Love Your Enemies

At every Toastmasters meeting we have what’s called Table Topics led by a Table Topics Master. This allows members to give impromptu talks for one to two minutes on whatever subject the Master selects.

This past week our Table Topics Master selected the theme “Spring Break.” Questions asked included, “Where did you go on your favorite spring break?” And, “Where would you like to travel on spring break?”

I was the fifth and final person to speak. My question was, “Where would you send your worst enemy for spring break?” I squirmed for a moment before I stood. My response went something like this:

“I don’t have a worst enemy. But if I did, I’d send them to—.”

I froze and couldn’t think of anyplace horrible to send someone considered my enemy. The idea didn’t sit well with me. But then I thought, where would God expect me to send them? I continued.

“I’d send them to a beautiful place. Then they’d think I’m wonderful and no longer their
enemy. Maybe a place where I’d like to travel—a Mediterranean cruise to Greece and
Italy. Or a place I’ve been—one of my favorite places. A beach in the beautiful Hawaiian
Islands. Maui or perhaps the North Shore of Oahu.”

With that little speech, I won the trophy. I won because I spoke in love and desired to do what’s right and good if I had an enemy. The person who gave me the trophy said, “You took lemons and made lemonade.” No. God took someone selfish and resentful and filled her with His love. He did that in me.

Now, please don’t try to become my enemy and expect me to send you to Hawaii or on a Mediterranean cruise. Not going to happen!

Matthew 5:44—“But I say, love your enemies. Pray for those who persecute you” (NLT).

Philippians 2:3-5—“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had” (NLT).

Where would you send your worst enemy?

Are Our Plans God's Plans?

“I would never marry a preacher, farmer, or live in Tennessee,” said a foolish young woman. She thought preachers led a boring life, farmers had a difficult life, and Tennessee was too far away from her home in Northern Ohio. Fortunately, things do not always turn out the way we plan.

The young woman’s sister had a friend whose dad was a pastor. They saw him one day as he worked on his sermon. “Pastoring must be a dull life,” the young woman thought. Her experience at church had been very unexciting. She believed in God but could not get into the church thing.

Farmers had to work too hard, got very dirty, and couldn’t possibly enjoy slopping hogs. The thought was gross to her. She wanted to marry someone who had a clean job and smelled good when he came home.

After a visit to Tennessee, she decided that would be the last place she’d ever want to live. People talked funny there.

Within the next year or two, she attended a different church; this church was exciting. Here she met her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She also met a young man who captured her heart, and they were soon married. Although he grew up on a farm, his parents had recently sold it. He did have a desire to work in full-time ministry, however. He became a pastor, and she was a preacher’s wife.

After a couple of years pastoring, they moved to where his parents had recently relocated—Tennessee. His parents bought another farm there and needed their son’s help.

That foolish young woman was me. I married a preacher, farmer, and moved to Tennessee within a four-year period.

Pastoring wasn’t boring. We served and worshiped with some wonderful people. Farming was rewarding, although it was hard work. We had cattle, chicken, horses, and I slopped some hogs. Living in Tennessee was wonderful. The people are friendly; the rolling hills, trees, and lakes are beautiful. I love their “funny” talk. You may hear that Southern drawl come out of my mouth from time to time.

We can make the best thought-out plans for ourselves but forget something very important. Our plans are not necessarily the Lord’s plans. His plans took me on a journey I never expected. My husband is no longer a pastor but fulfills the call of God on his life in another area of ministry. We are following His plans for us.

Are you following the Lord’s plans? It may be that thing you said you would never do or place you would never go that God is preparing for you too.

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV).

Joy in Serving

Does your ministry bring you joy? Your ministry may be in your local church, community, or your place of work. You may teach a class or sing in the choir. Perhaps you help families in need or serve meals at a homeless shelter. We are all hopefully ministering in one way or another.

Many years ago a Bible teacher shared a lesson with our class that I will always remember. He based his teaching on John 15:8-11. He told us that if we are living for the Lord and serving where He has truly called us, we will bring God glory, bear fruit, and be full of joy.

I taught middle and high school math at the time and decided to pray about this and seek direction from the Lord. Although I believed teaching was the ministry God called me to, it was possibly time to leave and serve Him in a new capacity. Hopefully, I still bore fruit and glorified the Lord, but I no longer had any joy in doing it. After I prayed and sought counsel, I decided it would be my final year to teach.

To serve the Lord in my local church has been a blessing for me. In the past, I’ve taught classes, been a part of the choir and worship team, and written for our church blog. These ministries allowed me to share my love for the Lord.

Currently, I facilitate a Bible study at work and am in training to co-facilitate a class at my church. In writing, I share the hope I’ve found in Christ. I desire to encourage personal growth in others as they seek to strengthen their relationship with the Lord. I also long to glorify God in all I do—to reveal the Lord through my life and ministry.

Where are you currently serving the Lord? If you are not glorifying the Lord by bearing fruit, or if you are not experiencing joy in your serving, maybe it’s time to pray and ask the Lord for a new area of service. Look around. Opportunities abound. Ministry should impact those you serve and be rewarding for you as well.

“This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:8-11 NIV).

God's Wonderful Gifts

“You gave me these just to hurt me,” cried my five-year-old daughter from the back seat of the car.

She loved me to bring her little gifts when I picked her up after school. A friend at work would often bring me her children’s outgrown clothing or toys, and my daughter came to expect these gifts. On this afternoon, before I left work, I looked for something I could take her—something special from her mama. The only thing I could find was a small bag of potato chips from the vending machine. Although this was not the healthiest of snacks, I knew she would like them. I didn’t realize her lips were chapped, and the salt would make them burn. I hoped to please her with a little gift, but she accused me of intentionally hurting her.

How often are we like this with God? He gives us gifts each and every day, but we often complain. We may think He’s punishing us for some reason. He may give us sunshine when we want rain for our garden. Or He may bring rain when we want to spend time outdoors to enjoy a picnic with our family or friends.

We may become upset with Him for not answering our prayers the way we think He should. But He may be at work designing a gift for us that might result in a bigger blessing than we ever imagined. The Lord knows what lies ahead; we need to trust He has our best interests at heart.

Some of God’s little blessings are often overlooked. Have you considered these? A bird singing outside your window. A visit with a friend you haven’t seen for a long time. Maybe the gift of a family member who stops what he is doing to help you carry in the groceries when you bring them home. A hug from a child. Or hearing the words, “I love you.”

Little gifts and blessings can impact us in big ways. They’re even better when we share them with others.

Just as I wanted to do something special for my daughter that day, God desires to bless us. We need to be mindful of the little gifts He gives us every day and be thankful for them.

“Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words” (2 Corinthians 9:15).