Learn to Listen

Bible reading: James 1

Focus Verse: Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry." James 1:19

In order to serve the Lord together in the church or ministry, we need to have good relationships.   In order to build good relationships, you must become a good listener. And in order to be a good listener, you must do these: 

(1) Listen without interrupting. And that’s so, even when you know more than the person who is talking to you! Respect them enough to value what they say and listen attentively until they’re finished. 

(2) Try to understand their point of view, feelings, thinking, and needs. In other words, listen to understand. Good listening is hearing what people actually think, mean, or feel, not what you imagine they should think, mean, or feel. Instead of guessing, politely ask, “Am I understanding you correctly? Do you mean…? Are you feeling…?” Don’t assume—verify. 

(3) Avoid rushing to conclusions. Listen without judging. If what they say doesn’t quite add up, keep listening. “He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him” (Pr 18:13 NKJV). When you hear more, it may make sense. 

(4) Refrain from putting them on the defensive. Listen without correcting, countering, or devaluing. Saying, “That’s not the way it was,” or “What did you expect?” or “You’re just being silly and too sensitive” kills real communication. 

(5) Accept their perceptions and feelings as valid expressions of a valued person. Validate the speaker. By saying, “If I understand you correctly, you’re thinking…feeling…am I right?” Ask them to help you get on the same page with them. Saying, “Given what you have told me, I can see why you would feel that way” will increase their willingness to consider your thoughts and accept the solutions you offer. 

If you want to win people and influence them, learn to listen.

 

written by Dr. Don Wilton

The Encouraging Word

https://theencouragingword.org/daily-encouraging-word/

A Loving Father

 A Loving Father

Revelation 12:10  "Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens. It has come at last salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sister has been thrown down to earth the one who accuses them before our God day and night."

There is a story that is told about a son who found himself in a situation where he had to stand guilty before a judge in a court of law.  The son really didn't know what to do.  But he was comforted, because his father, who loved him very much, went to great lengths to stand by his side and defend him on that day.  The son realized that his father was faithful and would not leave his side no matter what.  The judge ruled that the penalty must be paid, so the father paid the penalty.

Do you know that Satan, our accuser, is before God day and night accusing us of things we have done wrong?   The Bible says in Isaiah 33:21 "The Lord will be our Mighty One. He will be like a wide river of protection that no enemy can cross, and no enemy ship can sail on."  God has provided His Son to pay the penalty for our sin.  We need to take the step to follow Him. 

God is watching out for you.  Nothing happens to you that God does not first approve of.  That can be a very great comfort to us when we encounter such trials.  In this life we will have trials, but God always stands with you, helping you through.  God, our father, is faithful.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Our Instrument, The Bible

 Scripture Reading:  James 1:2-18

Focus Verses:  James 1:2-4  "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.  For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing."

In modern times travel by airplane is a very safe way to travel.  Although some accidents still occur.  Sometimes an airplane might crash because of pilot error or because of a malfunction of the airplane.  Every airplane has instruments that help the pilot to fly the airplane.  One instrument tells the pilot how high the airplane is, another tell him if the airplane is flying straight.  So the airplane has many instruments to help the pilot.  I remember flying with a friend who was a pilot and we were flying over the ocean going to the Bahama Islands and there were storms around us.  As we were flying in the storms all you could see around us were the clouds.  So the pilot had to keep his eyes on the instruments to tell him how to fly since he could not see the ground.  Then suddenly we came out of the clouds and I was surprised to see how close we were to the ocean.  But my friend the pilot was not surprised because he had been watching the instruments and knew right where the airplane was.

As we travel through life God has given us an instrument to faithfully guide us.  It’s called The Bible.  When we encounter storms in this life God Word will help us navigate safely until we get out of the storm.  James tells us we all will have these storms and trials.  Because we are all going to face hardship, storms and trials in this life.  You remember the storm that the disciples found themselves in on the sea.  They thought the boat would be destroyed and they would drown.  But there was really no need for concern because Jesus was in their boat, and He had total control over the situation.  

Are you using the instrument God has given us, His Word the Bible, as you navigate this life?   When you are caught in the storms of life is Jesus in your boat?  I hope so, because He is our only hope!

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

Studying the Bible Keeps us Strong

 Scripture Reading: Psalm 119:9-24

Focus Verse: Psalm 119:9 "How can young people keep their lives pure?
    By obeying your commands."

God has given us an instruction manual for life.  It is called the Bible.  As Christians in this world we cannot overcome the enemy in our own strength.  "How can a man cleanse his ways?"  Not on his own.  On our own, we would struggle and fail.  We need help, and that help is available to us through the Bible.  Our focus verse ask a question.  How can we stay pure?  Verse 11 gives us the answer, by hiding God's Word in our hearts.  I wish I had memorized more scripture when I was young, because it is harder to do now that I am older.  In verse 24 he calls God's "testimonies" his counselor.  God will always show us and teach us as we read the Bible.

The study and application of God's Word will keep us from sin, even though we live in a sinful world.  When Jesus was tempted by the devil in Luke 4 we see Jesus quoting scripture with every temptation.  If you are a Christian and you don't have peace and joy in your life, you might have unrepentant sin and/or there may be a lack of Bible study and scripture memorization in your life. 

Some people view God's laws as a list of "DON'Ts", but these are really a shelter to protect us.  God gives us plenty of things we should "DO".   Take some time today to evaluate your spiritual strength.  Make a plan to increase the strength through God's Holy Word.


"Either God's Word will keep us from sin, or sin will keep us from God's word." ~Unknown

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Death, Taxes, and Sin

Scripture Reading: Genesis 4:7  “You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”

There is a saying that goes like this,  “the only sure things in life are death and taxes.”  Well I would like to add another sure thing “sin”.  Sin will be with us until this life on earth is over.  As a Christian did you know there are some things that you don’t need to pray about?  Because God has already told us to do some things and not to do some things.  For example, God told us it’s not okay to steal, so you don’t need to ask God if it’s okay to steal.

But then there might be some things you’re not sure if they are right or wrong to do.  We would call this a gray area.  Here are a few safeguards to help you decide if a gray area is okay or not.  

First, if you do this activity is it going to help you spiritually or hurt you spiritually?  Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:23  “You say, ‘I am allowed to do anything’—but not everything is good for you. You say, ‘I am allowed to do anything’—but not everything is beneficial.”  You should avoid anything that is not helping you spiritually.  Or anything that may keep you from praying and reading your Bible.

Secondly, you can ask yourself this question.  Will this activity try to control you?  Paul also writes in 1 Corinthians 6:12,  “I must not become a slave to anything.”  You should be controlled only by Christ.

Thirdly, what is your conscience telling you about this activity?  When your conscience is talking to you it’s really the Holy Spirit talking to you.  If your conscience is telling you not to do something, you better not do it because it’s probably sin.  Paul says in Romans 14:23 (NLT) “If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.”

Death and taxes we don’t have much control over, but sin we can have control over with God’s help.  I hope you will remember to ask yourself these three questions when you are faced with something you are not sure about.  With all the sin that is in the world today it doesn’t need to be a part of your life.

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

God's Presence Should Bring a Difference

Scripture: 2 Samuel 6
Focus Verses 9-12 

"David was afraid of the Lord that day and said, “How can the ark of the Lord ever come to me?”
He was not willing to take the ark of the Lord to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite.
The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months, and the Lord blessed him and his entire household.
Now King David was told, “The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God.” So David went to bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing."

The presence of God in our lives should bring a difference in our lives. Every believer should have a testimony of when they got born again but that's not enough, there should be reflection of life changed. When God's word comes into our lives, it doesn't leave us the same people we were; there must be a testimony that a life changed. People around us should be able to tell the difference.

In our passage today, David tried to bring the ark of God to Jerusalem. On their way, the oxen pulling the ark stumbled and Uzzah, one of the men helping with the oxen, decided to stretch his hand to prevent the ark from falling. This angered God and He killed Uzzah immediately. David was overcome with fear and decided not to take the ark of God to be with him in his house and took it to the house of Obed-Edom the Getitte. The ark of God stayed there for three months and people were able to see the new things that began to happen at Obed-Edom's home. They realized that the new happenings in Obed-Edom's home was a result of the ark of God that had been brought to his home by king David. The king gets the wind of how Obed-Edom was doing well and his life is changing greatly. David became envious of Obed-Edom and decided to go and bring the ark of God to Jerusalem.

In just three months, the people saw a difference in the home of Obed-Edom. They knew him before the ark went to his home and now how he had grown in three months after the ark was brought to his home. People envied him including the king himself since they could tell a big difference.

Believers should understand that whoever claims to have God must show evidence of a new life. We cannot say that God is present in our lives yet nothing shows that we are living a changed life. As it was with Obed-Edom, the difference should be clear as light and day. God's word doesn't leave us the same people, there must be a difference that others can admire. It's not about how many days you have stayed in salvation. The ark stayed at Obed's for only three months and there was a clear distinction between him and the community. You can cause a difference even if you are one week old provided you are willing to allow Him in and let Him take charge. As David admired the work the ark of God's Presence had done to Obed, so should be the heart of many people who see our lives today. We should live a life of blamelessness so that others will admire our God.

Reverend Eliazar Wambo

Director of Bethesda Faith Ministries

Everything is Meaningless Without God

Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 1

Focus Verse: Ecclesiastes 1:14  “I observed everything going on under the sun, and really, it is all meaningless, like chasing after the wind.”

America and Kenya both have the lottery game.  The lottery is where you can pay a little money and have an unbelievably small chance to win lots of money.  Here in America someone just recently won $1 billion dollars. That's the same as 115 billion Kenya shillings.  If you want to know the truth, the real winner was the US Government because the tax paid by the winner to the government was $400 million dollars!  The government also got some money from all those tickets that were purchased.  So if you just enjoy giving the government money, the lottery is how you do it.

 

There are a couple reasons you should never play the lottery.  First, you will not win.  Did you know that your chance to win is very small. The chances to win the jackpot are 1 in 300,000,000. Let me put that into perspective.  If I had 300 million people write their names on little pieces of paper and we put all those little pieces of paper into one big pile on a field, do you think I could pull your name out of the pile?  The answer is NO!  The second reason you should never play is that money does not bring you happiness.  What about the winners? I was reading that most of the people who have won the lottery game have lost all that big amount of money within 7 years and some were even in debt, lost friends and family and their life is miserable.  They didn't find happiness.

Let's see what the Word of God says.  Solomon the writer of Ecclesiastes had it all.  He had money; he had power; he had women. Try and think of something in this world that could make you happy, and he probably had it. As he came near the end of his life, after trying to find happiness in all these things, he says in verse 2 “Everything is meaningless, completely meaningless.”  And verse 14 “I observed everything going on under the sun, and really, it is all meaningless, like chasing after the wind.”  Have you ever tried to catch the wind?  You can’t do it, it slips right through your fingers.  Proverbs 23:5 says, “In the blink of an eye money disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle.”  Solomon had it all, and he realized it was all meaningless.  If you take God out of your life you will be left empty, meaningless and without purpose.  This world is looking for purpose and meaning that only God can fill.

 

Let's invest our lives for God and find true meaning and value.

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

 

Illustration: This is a picture of 1 million coins.  Imagine 300 boxes of these coins and that is what 300 million would look like.  Pick one with your name on it?  You are chasing the wind.