PUBLISHER’S Corner
You’re not invited to my so-called party
I mean it’s one thing to be on Team Jesus when By Sandy Jones you spend every day hanging with Him. Or even Remember the old children’s song, ‘nobody likes if you get to see Him and have dinner occasionally. me, everybody hates me, guess I’ll go eat worms?’ But some of the disciples lived as many as 33 years Why is it so easy to have a big ol’ pity party when longer than Jesus Himself, and their stories, their things aren’t going the way we’d like? recollections, their passion for His ministry never The months of March through August have been changed! The Apostle Paul didn’t even convert until entertaining to say the least. While I already work 1 to 2 years after Christ’s ascension to Heaven. from home, I assumed I wouldn’t be emotionally These faithful men were shunned, beaten, imprisimpacted by all the joys COVID-19 brought with it. oned, and martyred, with at least 2 of them cruciWhat I hadn’t considered was that I’m accustomed fied for their beliefs. One has to ask themselves, ‘who to my husband traveling extensively for work, leavwould do that, if it was all fake?’ Not to mention the ing me with lots of privacy, and quiet time to focus ‘non-Christian’ historical documents and artifacts on life and this ministry. that have been found to substantiate so much of For instance, when he’s on the road, it’s okay to what we learn in the Bible. have popcorn for dinner occasionally. I have discovered as the days have become weeks, Let’s just say, I haven’t had popcorn for dinner and now the weeks have become months, that if I Sandy Jones since sometime in February. consciously choose to focus on Who I serve, that I We share an office, which means we can’t both be am able to maintain a healthier perspective on the on the phone at the same time, and I’ve discovered that we both talk troubles of this world. Stories like Paul’s help me to remain focused to ourselves A LOT! and steadfast, knowing full well that God’s got this, and me with it, There haven’t been many face-to-face meetings, and I might be whatever “this” I may be facing today. getting a bit stir-crazy. When added to other things, it all combines to As long as God’s got “this,” then I can continue to live as commake for a good old-fashioned pity party. manded, “He answered, “’Love the Lord your God with all your Yep! Even I have been known to hold a pity party. heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with It was on what I thought was a particularly rough day that I all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” – Luke opened my devotional to 2 Corinthians, chapter 11. 10:27 NIV Please don’t think me naïve, or Pollyanna. One thing I’ve struggled I have to interject here – who doesn’t love the Apostle Paul? First with these past months is where Scripture tells us in 2 Chronicles he hated Christians. Thoroughly enjoyed his job making them fear for their lives, and making them miserable. Then he has this encoun- 7:14: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their ter on the road to Damascus; followed by 3 days of blindness and, wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their some believe, alone with Jesus; he comes out of it a whole new man, sin, and will heal their land.” with a whole new passion in life! I’ve seen and heard this verse quoted time and again, even doing so In this reading Paul is brutally honest, saying, 23b I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more se- myself. One of the things that burdens my heart is that I see, hear and verely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times read of so much hate and discontent, anger and resentment in this I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three world today, the same world, the same universe that our God created. times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three While I see all of these other emotions, I simply must confess that I times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger don’t see a lot of humbling going on. In our last issue, I invited you to join me in being the Hands and from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Feet of Christ. I extend this invitation once again, and the next time Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the trials of this life get to you, I encourage you to stop, and think, the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. then choose, as Paul did, to take it in stride and stay focused on God 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit Who resides in you. have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I God’s got this! have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily Until next time…. the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Sandy Ummm, what was I whining about again? Please remember to frequent our advertisers. Without them, there The more I read, study and learn about the lives of the disciples would be no Christian Living Magazine. Please visit them, and thank the more I realize that even on my bad days I have it so good! them for their loving support. n
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4 September / October 2020 | Christian Living
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