them. His kids make Him happy, He takes pleasure in loving His children and we can call Him, “Papa”, “Abba”, “Daddy”.

Now we’re talking security! Acceptance. Approval. That’s a family to be part of. He loves us like He loves Jesus. We are all part of His family because of our union with Jesus.

There is no greater prescription for a superb family upbringing. There is no greater family. God has chosen you and wants to be intricately involved in your whole life. He has lovingly adopted you and changed your name to His.

Adoption is the most intentional process on Earth or in heaven and there are thousands of children still waiting to be adopted into God’s family. Are you one? Have you received your full, legal adoption into God’s family by the blood of Jesus Christ? Are you exercising your rights and privileges as a son or daughter of God? Are you walking in your full inheritance of healing, provision, and power? Are you fulfilling your responsibilities with faithfulness?

Such confidence, and peace come to those who know that they have been adopted by another.

God bless you, Family,

Debbie

  1. Gerald Ford, Deserted by his Birth Father, WorldHistory.us
  2. KeepBelieving.com

Baskets, Bonnets and Bunnies

April 16, 2022Blog, Personal Growth, Sunday Sermons, , , Leave a comment

Easter 2022

I very much agree with the two thirds of voters in the U.S. who believe that the moral lessons of Passover and Easter are important to “ensuring a strong America for future generations”. So allow me to share three lessons today, based on baskets, bonnets and bunnies.

Easter baskets, as you know are a special basket made and used at Easter, filled with eggs, food, toys, or other colorful gifts. Whether they really are meant to pay homage to the pagan goddess of Spring and fertility, Eostre, and the image of her holding a basket on her arm, is not my point. My point simply is, these Easter baskets are usually filled with all sorts of good things!

Lesson 1 – Because of what Jesus did on the cross and by His resurrection from death, He has provided everything that we need. A basket of sorts, filled with good things, for this life and the eternal one to come.

“… seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”

2 Peter 1:2 NASB

” I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

John 10:10 NASB

God offers you the most colorful and abundant life basket, filled with the most powerful realities, promises, adventures, challenges, & relationships that you could ever imagine.

Easter bonnets – Wearing a new or fancy hat at Easter represents wearing new clothes for Easter and the new Spring season with its renewal. It represents offering our best on Easter. Irving Berlin made famous the Easter bonnet, with all the frills upon it, as he sang of the Easter parade that followed this display of new clothes, down 5th Avenue from Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in NYC. During the Depression, a new hat or refurbished one represented a simple luxury.

Lesson 2 – New hats and clothes are but trappings for the whole new life that Jesus offers us. A brand new way of thinking, being, doing and living – He made us a new creature from the inside out. THIS is lasting and won’t ever wear out or need to be refurbished. It is a life-long luxury. He offered His best for us!

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold new things have come.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 NASB

” Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father. so we too might walk in newness of life.”

Romans 6:4 NASB

Have you received the new life that Jesus purchased for you? Are you living your best life?

Easter bunnies – I’m sorry, but the first thing I think about with bunny rabbits is their superior reproductive abilities. After all, it is the European rabbit that has the distinction of being the number one mammal for reproduction. Cuniculturists (those who breed and raise domestic rabbits) tell us that rabbits draw little distinction between sexual behavior and social behavior. Humph… No wonder a female can potentially deliver up to 60 young a year! (Of course, an average 31 day gestation period helps, too.)

Lesson 3 – I want to steal the phrase, “Breed like rabbits.” As Christians, we have been given a job to do, go multiply and make disciples. We are to reproduce – especially spiritually.

” Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it.”

Genesis 1:28 NASB

” Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:19-20 NASB

Perhaps, between now and next Easter, we could commit to share our faith with others and reproduce disciples for Christ!? It is what we’ve been designed to do.

This and every Easter may we ensure a strong America for future generations by remembering the moral lessons of baskets, bonnets and bunnies.

He is Risen, indeed!

Debbie

How Would You Spend Your Last Night?

April 14, 2022Blog, Inspiration, Sunday Sermons, , , , Leave a comment
“Maundy Thursday”

Knowing that tomorrow he would be beaten, whipped, tortured, mocked, falsely accused, betrayed, forsaken, sentenced to death and die, what did Jesus do on his last night? What were His priorities, and more importantly, what are the implications for me?

1. He had dinner with His disciples

At this dinner, it was filled with tradition, sacred remembrances and new insight. For Jesus took their yearly Passover celebration and brought new significance and relevance to it. He took the bread and the cup and explained how they represented his body which was about to be captured and his blood that was about to be shed. And now, as they ate these, they were to remember Him, as their perfect Passover Lamb.

He said it was a new covenant. Not only did they have the old covenant but He was introducing them to something new- a new covenant of love. So when each of them took the bread and drank from the cup, they we’re initiating the new covenant. The one where His life and death would fulfill the old Passover requisites, but also provide the new covenant promises of healing, eternal life, forgiveness, mercy and grace.

It was a dinner full of power, surprises, and sadness. But it was a priority before He left earth.

2. He washed their feet

How could this humbling and seemingly unimportant act make its way to number 2 priority on Jesus last night?

They were looking for a King with powerful rule in His kingdom and they were expecting a place with him in it. Often they sought that place and asked if this was the time for it to come forth. Jesus was now showing them the nature of His kingdom and the King. He was a servant. Serving in His kingdom was its foundation. Serving others and meeting their needs is the path to “greatness” in His kingdom.

Jesus modeled what service looked like. He bent Himself, stooped before them, lowered Himself to help them with their walk. He refreshed them and prepared them for what lie ahead. Serving them, touching them, humbly, He honored each and every one in the room.

Demonstrating servant hood that night was a priority. They would never forget it and hopefully would live a life of service to others.

3. He agonized in prayer

After dinner, they all went with Jesus to the garden where He often prayed. He asked them to pray with Him, even tho’ He would go and pray “a little further”. They didn’t make it very long before they fell asleep. But He went on, falling to His knees and even on His face. He prayed like no one has ever prayed. He agonized, sweated and even bled, it was so intense.

His prayer wasn’t for His course to change, but that His strength, grace and purpose would fully accomplish God’s perfect plan. He prayed for God’s continued grace upon Him and redemptions reward to come to fruition. He prayed for those involved in the next 24 hours and those in the next 2,400 plus years!

His agony was for us, as well as Him, and it was vital for the fulfillment of all that the next 24 hours held.

What He did on His last night is a model for our life, to prepare us for our last night. These three actions, are to become the core of our Christian experience. He was telling us-

1. Prioritize family gatherings and traditions and remember Jesus. Share the new covenant- take communion together and remember all He’s done for you.

2. Serve each other. Don’t seek to be served. Humbly meet others needs and seek their refreshment.

3. Pray with passion. Don’t fall asleep or forget to put passion into your prayers. Kneel, bow, fall on your face before your Heavenly Father.

Like I said, these are the heart and practice of every believer. They are meant to prepare us not only for heaven but release the King and His kingdom here on earth.

May we prioritize as Jesus did on His last night and: celebrate communion often and with our family, serve others humbly and pray with passion.

Thus making His last night priorities, ours.

Happy Easter season,

Debbie

“Scrambled Eggs”

April 11, 2022Blog, Encouragement, , Leave a comment

Even the most talented people may not get it right the first time.

In a 1995 interview ex-Beatle Paul McCartney said he once wrote a song with the first line “Scrambled eggs, oh my baby how I love your legs.”

Have you ever heard that song?

Not likely. McCartney tossed those words and wrote, “Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away.”

Since then, “Yesterday” has played on the radio more than any other record in history. “Yesterday” also happens to be McCartney’s favorite song.

Here it is for you. Insert “Scrambled eggs” and enjoy. ha ha

The difference between failure and success – between “Scrambled Eggs” and “Yesterday” – is persistence. (1)

Keep at it,

Debbie

(1) Larson; Contemporary Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers & Writers; pg. 173, Persistence