GPBC Blog

Imagine that we are sitting at a coffee shop, and I asked you the following question, “Is there a statement, Bible verse, or just words that have influenced how you live your everyday life? Did a parent, grandparent, teacher, friend, or a coworker say something to you that to this day impacted your life?” The following is one verse, two statements and three words that have influenced my life in general.

The first verse was shared with me when I was in middle school: “Vengeance is mine, I will repay says the Lord.” Here is the background to this story. My mom was raised in a Salvation Army home in Hilo, Hawaii. She was placed there by the courts when she was 2-3 years of age. The circumstance to this situation is unclear of why she was taken from her home. Her real mom did not come to visit her in the Salvation Army home or to try and take her out of the home until she was 14 years old…a total of 12 or 13 years! My mom shared how frightened she was and how she cried every night for her mom, but days turned to weeks and weeks turned to months and the months turned to years. When I asked my mom, “How can you forgive your mom for leaving you?” She responded by saying, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay says the Lord.” Those were big words to me as a child. She would say that so calmly, and I felt that I needed to accept the fact that my mom had dealt with the issue and that I shouldn’t ask any more questions. It made an impact on my life because I witnessed how my mom seemed to have resolved her feelings about the situation. Whether she truly forgave her mom or not, she had the larger perspective that God was in control of her life. After I became a Christian and I read those words in the Bible they sank deep in my heart. When I encountered situations where I had to forgive, I too had the same choice like my mom… “Vengeance is mine, I will repay says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19 and Deuteronomy 32:35)

The second statement is, “Be A Lifelong Learner.”
This statement was shared by Pam Reeve, a professor at Multnomah Bible College when I was young in the ministry. I was not a student but served on a team with her for several years planning city-wide events for women. She would encourage me and others to be “lifelong learners.” She repeated that phrase many times in conversations. I asked her once, “How have you remained a lifelong learner?” She shared by giving me the following examples: “I go into all situations, whether it is a meeting, or a sermon on Sunday or just conversations with others with the attitude that I will learn something.” Basically, she shared that she went with an attitude of humility instead of an attitude that I already know this! This has helped me to be an effective learner in my relationship with others especially my family and in the family of God.

The third are three words: Faithful, Available and Teachable.
These three words, that were shared at a Christian Education Conference in Modesto, California more than 30 years ago, have influenced my philosophy of ministry for more than 40 years.

Being faithful first of all to Jesus and the calling in my life. Before I became a Christian I was into my career as a speech therapist and teacher. After I became a Christian, I wanted to be faithful to God, my husband, and my children first. Being faithful is following through with my convictions and also serving using my gifts and talents for the good of the body and not for selfish gains.

Being available is being open to Jesus’ calling in my life and learning to say yes and learning to saying no as well. To have an attitude of flexibility and to trust God in being available to serve when needed.

Being teachable has been a process for sure because at the beginning of ministry I had my opinions, and I thought my way was the best way. I was the fourth child of seven children and, being an extrovert, I was always talking and not listening well. I had to learn that I can be wrong and to be open to listening and to change if needed.

The fourth statement is one I just added recently: “Just do the next right thing.”
I got this statement from a study we did in our evening small group that was shared by David Jeremiah. It is amazing how much this statement helps me in my walk with Jesus. I can easily be distracted, and by doing the next right thing and listening to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, God gives discernment and wisdom. Many times, in dealing with situations in ministry and in my personal encounter with others, the Lord brings verses to mind and it involves doing the next right thing. For example, Galatians 6:9 “You must not get tired of doing good for you will reap at the proper time if you don’t give up.”

Well, there are others, but I wanted to share four of them. What are yours? Would you invite me to coffee or maybe you could send me a text and share the statements or Bible verses that have helped you in your everyday walk with Jesus.

I now need to do the next right thing and end this blog! Enjoy the last few weeks of summer and see you on Sunday!