From My Heart 2 Yours
A Monthly Devotional by Jennifer Cottle
2009 - May | june | July | August | sept | Oct | Nov |
2010 - Jan | Feb | March | April | May | Jun | Jul
MAY 2009
Proverbs 15:4 declares, "The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit." Our speech is capable of being life or death to the people around us. Those within our circle of influence may be built up or torn down by what we say to them and about them. Our ministry is greatly influenced by how we speak-what we say bears a testimony about who we are and what we believe. It is no wonder that the Bible has a lot to say about controlling our tongues.
A few years ago, I led the Bible study "Conversation Peace" by Mary Kassian. It was a wonderful study that taught me an important principle that I try to follow. Ms. Kassian calls it the "Ephesians 4:29 Rule". The rule is this: If what you are about to say is unwholesome, not helpful for building others up according to their needs, and is not beneficial, then you should not say it. This is an easy enough rule to remember, but I have to admit that in practice it is easy to forget.
For me-like most women-I struggle with making my speech life-giving and edifying to the people around me. I don't wish to be a complainer, or to be a gossip. Each day, I have to pray and renew my commitment to "keep my tongue from evil and my lips from deceitful speech" (1 Peter 3:10). This is where self-control begins: With prayer for strength to keep our commitments. In addition to this, I submit myself to others for accountability. Knowing that I have ladies that will ask me if I have been faithful with my language keeps me humble and also keeps me in line!
This week, ask God to reveal to you how your speech is affecting your ministry and your testimony. Meditate on the scriptures that I have shared with you regarding conversation peace. 1 Peter 3:9-11 is a great place to start.Blessings and peace be upon you,
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june
Recently, I took my two youngest children to their pediatrician for their yearly check-ups. The pediatrician's office is located in a busy hospital, which means that I try to arrive at least fifteen minutes before the visit in order to get a parking space. This time, we were having a lot of difficulty finding a space.
I drove around the parking lot, waiting in a long queue with everyone else. We watched as cars backed up and out of spaces, and as the spaces quickly filled. As we went around a second time, I was beginning to get worried. Lily was already anxious about her visit, as she knew she was getting shots this time. We watched as impatient drivers pulled around us and started to block the lot. My children started saying things like, "Hey! He cutted!" and "Oh, no! Now we're not ever gonna get a space!"
I looked at my watch, and we now had only ten minutes to get to our appointment. "Lord Jesus, we really need a parking space!" I prayed aloud. As we started to make a third turn around the lot, I started to question whether we were going to be able to find a space in time. At that moment, I saw an open space at the entrance to the parking lot. "Oh, Boy!" Jesse, my six year-old, saw it, too. I paused to let another car enter the parking lot, and he went directly into the open spot. Jesse said sadly, "He took our spot." "No, Honey, he didn't," I replied. "That space was his."
I drove slowly around the parking lot, the three of us praying aloud. Just as we began to round our first corner, there it was: The perfect spot! It was close to the hospital entrance, right next to the sidewalk, and underneath a shady oak tree, so the car wouldn't be too hot when we got back. We had just enough time to get to the appointment. Had we gotten that first parking space, we would've had to walk twice the distance. That would have been a long walk for Lily after getting shots in her leg.
It seems like our lives are often like this: We wait for our turn-sometimes not so patiently-as others get opportunities at jobs, relationships, or material things. We may start to wonder what God is doing. It is at these times that it is wise to remember Romans 8:28: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Blessings may seem to us a long time coming, but to God, they arrive right when we need them. God is conforming us to the image of His Son, Jesus, and all of the things that we endure are drawing us closer to that end-to the "good" that is spoken of in Romans. To me, I just needed a parking space, but God wanted to demonstrate His power to us; He wanted to bless us with a really good spot. He knew we were going to need it!
Don't give up, Beloved, when it seems like your turn for a blessing is long in coming. Blessings will come, right when you need them. In the meantime, praise God who loves you so much that He works for your good!
Blessings and grace to you,
Jenniferclick here for a printable version
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july
Lately, I’ve been thinking of Peter’s mother-in-law. My husband, Brian, and I lead a couples’ Sunday School class and have been studying the healing ministry of Jesus as described in the gospel writers’ accounts. In Matthew 8:14-15, Jesus heals Simon Peter’s mother-in-law of a fever. He touches her hand and the fever leaves her. Immediately, she gets up to wait on Jesus and the disciples. I have been thinking of this woman and how she is so perfectly restored to health by Jesus. I have no doubt that she reveals her gratitude to Jesus by serving Him, but I also think that she shows her servant’s heart by waiting on them.
Right now, I am recovering from a hysterectomy. Of necessity, I am supposed to take it easy and allow my body to heal. It is so challenging, though, to look around and see the needs of my family and not try to meet them. I wish that modern medicine were able to restore health so perfectly and completely the way that Jesus does. I would be able to wait on my family and friends just as Peter’s mother-in-law did. Like this woman, I enjoy serving those I love and it just comes naturally to me.
In the meantime, I have enjoyed the blessings of a loving husband and children and of a loving church family who are ministering to my needs. At times, we must allow others to help us. It demands that we be humble and reveal our vulnerability. With that, I wish to thank all of you who have ministered to me both before and after my surgery. Your prayers and kind words of encouragement have been so very important to me.May God’s richest blessings flow over you all,
Jennifer
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august
Being a women’s ministry leader, it is no surprise that I enjoy teaching women’s Bible studies. I discovered a few years ago the joys of studying God’s Word with other ladies, and the fellowship and friendship that grows within the context of Bible study groups.
I was quite surprised last year when my husband, Brian, shared with me that he felt led to teach a couples’ Sunday School class. I was surprised, because he wanted me to teach with him. After six years of leading a ladies’ Sunday School class, I was very comfortable right where I was at, thank you. Besides, in order for me to teach a class with him, I would need someone to take over the ladies’ class. I was pleasantly surprised to find that my friend, Bethan Salle’ wanted to take over the class. She had been feeling God’s leading to teach, and was eager to do so.
Leaving the class that I had been teaching for so long was scary, believe it or not. I was unsure how the ladies in my class would respond to my exit. I also had not been in a Bible study setting with men in over six years. In my ladies’ class, I could share my heart freely and cry, if I needed to. How would the men in the class respond to that? The thing that bothered me most was that God had spoken to Brian and Bethan, but not to me about stepping down as teacher of the ladies’ class. Very quickly I began to realize that the reason I didn’t hear from God directly was because He had spoken to Brian. God knew that when it came right down to it, I would submit to my husband and consent to teach with him.
Just over a year later, I am sharing in new and unexpected blessings. Brian and I share in the responsibilities of writing and teaching, which means that we are spending time in God’s Word together, something that we had not been doing for years. I have also been blessed with new friendships and new ministry opportunities.
As it turns out, God’s plan was better than mine—as it always is! I hope that I never get so comfortable in ministry that I forget to be flexible. It is easy to do, you know. My initial apprehension was really due to pride, something that I recognized pretty quickly. I did not see the blessings that would come from the new opportunity in ministry right away. I had to trust God for the outcome, and the only way to do that was to relinquish any pride and false sense of control that I had.
When it comes right down to it, change is scary at the beginning. If we knew all the blessings that will come with change, we’d jump headlong into it. We don’t though, so we may hesitate to embrace changes for fear that we may not like what lies ahead. My prayer for our church is that we will be willing to embrace the changes that God lays out for us, trusting Him for the outcome. In my humble opinion, it is much riskier to do what feels safe, rather than trust God.
What challenges lie ahead for you, dear Sister? Seek God, and allow Him to guide you through the days ahead—no matter how risky that may seem.
Blessings and peace to you,
Jennifer
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september
If you missed this month’s ladies’ fellowship, you missed a real treat. Nearly 30 of us met for breakfast at IHOP in The Colony on August 29. We had a few women come who are new to the church. Fellowship, believe it or not, is challenging to women’s ministry—and not just ours. Women’s ministries all over the country struggle to make fellowship amongst women meaningful, while at the same time making it fun and inviting. There is a need that all women have to relate to one another and to share their joys and burdens.
The Biblical concept of fellowship, from the Greek word koinonia, refers to sharing in common or communion; it is the idea of coming together in love, faith, and encouragement. Corporate worship is fellowship, so is Bible study, so are prayer groups. A group of like-minded believers coming together for a common purpose (Philippians 2:1-2) exemplifies koinonia.
Years ago, Heart 2 Heart was hosting monthly fellowships at the church. Once a month, we would come together to have fellowship and food on a Thursday evening. I remember inviting one of the young ladies to come, and her response to me was, “No one my age will be there.” A few years back, one of the senior members of the church apologized for not coming to a women’s event because, as she put it, “I thought it would only be young women.” Thankfully, as we have grown up in the Word, we have come to understand that the like-mindedness spoken of in Philippians 2:2 is not related to age! Our monthly fellowships and retreats over the last three years have been attended by women of various ages—younger, as well as more mature in years.
What I hope to convey to you is that fellowship is something that believers have that unbelievers do not. Fellowship in Christ is much more than partying. Celebration is wonderful—and believers have much to celebrate! Christian fellowship is part of our witness, part of our lifestyle, and a way for believers to foster relationships. Fellowship represents that Christ’s love has brought us together. When a group of believers with unique backgrounds, ages, lifestyles, and experiences come together, we are a powerful testimony to the unity we have in Christ.
No matter what your age or background, commit yourself to fellowship with the Body of Christ. If you are serving in an area of the church that keeps you from attending an adult Sunday School class, then consider joining a prayer group or Bible study, and make plans to attend the monthly fellowships or other special events offered by Heart 2 Heart Women’s Ministry.
May God’s richest blessings be upon you,
Jennifer
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october
“Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.” Psalm 90:2
Recently, my husband and I took a trip to Lake Tahoe with some friends from church. Standing on a mountain overlook surveying the view before me, I was awestruck by the work of the Lord. All around me, I saw evidence of God’s craftsmanship. I saw His handiwork in the mighty cedars and in the tiny chipmunks that scurried around the forest floor. I could not imagine how anyone would surmise that all of it had arisen by accident, or without purpose.
In the midst of great beauty, God’s presence is made manifest. His might and strength are revealed. And yet, there are those who may walk amongst the mountains and not recognize their Creator. Praise God, I am not one of them. I recognize that God places His majesty before us to reveal His power. It was impossible for me to diminish the power of God as I stood at the base of a mighty mountain. Knowing that God’s Word spoke it into being, brings me to a place of reverence and humility. God is God, and I am not.
May we be ever mindful of the power and might of our Creator God.
Blessings and peace,
Jennifer
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november
Recently I had the opportunity to spend some time with members of my family and old friends. It had been some time since I had gotten together with my parents and my brother and his family, and even longer since I had seen my grandmother. It had been several years since I had seen my old friends. These weren’t just any friends: They were the people that I had gone to church with when I was a young girl. They had watched me grow up. I spent a day with the people who had taught my Sunday School classes, organized fellowships, supervised sleep-overs and parties, and who had shepherded the flock of Lakeview Baptist Church, where I grew up in Christ. These were friends that we had gone on vacations with and whose children I had babysat. They were the people that watched quietly as Brian and I met and fell in love in that little church. When we married, they were there serving cake and washing punch cups. To be honest, when we were newlyweds in the Dallas area, we travelled back to Waco to be at church with these folks. It was years before we found a church home that had the same sweet Spirit as my home church.
To say that it was a sweet time of fellowship would be an understatement. I rejoiced with these friends and their families, their new grandchildren and the blessings of retirement. I listened and learned. I didn’t want to leave, and I long to see them all again. It was a special joy to see my parents and the dear friends that they left behind when they left Waco years ago. They reminisced and laughed and laughed.
I get a little misty-eyed thinking about those special friends, and their graciousness. It is easy to want to stay with the people that we love and care so much about. Sometimes, the challenges of ministry work entail time away from the dear old friends that we love. I cherish the times that I get to spend with my family and friends. As I get older, I appreciate so much the family of friends that I have at FBC of The Colony. My day in Waco reminded me that one day my children will return to visit their old friends from The Colony. They’ll have fond memories of Sunday School fellowships, mission trips, and friendships. They’ll be bringing their own children to their old Sunday School teachers to introduce them to the people that taught them about the Bible and about God’s love.
I am thankful for all of you, my dear Christian friends. May God bless you in the work that you are doing, and may you always share in the blessing of Christian fellowship,
Jennifer
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January
As I reflect on the past year, I am amazed at all the Lord has done in our midst! God called a new pastor, Dr. Mark Richardson, to lead us. In the process, we gained his sweet family, too! Monica has been a treasure, and the boys have been a lot of fun to get to know. We've seen over seventy families join our fellowship, and I personally have seen members becoming more thoughtful about their membership at FBCTC.
Our church has embarked on a new prayer emphasis, as well as an emphasis on evangelism. Quite possibly the most challenging changes have involved our building: We remodeled the youth area, remodeled the kitchen, and repaired the foundation.
As for the women's ministry, we had more women's studies than we've ever had. When Monica Richardson came in May, she determined to lead Bible studies to all the women in the church in order to get to know them better. These studies were held in the homes of church members and touched so many. In spite of the work on the church, Bible studies and prayer groups persevered. The ladies pulled together to welcome Monica with a ladies' tea held in her honor. Our monthly fellowships grew, and our fall retreat was a big success, both in terms of the number of ladies that attended and the Holy Spirit's presence there. Perhaps our biggest accomplishment in terms of outreach was the launch of a new women's ministry website and our monthly e-newsletter. The Lord brought Jennifer Nelson to the ministry, and with her technological expertise, we are reaching farther for Christ-beyond The Colony-as she built and maintains our web presence.
As the year wound down, the women's ministry held its first ever evangelistic Christmas luncheon. It took quite a lot of effort on the part of church members to pull it off, but we saw many unchurched come in and even saw a few pray to receive Christ.
For me personally, 2009 was a year of ups and downs. With four children, my life is busy to begin with. However, the Lord added to my plate considerably with my work on the Bylaws Team, as well as a bustling and blossoming women's ministry. God revealed to me my own strongholds of fear through a hysterectomy this summer. I received so many blessings from the FBCTC church family by way of prayers, meals, and calls of support. I have been blessed with new friendships, the strengthening of long-standing friendships, and with new acquaintances that hold promise for the future. God challenged me with two major studies: The book of Ephesians and a study of the healing ministry of Jesus. God is good all the time, and I can look back at the year 2009 with a sense of satisfaction and joy. Even the trials have been instructive, and God is so good-He's used those trials to teach me and to draw me closer to Him.
I continue to seek God's plan for my life, and the year 2010 will be a momentous year for the Cottle family-I can feel it. God is opening doors and revealing new things for both my husband and me. Our youngest child will be finishing preschool this year, and, God willing, she'll start Kindergarten in the fall. With her entry into school, I am also contemplating what God would have me do. Should I get another degree? Should I go back to full-time work? All of these things will be answered, of that I am sure.
I look forward with anticipation the New Year. I have enjoyed being the women's ministry leader at FBCTC for over nine years now. In 2010, it will be ten! May God continue to guide us all and direct us, and may He graciously continue to bless Heart 2 Heart Women's Ministry with His favor.
May God's richest blessings flow over you,
Jennifer
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February 2010
Recently, I received a very nice e-mail from my friend, Bobbi Childs. Many of you have been following the condition of our sister, Jane Barton, as she is recovering from an aortic rupture and subsequent surgery to repair it. Bobbi had stepped in to help coordinate ladies to come and sit with Jane in the hospital so that Jane’s husband, Jim, could go to work. She writes:
When Jim asked me to co-ordinate sitters for Jane this week for four days I turned it over to the Lord to provide. The Lord knew who was available. As names came to me I started calling and as you know I asked for your help and prayers to fill the time slots. Slowly the slots were filled to fit the times others had available to serve. I still needed help on Wed. and Thurs. and again asked for your prayers. Monday evening the Wed. afternoon slot was filled. Last night I started calling some of the same women who had already served but to no avail. By 9 pm, I caught myself wavering on God's promise to take care of our needs but I confessed my anxiety and asked for forgiveness. Then I left it in the Lord's hands to work it out and I had peace that he would.
Here comes the Praise part. This morning I received a phone call from a woman who asked if today's (Wed.) afternoon slot was filled. I told her yes but I stilled needed the two slots tomorrow (Thurs). I just asked for her prayers as I knew the Lord would provide. She said she could come from work and be there by 3 pm if the person before her could stay until then. I had planned on taking any of the slots left open on Thursday so every slot is now covered. It was such a testimony to me of God's goodness and grace. When those anxious moments come just keep rolling the burden back on Him and watch for His provisions. Thank You Lord Jesus!!!
Praising and Thanking our dear Lord.
BobbiBobbi’s honesty about her situation and her dependence on God for provision are so inspiring to me. She turned her situation over to God, and experienced His blessing. I am consistently knocked out by both the goodness of God and the generosity of His people. Christian people are given a concern for others, and it is so good to be a part of a local body of believers who give generously of their time and resources. Bobbi’s story is a reminder of how God provided for the needs of a family through the people of His Church.
Her praise report is also a reminder to not only thank God for His blessings and answers to prayer, but to share our praises and blessings with others. Bobbi wanted to share this story not just with me, but with all of the ladies. That takes humility! Oh, that we would all be people who remember to praise our Lord to others!
1 Peter 2:9-10 says: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”(emphasis added)
When we praise God, we do what we are created to do: To bring glory to God. We are also doing what we are taught to do in God’s Word: To praise Him! On a practical level, when we are joyful people who praise God, we also encourage those around us to do the same. Prayer is meant to be a time of fellowship with God; a time to bring adoration to Him, as well as to bring Him our confessions and petitions. What better way to do that than to give Him praise?
For those who are toiling in the midst of challenges, a praise report encourages them that God is indeed working, and that He is with us in our time of need. Don’t keep those praises to yourself—share them with others, for His sake and for ours!
May God’s richest blessings flow over you,
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March 2010
“The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.” Acts 5:41-42 (emphasis added)
In Sunday School class this morning, we discussed the purpose of suffering in our lives. We talked about how it is possible to rejoice in suffering, because suffering develops perseverance, which leads to character, which leads to hope (Romans 5:3-5). The example of the apostles rejoicing in suffering gives a new dimension for the reason for hope in suffering. It reveals that we are worthy of suffering for the sake of the Name of Christ. What a tremendous perspective! The wonderful, magnificent Name of Jesus is so sacred, so holy, that only the most worthy will suffer for it. It means that for most of us, suffering through financial difficulty, heartbreak, or disaster does not indicate that we have achieved this honor. Suffering can help us to identify with Christ and to be more like Him, but only the most faithful and blessed will suffer for the sake of the Name.
As I ponder this, it puts my own trials into sharper focus. We may struggle with the stresses common to modern families with the pressures of making a living, but our stresses are minimal when compared to those who carry the Gospel to places hostile to Christianity. Those who are called to minister in foreign lands with false gods—or no gods—must surely be blessed. This reminds me to pray for those who are missionaries, and for those who are followers of Christ who worship at risk of great personal danger. I pray that they will realize how blessed they truly are. I pray that I will rejoice in my suffering, and that I will have a righteous perspective about trials and challenges. My prayer for you, as you are reading this, is that you will rejoice in your sufferings, as well.
Perhaps, we can praise God together….May God’s richest blessings flow over you,
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April 2010
My daughter, Lily, has a terrible habit that we are trying to break her of: She repeats herself. She often tells me the same thing over and over, and I am teaching her that when I respond to her it is not necessary to continue to repeat what she says. It is a matter of self-control, and she is learning. The other day, she started to repeat herself and stopped. “Oh, yeah, I already said that,” she said. She became thoughtful for a moment and asked me, “Mommy, does God repeat Himself?” I thought for just a moment and said, “You know, Lily, God tells us over and over in the Bible how much He loves us, so He does repeat Himself.” Of course, God’s motives are different from Lily’s. God wants to make sure that we are hearing Him, because what He is telling us is life-giving and valuable. Lily just likes the sound of her voice—she talks because she likes to talk!
Why does God repeat Himself? My friend, Emily Fulks, said that she thinks God repeats Himself because we take so long to learn—we have to keep hearing His truths to get it! She is right, after all. When I studied child development in graduate school, we were taught that young children learn by repetition. This is why preschoolers love to read the same book over and over until it is committed to memory. Learning new information, like language, actually changes the neurological pathways in the brain. Our brains are hard-wired to respond to words—to hear them and to speak them. The more language that we hear, the more our brains grow. Scientific research has shown that neural pathways that are responsive to language learning never develop fully if they do not hear language. Based on what I understand of neuroscience and human development, it seems obvious that God wants us to know—really know—that He loves us. God tells us in His Word hundreds of times that He does.
Perhaps it helps to understand a bit about neuroscience to fully understand loving God with all our minds (Matthew 22:37). If we know that our brains need to hear words over and over again in order to be affected by them, then we would make a great effort to hear God’s Word so that our minds would be affected by them. We would teach our children God’s precious Word as tiny babies. We would value early learning as much as we value adult learning (Deuteronomy 6:7) We would also commit to spending time daily in God’s Word so that we would know it—really know it.
“Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me your decrees. With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.” Psalm 119:12-16.
May God’s richest blessings flow over you,
Jennifer
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May 2010
About four years ago, I took my two youngest children with me as I ran an errand to a local card shop. While I unloaded my little ones from my van, a lady about twenty years my senior pulled up next to me. She looked at me and my children and said, “You’ve got your hands full!” “Yes,” I replied, “and I have two more in school. So, my hands are definitely full.” I was shocked by her response: “You know, they have ways of preventing that.” I examined her carefully. She was very serious—no joking around here. I met her gaze and said, “Ma’am, some of us plan to have big families.”
As you can imagine, her response was less than gracious. She got away from me quickly, as though I had just said I had the plague. Whether her ungracious remark was due to a feminist worldview, which places high value on a woman’s ability to choose not to be burdened by child bearing; or to an ecological wordview, which places high value on a low “carbon footprint”, I don’t know. Either way, her viewpoint was extremely offensive to me. You see, her remark devalued the life of my children. Somehow, to her, my children were two too many.
One of the things that is fascinating to me with regard to ministry work is the examination and realization of worldview. How we regard the world in which we live and the circumstances of our lives affect how we behave. Our perspective drives our determination. For the Christian wife and mother, children have intrinsic value because they are made in the image of God and are a gift from Him. Not only does the care of a child give us a sense of wonder and awe for our Creator God, it gives us a sense of purpose in our own lives.
My Christian worldview drives my determination to be a good wife and mother. In fact, it drives my determination to be a wise woman in all roles that God has called me to. The only way to be truly wise is to seek after God through His Word. God’s wisdom has taught me that a wise woman builds her house, but that a foolish woman tears hers down (Proverbs 14:1). A wise woman does what she should to care for and nurture those in her circle of influence: First, her husband and children; then others. It is this understanding that has shown me that Jesus Christ gives freedom to women and children. God places value on our contributions to the world, because He has created us for His purpose, to do His Will.
Women’s Ministry is very much about sharing the truth of Jesus Christ to women, so that their lives can be better and so that the lives of their families can be better, too. God called me to work with children when I was nineteen, and the work that I do in women’s ministry is informed by the truth that when women accept Jesus as their Savior and grow in the knowledge of God’s Word, they are better mothers. In turn, better mothers make for happier, healthier children.
How does your perspective drive your determination? What is it that you will determine to do today? Make sure that whatever you do, your perspective is grounded in God’s Word. That way, your perspective will be based in truth and your decisions will be wise. At the very least, you will not be deceived by the worldview of those around you.
May God’s richest blessings flow over you,
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Jun 2010
"Love must be sincere." Romans 12:9a.
The message that the Apostle Paul was called to bear was filled with love. Paul wrote of his life-changing encounter with Jesus, of the tremendous love that God has for mankind, and of the great love of Jesus that enabled Him to submit to death on the cross. He also wrote of how we must love one another and of how husbands and wives should show love to one another. This is intriguing in light of the fact that God chose Paul to deliver this message, despite the fact that Paul himself had never been married, had never had children, and had spent a portion of his life in the persecution of Christians.
It is commonly assumed that the only people who can understand love are those who are "in love". Perhaps Paul was not engaged in romantic love, but he certainly understood the great love that God has for all of mankind. Paul's life before his encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:3) was filled with hatred. He knew firsthand the depravity of the life that he had lived and the depravity of all mankind that God inspired him to write about in Romans 1. Upon examination, it makes sense that God chose Paul such as he was. Had Paul been married when he wrote 1 Corinthians 13, scholars would have assumed that it was Paul's great love for his wife that would have inspired this chapter and treatise on love. Perhaps the genius of Paul's writing would have been attributed to some earthly inspiration, rather than through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. After all, when one who has been empty of a love of mankind, a love of wife, and a love of child can write so eloquently of love, it must be that the source of this knowledge is One greater than the writer.
Paul had to be filled with this love somehow; it couldn't have been manufactured. No mere human could inspire the kind of love that Paul declared-which came at his own peril, by the way.
When Paul writes "Love must be sincere," in Romans 12:9, he is sharing the revealed thoughts of God. He is writing words that are life changing for us, as they have changed his life, as well. God is revealing that love, for it to be sincere, must be active. This is found in the preceding verses, as well as the verses that follow. Love in action is shown by honoring one another above ourselves (verse 10), by serving the Lord (verse 11), by sharing with God's people and by practicing hospitality (verse 13). God is glorified by our love for one another, just as He is glorified through the life of Paul. When we reveal an active, sincere love that flows from the heart of God, we glorify the One from whom this love has come.
May God's richest blessings flow over you,
Jennifer Cottle
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july 2010
“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” Proverbs 17:17
Just over a month ago, I applied to a teacher preparation and certification program. I have been exploring my options with regard to returning to full-time employment, and the field of education makes good sense for our family. With my background and education, I am particularly suited to special education. My desire is to teach in special education for a few years and then to apply for certification as an educational diagnostician. Of course, all of this hinges upon my getting certified!
As part of the application process, I had to take a content test. The particular test I took was called the Generalist EC-6, which certifies teachers in the areas of Early Childhood to sixth grade in all of the core content areas, as well as music, art, health, and physical education. Let’s just say that I had a lot of studying to do.
As soon as I was registered for the test, I began to study. I downloaded preparation manuals, studied my children’s textbooks, and searched online for unfamiliar terms. I read a couple of books that were recommended by teacher websites. I leaned heavily on the Lord, and did my best in terms of managing the needs of my family and the ministry work that we are involved in. I studied hard, because my dad was also scheduled for knee replacement surgery on June 21. No matter how straightforward a surgery is, my dad’s unique health issues always make surgery more complicated. He does not respond to pain medication the way that others do. I knew that my parents would need my help, so I determined to get as much studying in as I could before his surgery.Life’s complications can never fully be prepared for. In the month before the test (in addition to all of the regular craziness of my life) my mother broke her wrist, I got a speeding ticket, and my dad’s recovery went badly. My schedule was already crazy, and there was no time for defensive driving! We all pitched in to help my dad. I’m grateful to the Lord that he is getting better, but we know it will take time for him to fully heal.
On the morning of June 30, I sat in my kitchen to pray and to eat breakfast before I left for my content test. I was not confident, but I was resigned to taking the test. Sitting all alone, waiting for my breakfast to cook, I heard the chime of my cell phone. I had a text—at 6:23 a.m.! It was from my good friend Michele Green. She wrote, “I am praying for you and your test.” I could scarcely believe it. I was so grateful for her encouragement. Michele had no idea how frail I felt in that moment. She couldn’t have, because she couldn’t see me or hear me. But God did. My friend had determined to pray for me, and God heard her and moved her to text message me at the precise moment that I needed it.
Oftentimes, we are asked to pray for people we care about. I think most people follow up with prayer. I think that one of the things I forget, though, is how important it is to let people know that I am praying for them. We often assume that the one asking for prayer is going to be fine—God will take care of them and that we are really just reassuring them of this. By really investing in prayer with God, though, we allow God to move us to reveal Him to others. God may move you to lay hands on someone, to pray for them over the phone, to send them a card with a timely word of Scripture, or to send a text message in the wee hours of the morning. No matter how confident someone may appear on the outside, if she asks for prayer, then she needs it. Another way to look at this is to recognize that praying for someone represents an opportunity to extend oneself in friendship. I know that Michele is a true friend to me, because she extended herself to me in my time of challenge.
As Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” We may not be able to bear the brunt of the challenge that our friends are going through, but we can sure encourage them while they do.
May God’s richest blessings flow over you,Jennifer Cottle
P.S. I passed the test! Now, on to my next adventure…