Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | January 11, 2009

No Limits

My friend Roy Lowe is a pretty amazing individual. His son Jay introduced me to him in 2003. Jay asked me if his dad could join us on an upcoming trip down the Brahmaputra River in Bangladesh. I hesitated to say yes because Roy was almost eighty years-old and because of the rugged nature of the trip. However, I finally agreed and am glad that I did. Neither Roy’s age nor the physical challenges of the trip slowed him down.

Roy Lowe

Roy passionately shared the gospel with hundreds of people who live along the river. Hassan, one of our Muslim boat crew, was impressed by Roy’s love for his people. This young man later placed his faith in Christ and now works with a small group of believers in a village along the river.

Roy’s eagerness to share the gospel is also evident when he is home. This retired octogenarian walks the neighborhoods of his community and knocks on thousands of doors annually. His only purpose: to tell others how wonderful Jesus is.

You may not be a big fan of door-to-door cold calls but you have to admire Roy. He’s a big fan of Jesus and that’s what motivates him to make thousands of cold calls. I have learned that Roy doesn’t know the meaning of the word limits. Roy’s energetic determination to share Jesus with others is both inspiring and convicting. His example challenges me to speak passionately and often about Jesus. Here is what “No Limits” means to my friend Roy.

N = Neglect | Roy learned a lot about discipline in the Marine Corp. He has no problem neglecting personal comforts and conveniences in order to hit the streets day after day. A.W. Tozer observed that “every advance that we make for God and for His cause must be made at our inconvenience.” He was right.

O = Obstacles | Never allow obstacles to discourage you. Roy is not a postal carrier but he certainly lives up to their oath: “Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays these courageous couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.”

L = Look | Roy doesn’t wait for opportunities to tell others about Jesus, he looks for them. He is gripped by an urgency that will not allow him to remain silent. He understands the eternal implications of saying nothing (Ephesians 6:19).

I = Inspire | Roy inspires others by his Christ-like example. He does not want to confuse those who are seeking Christ or become a stumbling block to those who know Him (Psalm 69:6). The young Muslim man on our boat watched every move Roy made. Roy’s example made him thirst for the gospel.

M = Model | Roy models the values embodied in Jesus’ life and teaching. For example, Jesus modeled the value of humble service by washing the feet of His disciples (John 13:1-20). You can’t wash everybody’s feet but you can demonstrate a foot-washing attitude by finding creative and practical ways to humbly serve others.

I = Initiate | Roy takes the first step toward others. If he sees a need he looks for a way to fill it. Mother Teresa said that we should look for Jesus in His distressing disguise and then do for that individual what Jesus would do (Matthew 25:35-40). Hassan watched Roy take the first steps to love and encourage those in need along the river. This made an impression on him.

T = Talk | Roy focuses on telling others about Jesus. Ray Stedman said, “These early Christians never witnessed about the church at all; they witnessed about the Lord — what He could do, how He would work, what a fantastic person He was, how amazing His power was, and what He could do in human hearts” (Ray Stedman, “Acts 1-12: Birth of the Body,” p. 21).

S = Seek | Jesus said, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10). To seek means to go in search or quest of. Often, that means going beyond, stepping across the line that divides the familiar from the unknown. Roy is determined to step across that line daily. He is a man who knows no limits.

• • • • •

PS | Read about Roy’s son, Jay Lowe, in my post entitled Squeaky Chariot Wheels.

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Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | January 9, 2009

Are You Troubled?

   While in Ukraine in 1995, our team was invited to a meeting of a cultural society that met regularly to discuss philosophical and political issues. After our team was introduced, an elderly woman cleared her throat and then tearfully said, “For years we have not been allowed to know about God. Our lives are empty. I want to know,” she emphatically continued, “how I can find God. Can you tell me the way to God?” The earnest tone of her voice revealed the hope of a heart longing for answers. I sat silently as I listened to this woman who had lived a lifetime without God and watched as her question finally intersected with God’s answer.

   All eyes in the room turned to the late Dr. Rudy Hernandez, my mentor and our team leader. Dr. Hernandez stood, fixed his attention on the woman, and replied, “As we have traveled around your city we have noticed many beautiful cathedrals — evidence that there once was a strong faith in God among the people of your city.” Dr Hernandez then respectfully explained how sinful man can be reconciled to a holy God — and almost all of those present placed their faith in Jesus Christ. Afterwards, the director of the society said, “I have had so many problems in my life and no peace. Today, for the first time, I have found peace and meaning through Jesus Christ.”

   Watching Dr. Hernandez compassionately present the gospel in that setting reminded me of Luke’s account of the Apostle Paul’s visit to Athens (Acts 17:16-34). This ancient city, named for Athene, the goddess of wisdom, had been the home of men such as Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle. While Paul was waiting for Silas and Timothy to join him there, his spirit was deeply troubled within him because the city was lined with idols. In fact, one ancient historian satirically remarked that in Athens it was easier to find a god than a man. Like Paul, Dr. Hernandez always looked for clues that would help him to better understand the spiritual context in which people live. On more than one occasion, I sensed his spirit was deeply troubled within him as he grieved and wept over the spiritual welfare of the cities we visited.

   It is so easy for us to live among the idols of our own age without ever being troubled or stirred to act. Paul was stirred to action by what he saw. Following his usual pattern when he visited a new city, Paul reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and God-fearing Gentiles. However, during his time in Athens, Paul also spent his days in the place where people mixed and mingled and shopped for their daily needs — the agora or central marketplace. He did not wait for people to come to the holy place but instead took the gospel to the marketplace. We too, must take the good news to people in the places where daily life is lived.

   Paul had learned about the spiritual state of the Athenians by walking around the city and observing the objects of their worship. We too, must be observant and knowledgeable about what others believe in order to more effectively communicate the gospel. Paul had noticed an altar with this interesting inscription: To An Unknown God. For fear of offending some deity with which they were not acquainted, the Athenians had built an altar to something unknown. Paul used the inscription on this altar to build a bridge between their ignorance and the self-revealed God of the Bible.

   When was the last time you looked carefully at your community and at the lives of those who reside there? In what ways is your community similar to Athens? What idols do the people around you worship? What questions are they asking about spiritual matters? Are you deeply troubled by what you see and what you hear — or are you ignorant, indifferent, complacent, or tolerant? God uses people who are deeply troubled. What troubles you and what you are willing to do about it? Take bold steps and actively engage with others for the sake of God’s kingdom.

• • • • •

Note | Ruben Hernandez continues his late father’s work with particular emphasis in Spanish, English, bilingual and multi-ethnic communities and areas. Learn more about his ministry at Rudy Hernandez Evangelism International.

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Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | January 7, 2009

Praying in Bangladesh

   I will never forget the day in 1999 when I knelt to pray with seven Muslim background believers in Bangladesh. We knew that in a couple of hours they would return to their villages and I would move on to my next assignment. So, we chose to end our time together in prayer. The emotion was as intense as the heat as we knelt in a circle to pray. What impressed me most was the concern of these men for others and their earnest desire for the advancement of the kingdom of God. Knowing the difficulties of sharing the gospel in their villages, they prayed for one another. And these men, who knew and understood the high cost of being a Christian in a Muslim country, interceded for me. They prayed that I would not allow anything to distract me from faithfully serving God. Ironically, they feared that the lack of persecution might endanger my faith.

   My experience with my new friends in Bangladesh reminded me of John 17 — one of the most moving chapters in the New Testament. The prayer recorded in this chapter is the longest prayer of Jesus and should be labeled the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus prayed this prayer in the hearing of His disciples somewhere between the upper room and the garden of Gethsemane. The prayer reveals the concern of Jesus for Himself (17:1-5), His disciples (17:6-19), and future believers (17:20-26). Here is a brief summary of Jesus’ prayer.

Jesus Prayed for Himself (17:1-5) | Jesus prayed that the Father would glorify Him so that He might glorify the Father. Jesus glorified the Father by completing the work God had given Him to do. For this reason, Jesus asked the Father to restore to Him the glory He had before He came to earth.

Jesus Prayed for His Disciples (17:6-19) | Jesus acknowledged that God had given the disciples to Him. He asked the Father to protect them, to keep them united, and to keep them from the enemy. He did not ask that they be taken out of the world, but that they be sanctified and consequently live distinctive lives in the world.

Jesus Prayed for Future Believers (17:20-26) | Jesus prayed for those who would believe in Him as a result of the disciples’ message. He specifically prayed that they be one, as He and the Father are one. Christian unity tells the world that Christ makes a difference in the lives of those who believe in Him. Although the world had failed to recognize who Jesus was, the disciples had come to believe that He was the One sent from God. Jesus prayed that the Father’s love would be in them and that He (Jesus) Himself would be in them.

   What characterizes your prayers? Answer the questions below and then consider what you can do to develop a prayer life that promotes the glory of God, unity among believers, and the advancement of His kingdom.

P = Power | “We can accomplish more by time and strength put into prayer than we can by putting the same amount of time and strength into anything else” (“The Power of Prayer” by R.A. Torrey, p. 28). Do you put time and strength into praying? R.A. Torry observed, “Nights of prayer with God are followed by days of power with men” (“How to Pray,” p. 91).

R = Regular | Mother Teresa said, “Does your mind and heart go to Jesus as soon as you get up in the morning?” (“No Greater Love,” p. 13). Do you have a regular time and place where you devote quiet and undistracted time to God? Follow the example of Jesus in Mark 1:35 — “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He got up, went out, and made His way to a deserted place. And He was praying there.”

A = Advancement | “Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest” (Jesus, Matthew 9:38). Do you pray for those who are working in harvest fields around the world? Do you pray for the advancement of God’s kingdom in your home, neighborhood, and world? Are you willing to go into the harvest fields?

Y = Yearning | “Oh, that we might pray as we ought, as intelligently as we ought, as definitely as we ought, as earnestly and determinedly as we ought, for the salvation of the men, and women and children whom we know are unsaved” (“The Power of Prayer” by R.A. Torrey, p. 34). Do you yearn for the salvation of the lost and pray for them by name?

E = Effort | “If we put so little heart into our prayers, we cannot expect God to put much heart into answering them” (“How to Pray” by R.A. Torrey, p. 30). James 5:16 tells us, “The intense prayer of the righteous is very powerful.” Do you put much heart into your prayers?

R = Reputation | “The true purpose of prayer is that God may be glorified in the answer” (“How to Pray” by R.A. Torrey, p. 75). Do you pray for God to glorify Himself through the answers to your prayers and through your life?

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Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | January 5, 2009

The Nations Need God

   I read an interesting article in the TimesOnline entitled: As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God (December 27, 2008). Matthew Parris, the writer, noted that even as a child growing up in Africa he observed that Christians were always different — in a good way. Reflecting on his impressions while traveling across the continent with friends, Parris added: “Whenever we entered a territory worked by missionaries, we had to acknowledge that something changed in the faces of the people we passed and spoke to: something in their eyes, the way they approached you direct, man-to-man, without looking down or away.” Parris’ article prompted me to dig through my trunk of travel journals to retrieve the journal from my first trip to Ukraine. Here are excerpts of what I wrote near the start of that trip.

August 18, 1995 | As we travel by train from Kiev to southeastern Ukraine the beauty of the countryside impresses me. However, I cannot help but notice the blank, sometimes lifeless expressions on the faces of so many people as we stop along the way. It is as though their souls have been raped by despair and the difficulty of the times. The absence of smiles, of light in the eyes, and of a determined gait seems to indicate the absence of joy. Mere existence without joy is indeed a miserable state.

August 19, 1995 | Our team sang and preached in one of the local churches today. What a glorious time. The people sang from the depths of their heart and eagerly listened to the preaching of the gospel. This morning, eight people placed their faith in Jesus for salvation. Their tears gave way to smiles. Everyone rejoiced. What a contrast to the world outside these walls. These individuals are experiencing the same struggles and pressures as those I had seen from the train, but their outlook is entirely different. Jesus makes all the difference.

   Everywhere I travel, it’s the same — the obvious difference in the lives of those who have chosen to embrace Jesus. I have seen Christ-followers smile in the face of oppression. I have heard their songs in the darkest nights. I have met persecutors whose lives were changed because they were loved and forgiven by those they tried to destroy. I have watched hatred and anger fail in their attempts to siphon the joy out of the hearts of those whose love Jesus. There is indeed something different about those who love and truly follow Jesus.

   As a young Christian, I heard an old revival preacher share a story about a conversation between a Christian and a Communist. Seeing a man in ragged clothing, the Communist turned to the Christian and proudly announced, ”Communism can put a new suit on that man.” The Christian smiled and respectfully replied, “Yes, but only Christ can put a new man in that suit.” Jesus makes all things new. The Apostle Paul taught that Christians are new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17) who belong to a new kingdom (Colossians 1:13) and walk in new ways (Romans 6:4).

   Mr. Parris observed, “In Africa Christianity changes people’s hearts. It brings a spiritual transformation. The rebirth is real. The change is good.” He’s right. But Jesus makes the same difference in the hearts of believers everywhere, not just Africa. The people of Africa need God. But, the love of Jesus and the difference He can make also extends to all nations. The nations need God, too.

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Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | January 3, 2009

Stay Behind This Year

   When I was a kid, I used to spend lots of time with my grandparents. One of my favorite rooms in their home was my grandfather’s study — a room filled with books and maps, accented with bric-a-brac from around the world. One of the most fascinating items in the room was a little sealed bottle of water from Antarctica. My uncle Phil, a nuclear health physicist, had brought the water back from McMurdo Sound, Antarctica in 1962. That little bottle of water, mixed with my active childhood imagination, became my passport to the frozen continent. I would often daydream about what it must be like to journey to such a faraway place where few have ever walked.

   We have just stepped over the threshold into a new year — a place where we have not walked or passed before. Reflecting on my childhood dreams of Antarctica and on the year ahead reminded me of a favorite verse from the book of Joshua. As Joshua prepared to lead the Israelites across the Jordan River into the Promised Land, he ordered the Levitical priests to lead the procession by carrying the Ark of the Covenant, the national symbol of God’s presence, before the people. Joshua then ordered the people to follow the ark. “Do not come near it,” Joshua warned, “that you may know the way by which you shall go, for you have not passed this way before” (Joshua 3:4).

   What a beautiful picture of proper priorities when venturing into the unknown: God leading and His people following. No one was permitted to walk or run ahead of the ark. Everyone was to follow God’s leadership because they were going to a place they did not know. It’s always dangerous to run ahead of God, especially when venturing to an unfamiliar place or facing new and challenging situations. Look again at Joshua’s instructions.

Do not come near it… | In other words, stay back! Walk in such a way that you can see the leadership of God. For the Israelites, this meant keeping a distance of 2,000 cubits (or about 1,000 yards) between them and the ark. The Ark of the Covenant would go before them, blazing the way into uncharted territory. Staying back and following God is certainly the surest way to get ahead.

that you may know the way by which you shall go… | Someone asked Daniel Boone, the American pioneer and trailblazer, if he had ever been lost. “No,” replied Boone, “but once I was a bit bewildered for three days.” Follow the leadership of God or you might end up lost, confused, and bewildered in the months ahead. Getting ahead of God is the surest way to get confused.

for you have not passed this way before. | As carefully as we may plan, we do not know what tomorrow holds. There are no human footprints yet on the sands of tomorrow. However, God inhabits eternity (Isaiah 57:15) and is already at tomorrow waiting for us. He knows better than we do the way we should go. So, seek and follow His leadership. Following His leadership is the surest way to stay on track.

   We have just taken our first steps into the New Year. We’ll certainly face many uncertainties as we venture into the uncharted months ahead. But we can also count on facing the promise of blessings as we choose to follow and obey God; the prospect of battles against the world, the flesh, and the Devil; and the possibility of bereavement. So, make the wise choice and stay behind this year. Let God lead the way!

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Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | January 1, 2009

Doorway to Adventure

Open Door

Doorway | Yunnan, China 2003

   January is the first month of the year. However, along with the month of February, it was the last to be added to the calendar. The month is named for Janus, the Roman god of doors and gateways. Janus was usually depicted with two faces looking in opposite directions — one to the past and one to the future. The month of January beckons us to look back and take inventory of the previous year and to look ahead to the opportunities of the coming year.

   January offers us the opportunity for fresh starts, second chances, and new beginnings. Fresh starts have a way of giving new meaning to life. Second chances can invigorate us with the resolve to do better and go farther than we ever have. New beginnings can infuse us with purpose, energy, and the determination to walk through doors and gateways that lead to new challenges.

   I hope that you will step across the threshold of the New Year with the determination to go beyond — to become more and to do more than ever before for God and His purposes. Here are a few practical suggestions for how you can go beyond and live adventurously for God in the coming year.

A = Acknowledge | Depend on God. Acknowledge your need for Him. Watchman Nee said that divine work can only be done in dependence upon divine strength. He was right! Keep that in mind as you face the challenges of the coming year.

D = Dream | Make sure that you have more dreams than memories. Dream about and envision what God can do in and through you if you will make yourself totally available to Him. And then, make yourself totally available to Him.

V = Venture | Do not just be something — do something. Have the faith and the courage to venture across the line that defines the farthest you’ve ever been or the most you’ve ever done for God and His purposes. Adventure awaits you on the other side of that line.

E = Endure | Ernest Shackelton is one of my historical mentors. His family’s motto was Fortitudine Vincimus — “By Endurance We Conquer.” Expect hardships, challenges, and setbacks when you venture into uncharted territory. And then, endure! Hold on, hold out, and press on. Nobody said it would be easy.

N = Nurture | Develop the disciplines that will sustain you. Exercise to face physical challenges and study and pray to prepare for spiritual challenges. Be intentional in your preparation. Remember that success is the offspring of opportunity and preparation.

T = Trash | Take inventory of habits and attitudes that will hinder your progress. The writer of Hebrews admonishes us to “lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us” (Heb. 12:1). Do it. Toss them all into the trash like filthy rags. And then, leave them there and travel light.

U = Utilize | Use your time and resources to advance God’s purposes. Christians in America spend 97 cents of every dollar on themselves while spending only 3 cents on advancing God’s purposes around the planet. We’ve got to do better than that if we expect to advance the interests of God’s kingdom. Do and give more this year.

R = Risk | Risk is about exposure to the chance of injury or loss. John A. Shedd said, “A ship in the harbor is safe but that is not what ships are built for.” God did not design us to stay in the harbor or to always sail within sight of the shore. So, take a risk for a cause bigger than yourself. Lose sight of the shore this year.

E = Encourage | Encourage others to go beyond by your example. Those who think they can’t might believe they can if they see you taking bold steps. Don’t underestimate the power of your influence. Dare to live adventurously for God throughout the New Year.

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Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | December 31, 2008

Simplify Your Life

This is my fifth installment of practical ideas for personal growth in the New Year. Today’s ideas are all about moving toward simplicity. These are only a few of the steps we can take to eliminate the clutter, clamor, and chaos that distract us from hearing God’s voice, seeking His kingdom and righteousness, and serving His purposes. Please read these ideas carefully and ask God help you identify the ways in which Satan works to seduce you away from the “simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3). And then, take action to simplify your life.

Learn to say no. | We often fail to say no to things that we should not do or don’t want to do because we don’t want to disappoint others. As a result, we over-commit our time and resources and give up control of our lives. Identify what is most important to you so that you can say yes to those things and no to the things that are not as important.

Plan ahead. | We tend to complicate our own lives by failing to plan ahead and scheduling periods for rest, reflection, and recharging. Instead, we jump from one thing to another without ever pausing long enough to savor the joy of accomplishment (Proverbs 13:19). As a result, we add unnecessary stress to our lives (Proverbs 13:12). Learn to schedule your down times as intentionally as you schedule other activities. And, limit activities outside your home so that you can invest in the people who live in your home.

Reduce debt. | If you have debt, stop adding to it. Instead, take practical (and hard) steps to reduce it. Don’t mortgage your future by purchasing stuff you can’t afford with money you don’t have. Learn to live below your means and to be content with what you have (Philippians 4:12).

Stop upgrading. | Your life will not come to an end if you do not upgrade to a newer and faster computer, phone, television, car, or whatever. Don’t justify selfish or unnecessary purchases by trying to convince yourself that something newer or faster will help you to simplify your life. Having newer stuff does not equal simplicity. Try owning something long enough to wear it out.

Clear the clutter. | Most people have so much stuff that they lose track of what they have. We have stuff in our homes, garages, attics, and even more stuff buried in storage graveyards. We have stuff that we never use that could bless others if we took the time to give it away. Add clutter clearing to your calendar and start eliminating unnecessary stuff a little at a time. And, while you’re at it, de-clutter your heart. Eliminate the clutter of fear, guilt, anxiety, and busyness so that you can make room for more time with Christ.

Stop maintaining. | Take inventory of all of the things that you have and never use, but must maintain. Don’t let junk drain you of energy and resources. Cancel subscriptions to magazines that you never read. Drop your memberships to the places you seldom go. Sell or give stuff away in order to stop serving your stuff.

Turn off and tune in. | Simplify your schedule by eliminating time in front of the television. Break your addiction to noise. Schedule some time to read a devotional, to meditate on a passage of Scripture, to read a good book, or to enjoy meaningful conversation with a family member or friend. Turn off the noise so that you can tune in to God and those closest to you. Please take a moment to read my post entitled Go Remote for additional insight.

Do the math. | Don’t drive across town to save two cents on gas or a dime on lima beans. Your time is worth much more than what you think you’ll save. Pay your bills online and look for other ways to recover the only resource that you can’t replace — your time.

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Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | December 30, 2008

Stretch Your Horizons

This is my fourth installment of practical ideas for personal growth in the New Year. Today’s ideas focus on stretching your horizons to consider the plight and needs of the world’s remaining unreached people groups. Make this your year to pray, give and go beyond. Do more than you ever have for God and His purposes.

Open your eyes. | Ask God to enlarge your vision of the world. When you listen to the evening news or read a newspaper, listen and look for the mention of people groups. Remember that many people groups have yet to hear or read the gospel of Jesus Christ. Visit PeopleGroups.org to learn more about a particular people group, including their status of evangelization. And, visit the Wycliffe Bible Translators website to learn about their work to provide access to Scriptures to everyone in the language they understand best.

Get on your knees. | The 10/40 Window is an area of the world that extends from 10 degrees to 40 degrees north of the Equator, and stretches from North Africa across to China. This rectangular shaped window is home to the largest population of non-Christians in the world. 10/40Window.org provides online prayer guides to help you focus your prayers on the people groups still waiting to hear the good news about Jesus. Pray daily for unreached peoples.

Move away from the table. | Skip a meal or that cup of expensive coffee once a week and give the money to missions. Let the absence of food remind you of people who are still hungering for the Bread of Life. Use your time of fasting to pray for those who have little or no access to the gospel.

Get a clue. | More Christians were martyred in the 20th Century than in the previous nineteen centuries combined. Visit the Voice of the Martyrs website and subscribe to their newsletter to stay informed about the persecution of believers today. Add the persecuted church to your prayer list. We must pray for the persecuted church every day. Read my posts filed under the Persecution category in the sidebar.

Break the silence. | Share your personal story with others about how you came to faith in Jesus. And, learn how to use the Scriptures to guide others to faith in Christ. Look for opportunities to turn conversations to spiritual matters. Read my posts on the Four Calls to Evangelism to learn more about our responsibility to share the good news about Jesus Christ.

Roll up your sleeves. | We must not only share the gospel, we must also show the gospel. Live incarnationally — be Jesus with skin on. Be careful how you live because you are the only Jesus some will ever see. Do more than say “God loves you” — demonstrate God’s love to others through practical acts of kindness.

Dig into your pockets. | Only two cents of every dollar given by American Christians goes to support overseas ministries. Yet, it is estimated that Americans spend as much as 40 billion dollars on their pets. Imagine how many more people would have access to the gospel if we spent as much on missions as we do on our pets. Give sacrificially to missions.

Pack your bags. | Short-term volunteer missions initiatives are a great way to put yourself in a context where you will experience God working in and through your life in ways you never imagined. You will come home with a greater appreciation for and understanding of what it will take to finish the task of global evangelization. If your church does not mobilize teams for international travel, investigate opportunities through organizations like Innovative Mission Opportunities. This organization does a great job of leading teams to work with unreached peoples in the 10/40 Window.

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Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | December 29, 2008

Strengthen Your Hands

The Apostle Paul said, “Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:3-4). This is my third installment of practical ideas for personal growth in the New Year. The following nine ideas are designed to strengthen your hands by serving others. Put one or more of these ideas into practice this year or come up with creative ideas of your own. But, whatever you do, be intentional about looking out for the interests of others this year.

Participate in a local service initiative through your church. | Serving others is not a spectator sport. Get in the game by volunteering to serve others through your church. Involve your kids and make some special memories by serving others together.

Prepare a meal for someone who is ill. | If you have ever been hospitalized, you know how good you felt when someone took the time to encourage you. One way you can encourage someone who is hospitalized is by preparing a meal for them when they return home. This will be one less thing for them to worry about. Be sure to pay special attention to any dietary restrictions.

Assemble a “Candy for Cops” basket. | Get your kids to help you shop for candy bars, cookies, and snacks. Arrange them in a gift basket and deliver them to your local police or fire-station with a note of appreciation to those who keep our community safe.

Volunteer at a local assistance ministry. | Volunteers are essential to the smooth operation of local assistance ministries. Call up a local assistance ministry and offer to volunteer in their food pantry, clothes closet, or with whatever need they have.

Go shopping for a homeless person. | Make some time to do more than give a few coins to the guys holding the cardboard signs on street corners. If there is a store nearby, offer to purchase a few essentials for them. My friend Jon Davis offers helpful advice on how to do this. Read his post entitled Silent, Wet, Dirty, Hungry Night.

Babysit for a single parent. | Single parents often do not have the extra resources for a night of fun and relaxation. Purchase a movie ticket or a gift card to a local restaurant for a single parent and then offer to babysit their kids while they enjoy a night out.

Mow the lawn of a friend or neighbor who is out of town. | Offer to mow the lawn of a friend or neighbor who will be out of town on business or vacation for an extended period. This will take some pressure off of them and keep the neighbors happy.

Assemble a new parent’s kit for the arrival of a newborn. | Assemble a basket of items for a newborn boy or girl and deliver it to the labor unit of a local hospital. Ask them to give the basket to an unwed mother or a family in need. Be sure to include a copy of the Bible and a devotional book on children or parenting.

Adopt a “grandfriend.” | Adopt an elderly adult in your neighborhood or local nursing home. Visit them on a regular basis, remember them on their birthday, offer to read to them, teach them a new card game or how to use a computer. Your presence and time will be a huge blessing to them.

• • • • •

Note | Please take a moment to read all of the ideas for personal growth. This series of posts are filed under the Personal Growth category in the sidebar. Just click and read.

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Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | December 28, 2008

Soften Your Heart

Yesterday, I posted ideas on how to sharpen your mind in the coming year. Today I offer the second installment of ideas for personal growth. These are some practical things you can do to develop a tender and compassionate heart. Read and pray through this list of ideas and consider what God can do in and through you if you will make yourself available to Him throughout the New Year.

Focus on others. | Make it a point to do three things as you engage with people throughout the day. First, notice the color of their eyes. Second, remember their names. And finally, try to make them smile. Read my post entitled Heather’s Challenge to learn more.
 
Listen to what others have to say. | Focus your attention on those who are speaking with you. Learn to patiently listen without waiting to break in. Listen with your heart as well as your head. Listen in such a way that the other person knows you care and want to hear what they have to say.

Keep a “count your many blessings” journal. | Don’t be oblivious to the many blessings that come your way every day. Be alert to and aware of every good and perfect gift from God (James 1:17). Start your list with things like “health, home, family,” etc.  Do the math on your blessings — count them!

Write at least one thank you note per week. | Make it a point to acknowledge the kindness of others. Expressing gratitude to others is a great way to keep pride in check and to encourage those whose kindness has touched you and others.

Send a Valentine to a senior adult. | Many elderly adults live with little or no contact from family and friends. Whether confined to their homes or to their beds, the pain of loneliness is often accentuated for the elderly. Send a Valentine’s Day card and other holiday greetings to lonely elderly adults.

Invite someone who is lonely to share a meal with your family. | Mother Teresa said, “As far as I am concerned, the greatest suffering is to feel alone, unwanted, unloved.” Loneliness is not the absence of people. Loneliness is the absence of relationships and contact with those who care. Be a friend to the lonely.

Pray daily for others. | Be aware of what others are going through and pray for them. If you know someone going through a difficulty, offer to pray for them on the spot! You might be surprised how doing so will bless and encourage others and perhaps give them the needed resolve to persevere.

Make more room in your life for the least of these. | Take inventory of the people you know or come in contact with every day. If you can’t identify any from among the least of these (see Matthew 25:31-46) in your circle, then your life is too sheltered. Take steps to meet and to care for the people Jesus cared about.

Spend less on yourself and give more to charitable causes. | An Amish man reportedly told a new neighbor, “If ever thou needest anything, come and see me and I will show thee how to get along without it.” Evaluate your personal spending and give up the things you really don’t need and invest that money to help the least fortunate.

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