I know the Bible tells us to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute and harass you.  We are told that if someone asks something from us to even give them a little extra.  Though there is a parable that says that we are not to cast our pearls before swine.  Some have said this particular parable was a warning from Jesus to His disciples to preach only before a receptive audience. 

Hearing the Word of God will cause one of two things.  1. The person will respond with repentance and submission and their life will start the process of transforming into a more Christ-like individual, or 2. The person will reject the Good News and continue in their unbelief.  Because God is a merciful God all people will hear about Christ at least once in their lifetime and have the opportunity to respond. 

The reason this article came about was to determine what to do with toxic relationships or people.  Should one continue in a very unhealthy, one-sided relationship and continually be taken advantage of?  From a counseling perspective it is never good to stay in or be around toxic people.  

The word toxic actually means “poisonous.”  Hopefully, no one would drink poison and then go about and act as if everything is ok.  According to “GotQuestions…Biblical Answers” a “toxic relationships are those that poison our peace and our ability to enjoy another person.  Having to be around people who are toxic can leave others feeling exhausted, angry, anxious, or depressed when the toxic individual is not appeased. One who is toxic is very selfish, unloving, and unkind who definitely needs prayer.  

I recently had a dream of going down a long road that came to an end.  When I turned to go back down the road I happened to see a gray cowboy hat lying in the middle of the road.  I felt a great desire to go get the hat and take it to whoever it belonged to.  I felt that I wanted to help this person who had “lost” the hat.  However, the closer I got to the hat the Spirit within me was saying not to pick up the hat and to keep going.  At first I even argued with that thinking it was a good thing to help someone who had lost their hat, but the closer I got to the hat I then “knew” that underneath the hat was a poisonous snake that would bite me if I got the hat.  Even more was that the person who I thought had “lost” the hat had actually left it there on purpose hoping I would get bit.  It was a trap.  Thankfully, I kept on going.

Toxic people could care less if others get hurt or not.  GotAnswers continued on with advising one to read Proverbs 22:24-25 “Make no friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man do not go, lest you learn his ways and set a snare for your own soul.”  You can take it for whatever you think it may mean, but be cautious around those who are only out to take advantage of you.

~TRS 5/7/23

Rays of Hope ~ Tim Stockton

Those in the faith world have heard from the moment of their conversion to the faith of Christ that the enemy is out to “steal, kill, and destroy.” In the parable of the sower Jesus tells of how the Word can be sown in someone’s heart, but the “wicked one” will come and try to “snatch away” (or steal) what was sown in one’s heart.  

There are now many ways to hear the word of God. The most important is to read it for yourself and then to hear it preached and taught, preferably in person within a church setting of your choice.  Once you begin to hear and learn the Word and hide it within your heart you will know what is the right and wrong wills we have a choice to do. 

A reason we “hide” the word of God in our hearts is so that it cannot be stolen.  As Jesus taught that the wicked one will come to snatch it away.  If we have valuables often we will hide and lock them away to make it more difficult if someone were to break in and try to steal our valuables. Likewise, the Word of God is a treasure of wisdom and love that has the power to transform us to be more like Christ.  

The enemy is out to steal all he can to keep this from happening.  In ancient times the act of branding cattle started as a sign that what was branded belonged to that particular person.  It was less likely once cattle was branded that a thief would steal it because there was evidence of who owned it.  It belonged to the one who had put their seal upon it. The Bible teaches that those who believe upon Christ have been sealed.  Another translation of being sealed is being branded.  

The enemy will at times usually in our weakest and more vulnerable moments try to sneak in to steal the Word and our joy from us.  We just have to remember that we have been sealed and know who we belong to.  The ending to the parable of the sower explains that the one who doesn’t have the word snatched away, is one who hears and understands the Word and bears and produces fruit as evidence.  

TRS

5-1-23

Fighting with the Reflection I See

I was once told that if something happens in threes you need to take heed to it.  As I work as a counselor I see both adults and kids.  As I was counseling with one young gentleman last Monday he shared that he did not like what he saw when he looked in the mirror.  According to research girls are more likely to be dissatisfied with their appearance than boys, however both boys and girls, men and women can all struggle with their body image, weight issues, physical appearance, or self-esteem.  

On Tuesday of last week I met with a young girl and low and behold she too mentioned that she did not like what she saw when she looked in the mirror.  Then on Wednesday as I was meeting with another boy at the school the “office space” I use had a large tinted window.  All of a sudden a bird smacked into the window.  That became our focus.  Again and again the bird rammed into the window.  

I made the comment that the bird must see it’s reflection and think it’s another bird and is trying to fight it.  Then as I spoke I remembered what the two kids had said about their own reflections. I shared with the kid I was seeing about what I had heard others say about not liking what they see in the mirror and that kid agreed with them about himself as well.  

The more I thought about the bird flying continually into the window it made me think about how if it just turned it would have been able to fly off.  

We as humans sometimes not liking what we see in the mirror end up fighting with ourselves and may not even realize it.  Just like the little bird we keep bumping into “ourselves” over and over never turning and “flying high” to our full potential.  

In the gospel of Matthew it is written that Jesus told about the greatest commandment to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and the second is to love your neighbor as yourself.  This lets us know that we must love ourselves in order to truly love others.  If you do not like what you see when you look into the mirror there is a good chance that you really do not love yourself.  We are also created in the image of God who knew us before we were in our mother’s womb. 

When God created the heavens and earth, the landscape and animals He said that it was all “good.”  However, when He made the human race He declared that they were “very good.”  Therefore, to not like what you see is basically saying you believe that somehow God messed up on you and that you are not in His image. 

Don’t become your own worst enemy and believe the lie that your reflection is not “fearfully and wonderfully made.”  Stop fighting with your reflection and gaze upon it.  Appreciate and be thankful for it as you look past what society may call a flaw and see the appearance of God. 

~TRS 3/19/23

Sometimes we may think that the part we play in the thing called life is not that big of a deal.  However, even just a small part can create a ripple effect that can influence others for the good or for the bad.  Even when apparent “bad” things happen it can set things in motion to eventually unravel a greater good. 

This can be seen in the lives of several in 2 Kings chapter 5.  First we have an army invading Israel and taking a girl hostage and then she becomes a slave.  She becomes a servant for Naaman and specifically his wife.  Naaman was a very high ranking man of valor in the Syrian Army and good friends with the King of Syria.  However, one thing that was an issue in Naaman’s life was that he has leprosy.  

The servant girl would have known about the miracles of God done through the prophet Elisha because she boldly proclaims to her “master” (Naaman’s wife) that if Naaman only  could go to Elisha he could be healed of his condition.  

As soon as the King of Syria hears about this he has great compassion for his friend, Naaman and is willing to pay a large sum of money to the King of Israel to ensure that Naaman gets this healing.  This king was used to serving “other gods” and making various kinds of sacrifices so to help out his friend this was no big deal for him and sent a letter to the King of Israel requesting this be done.

Once the King of Israel reads the letter however, he becomes upset thinking that this other king thinks he has some “power” to heal instead of God and he rents his clothes and fears this other king is wanting to start some trouble.  

Elisha hears about the King of Israel renting his clothes and says the most important thing in verse 8, “he (Naaman) shall know that there is a prophet in Israel,” which is another way of explaining that through the miracle that will take place, Naaman and ultimately the kingdom of Syria would know of the power and grace of God.  

Elisha meets with Naaman and tells him what he must do which at first makes Naaman infuriated and refuses to do it.  Then thankfully some in his company encourage him to do what the prophet has told in order for him to be healed.  Once Naaman humbles himself and becomes obedient his healing occurs and the leprosy is no more.  With this encounter of God Naaman testifies that he would no longer be like he was prior for he knew that there was only one true God; and Elisha sends him back with all the “money” refusing to take credit or payment for what God did.

 Two kings, a high ranking soldier, and a high ranking prophet of God all had an encounter because of the faith of a young girl who was a slave.  A girl that could have easily been glad that her “master” had leprosy and wished that he got worse in order to be “kicked out of town.” However, she gives him hope and boldly sets things into motion that others may know more about the love of God. 

3/5/23 TRS

Rays of Hope ~ Tim Stockton

The Outpouring at Asbury

If you have seen the news or been on social media you would have had to hear about what some have called the “outpouring” at Asbury University in Wilmore, KY which is about 2 hours north of us on Hwy 27.  I personally drove that stretch of road that looks much different now than it did between 1995 &’97.  

After graduating from Cumberland College in ‘95 I had looked into going to the UK College of Social Work and submitted an application, but I had heard of a new Master’s level counseling program that was going to be offered at Asbury Theological Seminary that sparked my curiosity so I applied for it too.  

During the summer of ‘95 I was trying to decide what I really wanted to do and where I would prefer to go.  I had gotten an acceptance letter from ATS but I had felt like I wanted to go to UK so one day I still needed to turn something in so I drove to Lexington to turn it in and check on the status of my application because I had not yet heard from them even though I had sent it in prior to me submitting an application to Asbury.  

It was the summer so not as many people were on the UK campus as I found the college of Social Work and went into the office.  There was a lady there and as I told her who I was and about sending in an application she said she hated to be the one to inform me but she had just sent out letters to those accepted and my name was not on the list.  She tried to be encouraging and said that maybe in the following Spring or next Fall I might get in.  As I walked back to my car feeling disappointed and thinking what am I going to do now it was as if I could hear within my spirit God saying, “you’re going to Asbury.”  

Before the summer was over I had moved to Wilmore and my first week there I got a letter in the mail from UK saying I was accepted for that fall semester.  I just laughed and thanked God that I was where He wanted me to be.  Just a couple years before I was a student there, another student at the Seminary had told me of a Korean pastor who had visited the campus and shared that he believed that the next great revival would start in Kentucky.  

Thirty plus years later that “revival” or outpouring started just across the street from the Seminary at the University after a regular chapel service on Feb the 8th some of the students stayed longer and began to pray and day and night since then has continued.  Reports state that the president of the University has announced that in order to get back to their regular schedules and classes services open to the public will end the week of Feb 20th.  

Hundreds and thousands of people, young and old have flocked to the campus to get a taste of the true peace of God.  My family was blessed to be a part of the service last Thursday, February 16th.  We waited in line for an hour in the cold and sometimes rain.  Exactly an hour later we had made it to some balcony seats and for almost 4 hours just basked in the peace and love of God.  There were no famous singers, no preaching, just lots of prayer, singing in unity, and testimonies.  It did not seem like we were there for 4 hours.  No one was rude, no one complained, all seemed at peace and happy to be cramped together for one purpose.  

One of the verses of the day that I read this past week is found in Psalms 42:1, “As the deer pants for the water brooks so pants my soul for You, O God.”  That is what I felt and was witness to.  This world cannot truly satisfy the thirsty soul evident by the thousands panting for hours to get a taste of the Living Water.  The awesome thing is it had to start somewhere but doesn’t and hasn’t been contained there.  

As I watched the last episode of the 3rd season of The Chosen I was reminded of what Jesus said, “Come unto me all you who are heavy laden and I will give you rest.”  John 7:37 records that “on the last day of the feast Jesus stood and cried out, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.”

written 2/19/23

Rays of Hope ~ Tim Stockton 

Exactly Where I Need To Be

Often we may wonder why we are where we are.  Why were we born in the town, state, or country that we were?  Or maybe if we have moved to a new location why did we end up where we are?  We may know a specific reason like we moved to take a job or be closer to a certain person.  We may have moved away to get a new start or maybe we are on the run from something or someone.  Things can be looked at from many perspectives, but it seems the most positive is to have the belief that wherever we are at this point in our life we are at an exact place where God can use us.  

If you find yourself in bad circumstances this doesn’t mean this is where God wants you to be or to stay, but through the experience He can teach you something through it.  We may be in a great place where nothing seems to be going wrong, all is looking up and successful and it may be a place we need to be at the moment to teach us something for when we are at the opposite end of that spectrum.  

There had been a girl who was a double orphan after the death of each of her parents and taken in by a close relative.  Many of her people had been taken as slaves and the place they worshiped had been destroyed.  Just try to imagine what this girl is thinking when it comes to where she belongs.  Her home along with her parents are gone and moved in with a relative.  She could have had thoughts of do they really want me? Some of her people had become slaves.  What if the arrangement with her relative doesn’t work out, will he want to sell her into slavery?  

Things begin to happen by what some may say is a hidden hand guiding the circumstances to get her to the place she needs to be for a greater purpose than she has ever imagined.  Starting out as a fair maiden who was orphaned to becoming Esther Queen of Persia.  As one can read in the Old Testament named after her in chapter 4:14 we can read, “for such a time as this.” 

Through the pain, heartache, losses, uncertainties of her past led her to a place of great power in order to help her people not be annihilated.  She recognized that before this could be accomplished that she and her people had to be in a repentant state.  She fasted and prayed and encouraged the people to do the same as she was willing to risk her very life to approach the King to save the Jewish people from being destroyed as was the plan to be carried out.  Sometimes we may be placed in the presence of our enemies in order to stand firm and see the salvation of those whose very lives hang in the balance.  

2/5/23

When those in historical times had an encounter with the Christ of Nazareth often their positions changed but all of them had the same purpose.  A question that most struggle with at some point in their lives is what direction do I need to go?  One can envision someone coming to a crossroads contemplating which way would be the best way for them to take.  Poems have been written about taking a “road less traveled” and Scriptures and old proverbs tell of various roads that can be taken and the consequences or benefits that may come once those roads come to an end.  

Proverbs 3:5-6 encourages, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.”  One could live to be 100 years old and have done lots of good and been successful in society’s eyes, but never did what this proverb suggests and therefore wasted their true calling and purpose.  

There have been many who will stay in a successful job or career all the while hating every minute of it because they are not doing what even their own heart’s desire is really wanting to do.  It could be fear of change, loss of income and security, or fear of failure or fear of what others may think that keep some bound to a position they truly wish they could be set free from.  

A calling is a strong urge toward a particular way of life such as a job, career, or ministry.  A purpose is the reason you get up in the morning that typically guides your decisions and helps to shape the goals you have for your life.  It is important to remember that our past experiences can also prepare us for our callings. 

Just think of David the shepherd who had the strength to fight lions and bears to protect the sheep and later had the courage to face the giant and take him down.  These experiences helped him become a great king.  

Joseph was another person who came through great obstacles and adversaries and was successful in all that he did no matter how low or high of a position he was in because he kept his faith in God no matter what the circumstances. He had been hated by his older brothers, betrayed, wanted dead, sold into slavery, falsely accused, but later rose in a powerful position whereby he was able to help save and preserve the people through his faithfulness and God’s ultimate plan…”what they meant for evil, God can use for the good.” 

Ultimately, it is God’s desire for all to be saved and therefore our purpose is all the same, which is to share the love of God no matter what our calling and/or positions may be. If we are not doing that then we are wasting our time, talents and our callings.  It’s never too late to change the position or road you travel.  Let your past experiences propel you to even greater things overcoming any obstacles that get in your way.  

~TRS

Originally written 1-21-23

Coming Home For Christmas

As we celebrated another Christmas there were many who were anticipating a great homecoming of those who had moved away.  Often it is around the time of year when families get together who have rarely seen each other through the year.  Christmas homecomings could be a reminder of the great Homecoming for those who accept the invitation. 

John 6:38 records what Jesus said, “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.”  He left His home to visit our home He had created to make a way for us to be united back to His home. 

“Home is where you hang your hat,” is a quote attributed to a singer and songwriter, Leon Redbone.  A possible meaning of this quote is that no matter where you go one should simply be content with where they are and be at peace with where they reside.  Of course, those who may live in a chaotic environment where there is constant drama or trauma need to seek a more peaceful residence in which to hang their hat.  

In a couple of the gospels Jesus says that “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”   If we just think about the modern quote of “home is where you hang your hat” we could reflect on when Christ walked the earth all the places He visited was His home.  

  Two places that became temporary dwelling places for Christ were the Cross and the Tomb.  He willingly went to the cross and without that becoming His home we would be a people without hope.  The enemy was hoping that the tomb would have become His eternal home, but 3 days later He was preparing to move out to bigger and better things.  

As Christ ascended back to His home in Heaven He promised that the Comforter would come and take up residence in those who believe.  Christ is still looking for hearts His Spirit can call home.  For those who accept this invitation one day will get a true “Christ-mas Homecoming.”  Jesus spoke to His followers to inform them that when He went away He would go to prepare them a dwelling place there.  No matter where you live, or what you live in on this earth can ever compare to the things which God has prepared for them that love Him. 

Passing the Torch of Double Portions

It can be astonishing that after witnessing a great move of God that just a short time later one can question their own very existence.  We can learn this from the life of Elijah the prophet.  Through his faith he was literally able to call fire down from heaven.  He then hears that Jezebel is so upset with him for it she will have him killed by the next day.  

He runs off to hide away wishing he would just die.  In our most desperate times God will send help our way if we are willing to accept it.  When a  tragedy strikes we have a choice in how we handle it.  We can let it cause us to run and hide, stop us in our tracks,  come out fighting, usually only to make things a bigger mess, or trust in the Lord to deliver us from it.  

How we decide to handle life’s challenges will also model to those around us, especially those younger than us, how to handle a crisis.   The older we get we should want to encourage the younger generations to follow ways that are right and good.  Our legacy should be that those who come up after us will continue to do even greater things for God.  

Elijah’s time had finally come to an end and he was to “pass the torch” of his ministry onto Elisha who was willing to sacrifice his current way of life to follow the will of God.  His heart’s desire was not to be “better than” his predecessor but sought a “double portion” of the ministry that Elijah had done.  We should never fear that those coming up behind us will somehow outdo us, but be praying that the ministry we pass on to them will be blessed and magnified so that even more lives will be impacted.  

12-4-22

A few weeks ago I wrote about “a still small voice as loud as thunder” and how when someone whispers to us we will have to get close to them in order to hear what they are trying to quietly communicate.  It would also be sad to think that God is speaking to us, but because we are not close enough to Him we think we only hear thunder.  

In the OT Book of 1 Samuel in the first chapter we can read about Hannah who was suffering depression because she could not have a child and was being bullied and taunted by another lady because of it.  

Hannah had lost her appetite, cried continually, was not understood by others, and deeply grieved in her heart.  Feeling great bitterness in her soul she cried out to God.  As she was praying so intently chapter 1:13 reads, “Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard.”   The priest, Eli saw her and couldn’t hear what she was saying and only her lips moving and he actually even accused her of being drunk.  

However, after she poured out her heart to God she verbally told Eli that she had a sorrowful spirit and that she had just poured out her soul to God.  “Then Eli answered and told her to go in peace and that God would grant her the petition she has made,” which in time He did, giving her a son, Samuel.  

Hannah was heartbroken and was crying out to God within her heart and though her “voice” was not heard by others her heart’s cry was heard by God.  Proverbs 1:28 informs that, “they will call on Me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but they will not find Me.”   This lets us know that just because we say a prayer doesn’t mean God will listen.  God will always hear a prayer of repentance and prayers that are like Hannah’s.  Just as it says in Psalms 51:17, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart; these God will not despise.” 

The next time your heart is broken and you are filled with sorrow just move your lips and let your heart cry out so that only God can hear and grant your request. 

11-5-22 for The Wayne Weekly