And I Long to Worship Thee

The following note that I entered in my Bible...

...as I read Daniel 3:1-30, the account of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego when they refused to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, reminded me of an experience that I had regarding worship. 

But first a little more information about our story from Daniel. This command from King Nebuchadnezzar, to worship was to be the response for all the peoples in his kingdom whenever they heard “the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, bagpipes” or ant other kind of music. But the trio of Israelite men would bow to worship no other god than the true and living God.

How this text really ministered to me  

While recovering from an extremely painful surgery, wherein I spent many hours either silent or in tears, my husband began singing to me songs of the Christian faith. When I heard him singing (when I heard the sound of his music), I was reminded of the comforting biblical truths they expressed and that sparked in me a response of quietly singing with him.

At the moment I began to sing with my husband, a flood of pain-relieving tears poured from my eyes. In worship of my God and King - the true God, not a false manmade god - the pain in my body fled. Now I wept with joy for the goodness and compassion of my Lord’s acknowledgement of my love for Him, expressed in my worship at a time when worshipping Him was the last thing on my mind.

And we see this also with the three Israelite men who were cast into the fiery furnace. The difference was that at the sound of the music, rather than fall to worship a false god, they remained standing by faith, committed to worship only Yahweh.

That was a worshipful response and for it they were cast into the fiery furnace. But in that dreadful place, I’m sure like Paul and Silas in the Roman jail, their worship became very vocal. Whether that was prayer or singing or both, their reward was the visitation by a fourth man, the Lord Himself, who prevented the fire from harming them and literally walked in the now-quelled danger with them.

True Worship yields divine intervention

What divine and amazing rewards the Lord pours forth when we worship Him in the most difficult, painful and even dangerous experiences of our lives. At the sound of our praise and worship, which is music to His ears, He sends forth protection, relief, freedom and peace.
We see His protection from death here in Daniel. We see His rescue from physical bondage in the Roman prison when Paul & Silas worshipped in song. And I experienced relief from excruciating pain when my mind, controlled by suffering, turned to worship. 

The Martyrs and how they sang in the fire

And now I begin to understand how those who have been martyred - lit on fire and burned at the stake for their faith - have been able to enter God’s presence, joyfully worshipping in song. as the fire consumed them.

They knew the divine power that Yahweh releases to rescue one from physical suffering when that suffering isn’t what is preeminent in their minds. Rather it is how God will use their suffering for His glory and in that they revel as they are empowered to worship Him even in the danger and/or pain. Their suffering is then transcended by His glorious presence as He walks with them in it just like He did in the fiery furnace with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. How amazing is our God?

But  you may ask, what about Paul when he prayed three times for relief? 

We read in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 about a suffering that the apostle Paul experienced. He asked the Lord three times to remove what he called "a thorn in the flesh". Though we are not certain of what his physical problem was, we can be certain that the Lord did indeed intervene in his suffering. 

Paul's description of what the Lord did for him reads, "Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in your weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

How wonderful. Strength for weakness, sufficient grace for our insufficiencies, joyful praise for our sufferings! I'd say that the Lord ministered to Paul even though his pain remained. But God's marvelous grace was more than enough to motivate Paul to rejoice in his discomforts. 

But there's something of even greater significance to all of this

However glorious these truths are, and they are wonderfully marvelous, they are not the most astounding truth as far as human suffering is concerned. As I thought about the grace that God gives His children, I realized that He did not give this same grace to His own Son on the cross.

Jesus experienced the wrath of God, so that I can experience His grace

Jesus went to the cross to bear the wrath of God that I as a sinner deserved. In His suffering there on the tree, He cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46).
Jesus could not cry out to His Father for help in His great distress for His Father had, in fact, turned away from Him. This is because He became sin, who knew no sin for me. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:21).

This is stunning, the most glorious exchange ever! Jesus took my sin and graciously gave me His righteousness. He experienced poverty so that I might gain His riches! "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though being rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9).

Our Savior suffered like this for those who wanted nothing to do with Him

What adds further amazement to this unimaginable grace, is that Jesus suffered agony without any help from heaven for me while I still wanted nothing to do with Him. As one who had no use for the Creator, the full weight of the suffering that I should have experienced, without any relief, without help from the throne of grace (which I now experience daily) fell on Jesus. This truly is the most startling truth concerning human suffering. Jesus, God in the flesh, was denied this grace so that I can now experience it.

This is so humbling!

These truths realized create in me a humility, a desire to think less selfishly about my own suffering and recognize therein my Savior’s agonizing physical, emotional and spiritual pain on the cross from which  He was denied relief.

How can we respond, other than to truly worship our amazing Creator and Redeemer?

I now long to lift my voice in worshipful gratitude in every opportunity that my suffering provides. And, of course, with every breath that is free of suffering.

“As the deer panteth for the water,
So my soul longeth after Thee
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship Thee

You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship Thee

You're my friend and You are my brother
Even though You are a King
I love You more than any other
So much more than anything.

You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart's desire.
And I long to worship Thee 

 

Posted by Sharon Kaufman

And I Long to Worship Thee

on January 25, 2026 0 comments

How I Experienced Hospitality at its Best

It was a Sunday morning and after the worship service ended, my husband left church to visit a friend that was in the hospital (out of town). 

That meant that I would need a ride home. I thought of asking a friend who lives close to me, but she didn't sit in her usual place (down the isle from us). Instead, another friend sat next to us, who usually sits elsewhere. So after the service ended, I asked Myrian if she could take me home. She was happy to do so. 

We left the church and made the short five-minute trip to my house. But, I didn't get out of the car immediately because we had been engaged in conversation which now continued in the parked car in front of my house. In fact, we continued to talk for about an hour in Myrian's car. 

All this time, I was being nudged by the Holy Spirit to invite Myrian into my house, which wasn't in perfect condition - it looked lived in. But I just continued on with our conversation until I had to go into the house to feed the dog. Even then, I didn't invite Myrian in (I'm ashamed to say!). 

Once in the house and after feeding the dog, I looked around the living room area of my home and it hit me. What was keeping me from welcoming in my friend? The house simply looked a little lived in. 

Besides, it was lunchtime and I had an opportunity to feed the hungry - that was both of us. But what could I serve my friend? And then I remembered the homemade soup - delicious at that - in the refrigerator from the day before.

It was time for me to swallow my pride and obey the mandate given in Scripture to be hospitable. So back out to the car I went and finally asked Myrian to come in for lunch. She was delighted.

I put the soup in a saucepan to heat and while it was heating, I set about to make a simple salad to serve alongside the soup. Next on the table - after pushing aside the papers that were occupying the space we needed for our soup bowls - was some wonderful artisan sourdough bread and butter. Finally, the table was ready with a savory and delicious repast - the perfect meal that Myrian and I needed to nourish our bodies and satisfy our hunger. 

We ate and continued to enjoy the sweet fellowship we have in Christ. What a precious time we had, encouraging one another, laughing and be nourished by the love of Christ as we ate the leftovers from the day before. I've never had a better meal! And what the Lord taught me through this joyful appointment was priceless. 

At that time, I had been reading a book called The Gospel Comes with a Housekey by Rosaria Butterfield. It was the testimony of how the Lord had redeemed Rosaria through a Christian family's ministry of hospitality to her. I had been convicted while reading the book for having had a worldly mentality when it came to opening my home to welcome others. Now the Lord was showing me the joy of welcoming others, prepared or not, into my home, perfect or not.

Through this sweet time with Myrian, I've come to realize that all the busyness and frenzy to get my home perfect for guests had limited me in welcoming others into my home. My home is not a museum nor is it the White House and it especially is not to be shut up to others when it's not perfect. 

We live in our home and it looks lived in. When I thought about that, it hit me that life happens in my home. Productivity via life creates a mess sometimes. And sometimes people come to my door before that mess is cleaned up. Do I typically invite them in? No. Instead. I'll step outside and casually visit with them on the front porch. 

But the Lord has provided a home that should be His first and foremost. If He truly lives here, He would never hesitate to warmly invite anyone who drops by to come inside, no matter what life has done to my house. 

For a welcome mat to be laid at my doorstep and yet nary a welcome extended by me is paramount to hypocrisy. It is anti-Christ! How stingy I've been with what I've always said belongs to Him. 

What blessings I've missed because of the mentality that my house must have a "photo-finish" look to it for a welcome to proceed from my mouth. And how enslaved I've made myself to the flurry of cleaning and polishing this place I call home before anyone can enter in. What I've actually done is to pamper and polish a house instead of loving and caring for others in the lived-in home I have been blessed to share with them.  

And for the very reason I call it home (not "house"), it should be a home, not just a house. There are phrases that express the meaning of home: "being at home" means for one to have a relaxed sense of well-being, to be able to let all the agitating aspects of life go and simply calm one's self in a peaceful state of mind. Should this benefit of my home be only for me? Would Jesus want me to invite others in to "be at home" here also? Would He want me to use my home as a vehicle to minister to those who are harassed by life?

This, I believe, is what happened when I invited Myrian into my lived-in home. That was true hospitality! It was not me entertaining guests. It was the Lord Jesus ministering to both of us as He used a little piece of earth on which a shelter had been erected in 1941 to calm us, to enjoy one another, to bring laughter and to remind ourselves of the kind "welcome" the Lord Jesus has extended to us. This truly was God's will being done on earth as it is in heaven. In fact, it was "heaven on earth"!

My earthly father used to tell us, his children, about the most welcoming family in the church that he attended growing up (where his own father was the pastor). 

This family was not only the most welcoming in the church, but they were also the most financially deprived family in the church. There was hardly anything of value in their home. The couch was old, threadbare and broken down. Yet folks visiting there sat on that couch with no hesitation because of the warm reception they received from this family. Their feeling at home there had nothing to do with the furniture. Rather it was the Christ-like hospitality extended to all who entered.  

There was a great deal of laughter and love in that little ramshackle house. As a child, my father loved visiting there. The joy inside the home was contagious. It was the healing and strengthening joy of the Lord shared by all who entered. This family truly used their home to bring glory to God. 

I do not know the name of those saints, but you can bet that they are with the Lord now and He's welcomed them into His eternal home with the words we all long to hear from Him, "Well done, my good and faithful servants...enter into the joy of your Master."

And those are the words I long to hear my Savior say me when I meet Him face to face. And it won't be because I entertained others in my sparkling clean museum of a home. It will be because I welcomed others as Christ has welcomed me. 

Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, welcome one another, just as Christ has welcomed you to the glory of God. (Romans 15:5-7)

Posted by Sharon Kaufman

How I Experienced Hospitality at its Best

on September 07, 2025 0 comments

Thankfulness - It's a Miracle!

Some thoughts from my husband, Robert, concerning the account of the ten lepers that Jesus healed in Luke 17:12-19, and encouraged by a book called The Everlasting Word by Hans Bakker (see *note below): 

"Then Jesus answered and said, 'Were not ten cleansed? But the nine - where are they?' Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?' " (Luke 17:17-18)

Ten lepers were healed but only one came back to give thanks to the Lord Jesus. Where are the nine?* 

Where are the nine? Oh, they are at home with their families, eating turkey and stuffing, having a wonderful time, happy that they were healed. 

But none of the nine thanked the Lord Jesus. Only one, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back glorifying God with a loud voice. Only one fell on his face at the feet of Jesus giving Him thanks. (from Luke 17:15-16)

May the lesson of the lepers be for our personal instruction; it is for our warning...It is to show us that by nature we belong to the nine and that it would be a great miracle if we would be the one who returned in thankfulness to the Lord Jesus.*

Let this day of Thanksgiving 2019, be a day spent not just expressing what we are thankful for among our loved ones, but a day in which we return to the Lord Jesus in worship for what He has done for us. And may it be that we, the ones He has healed from sin-sickness, fall at His feet, glorifying God with all our being. May we be His great miracle of thankfulness! 

*Note: These portions of this post were taken from the devotional book, The Everlasting Word by Frans Bakker, from November 24's entry.   

Posted by Sharon Kaufman

Thankfulness - It's a Miracle!

on November 26, 2019 0 comments

God's Grace for My Messy Heart

So, I am beginning to understand (after much perplexity), why I just cannot seem to get this Christian life together. After all, I’ve been a Christian now for 39 years. By now, I should have figured it out - you know, “practice makes perfect”, right? WRONG!!!

Camping in the Dirt 

Before I go any further, you must know about a camping trip I went on with my entire family 31 years ago. This story will help both of us (you and I) sort out the spiritual truths I’ll be referring to later in this post.

First, let me set the scene for the camping trip. Our youngest child was 2 years old at the time. My husband and I had four children in tow. Also, camping with us were both of my siblings - my sister, Kate, her husband and their three children and my brother, Richard, his wife and their three children. Our parents also joined us. As an added point of interest, all three of us siblings had daughters born in 1980 who were, all three of them now two years old (or very close to being 2).

We camped up in the mountains, surrounded by beauty. You know the scene - an infinity of pungent pine trees in countless shades of green, a beautiful glassy indigo lake, big billowy white cotton-like clouds. You’ve been there, right? But there was more dirt, more fine brown powdery, yet clingy earth than there was anything else. Dirt was absolutely everywhere - on the ground, in our tents, in the trees hanging over our heads, in our shoes, on our picnic tables, and all too often on us as well.

The three two-year-olds had a blast! Laura, my brother’s daughter, was the oldest. Next in line was our daughter, Bethany, and youngest was my sister’s daughter, Stephanie.

Can you imagine three toddler girls, all dressed in pretty pastels, looking so cute, hanging close to their mommies in this new, unfamiliar and strange place? Well, imagine again. Two of the toddlers did just that. Two of the three barely took a single step away from Mom. Two of the three stayed clean because they didn’t venture out.

But one of the three decided she just had to take in more of the campsite and the mud puddles and, well, more of the dirt. Can you guess which toddler? Of course, it was my munchkin! Bethany was all over the place. As a result, dirt followed her everywhere. Cute, demure little thing - blond hair, blue eyes, button nose, sweet smile, dressed in pink - covered in dirt!

So I gave her a bath, as difficult as that was in a place that had no showers. But scrubbing the dirt off only gave her new opportunity to refashion herself with fresh muck all over again. Off she’d go, tumbling to the ground, and of course, that meant the front and back of her clean clothes, her hands, face and other surrounding body parts were once again gritty and grimy. She reminded me of “Pig Pen”, the Peanuts character that has the “air” of dirt always floating about him whenever he walks. Dirt followed my toddler. It hung like a dark cloud above her. But she had fun, and she also had so many baths!

Bethany and I got to know each other more on that camping trip than in the previous two years since her birth. She was continually in my arms as I scrubbed her clean all over again. She loved to explore and discover and I wanted that for her as well. But I also wanted to her to be clean, though I knew a little dirt wasn’t going to hurt her. After all, we were camping and dirt happens when you camp. It is just so very prolific.

Living Below in This Old Sinful World  

Now that you have that picture of my toddler daughter, you’ll also have a picture of me, here below in this sinful world. Not only am I surrounded by sin (dirt), but I still have a remnant of sin within me - a propensity to sin, buried deep in the recesses of my heart that is inextricable. Though Christ has delivered me from a lifestyle of sin, which I loved, I do still sin. And I sin everyday.
 

My Sin is Different Now That I Know Christ 

My sin is different now, however. No longer am I running after sin and embracing it. I now run after Christ and embrace Him. No longer do I love my sin. I now hate it and I adore my Savior. I want so much to bring Him glory. I want so much to do His will and be used of Him. I want so much for His love through me to impact others so that they too can know Him and His extravagant grace. And how I long to worship Him!

My sin is different now. My sin is much more inward now rather than outward. (Of course, lest you get the wrong idea, I also sin outwardly. Just ask Robert. No don’t, on second thought!) Now my sin consists mostly of grumbling about some silly thing that has annoyed me; or an attitude toward my husband that is disrespectful (there, I said it); I am ungrateful; and pride rears it’s hideous head every day in my heart. When I am obedient, I congratulate myself - pride. When I worship in song with the saints, my thoughts are elsewhere, not on the Lord. Or, worse, I am thinking how others, hearing me sing, must be so blessed. (Oh! I said that too - so prideful and blasphemous!). Oh, how I hate that! So even my obedience is tainted with sin.

My sin is different now. It seems so much worse than ever before. Shouldn’t I be sinning less and less? I always thought so, but my experience tells me otherwise. So am I not a Christian? These kinds of thoughts can even become sinful when I choose to focus on me, instead of on my redeeming Savior.

My sin Is different now. Though it seems like I sin more than ever, I also confess more than ever and quicker. Quick to sin, quick to confess and be cleansed from all my unrighteousness. Then, clean, like my two-year-old munchkin camper, I go and get dirty again. Ugh!!! It seems like the cleansing I experience is just a new opportunity to get dirty all over again. Oh, may it never be!

But my sin is different now. I no longer make so much of my sin, though I take it seriously. My sin never has the last word. My Savior and his matchless grace always have the last word to my heart. Where sin abounds, God’s grace much more abounds! How that gladdens my soul! I make much over His grace, not over my sin. My sin simply points me all the more to God’s love, patience, mercy, forgiveness, grace and compassion for me. And my love for Him increases daily because of His greater grace.

Sinless Perfection - Not God's Will for His Child

When He saved me, my Heavenly Father could have transformed me in an instant to be sinlessly perfect. But He did not. He allowed that remnant of sin to remain deep down in my heart, never to be extricated by me in this life (or by Him). But why? Because God uses our sin to demonstrate His superfluous grace to us sinners. I keep on discovering how deep and dark my sinful tendencies are, how depraved I really am and how I need the Savior. And that is exactly what God wants so that I can continually be rediscovering His grace toward me - so much more encompassing than my sin, so much more startling than my sin, so much more abounding than my sin. In continuing to come to grips with these two opposing realities - my sin and His grace - God has made it clear that all glory rightfully goes to Him. Without Christ, I literally can do nothing of any eternal value! There will be no bragamonies in heaven.

So What Hope Do I Have of Freedom From Sin?

Oh, I am just a camper here below. God continues to bathe me, clean me, and show His glorious, compassionate face to me in those cleansings. And then I get dirty again. And again my Savior cleanses me. He is so precious. He is so close.

Like Paul said in Romans 7:24–25a: “I am absolutely miserable! Is there anyone who can free me from this body where sin and death reign so supremely? I am thankful to God for the freedom that comes through our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One!”

Freedom comes through our Lord Jesus Christ! Freedom from the guilt of sin. How I used to beat myself up over my sin, so depressed because I could not change. But each time I sin, His grace for forgiveness shines and I see Him more clearly. I do not sin because of that, but when I do sin and confess my need for Him, He becomes even more precious to me. Seeing Him in that way, I apprehend more grace and strength by His Spirit to combat my sin. In that “depending” process of leaning on the Everlasting Arms, I am becoming more like Him. He is my hope alone! And He is working my sin together for my good (Christ in me) and for His glory.

2 Corinthians 3:18 says it so well: “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” 

Humility, Dependence and Gratitude

So, obedience or the “victorious Christian life” is not what I am focusing on now, or more importantly, that is not what God is focusing on for my sanctification. How proud I would be if, setting my mind to be obedient, I actually was (fat chance!). No, God’s broader desire for me is humility, and a greater and greater sense of my dependence upon Him, and a heart of gratitude. That comes by me beholding my Savior.

Obedience isn’t my focus for when it is, I simply find that it evades me. And if I do somehow manage to obey Him outwardly, I will have a heart full of pride. When, instead, I focus on God’s grace and mercy because I so desperately need it, I see more and more of Jesus and, by His Spirit, I will be more and more transformed into His likeness. Obedience then becomes a byproduct, not something I accomplish because I set my mind on it.

Set Free to Worship Without Disturbance  

One day, when I see Him face to face, His glory will permanently cleanse me from all remaining sin. He will wash me whiter - inside and out - than any garment can be bleached in my washing machine. Oh, oh, oh, what a glorious day that will be! No more will the hindrance of sin interrupt worship! No longer will obedience be a struggle. No longer will I sing, “I long to worship Thee”. I will worship without any disturbance to my soul. Never again something I long for, worship will be realized - effortless and glorious when I behold His precious face. What a Savior!!!

But for now I am camping here below, keeping my eyes up, off the dirt and on the beautiful scene of my Savior’s love, grace, mercy, compassion and forgiveness for me at the cross. And oh, what a magnificent view it is!

Posted by Sharon Kaufman

God's Grace for My Messy Heart

on October 29, 2013 1 comments

Rising Above Food Wars

A question - "How do I keep the issue of personal food choices in godly perspective?"

A few weeks ago, I received an email from a young woman asking me how to avoid alienating people who choose not to eat a diet of whole foods. Here, in part, is her email to me:

"I wanted to know your thoughts about living a lifestyle of eating optimum whole foods and avoiding processed foods. I've been trying to refrain from telling people what I've learned from my research about nutrition, but sometimes the topic comes up amongst my peers. At times I get the impression from others that they think my hope is not fully in the Lord. I get offended by this."

"Isn't it considered a Christian liberty to have a lifestyle based on good nutrition principles? But even for me to mention anything about sprouted grains or pasteurization, people get sensitive and easily offended. I understand their sensitivity because I'm that way also."

"I don't want something like this to ruin my relationships with other believers, but at times I get to the point where I refrain from saying anything about what I know and have learned concerning nutrition. I want to avoid others feeling uncomfortable."

"What are your thoughts?"

My response:
Self-Examination - Am I judging others?

Eating very conscientiously is important to me also. It is a liberty that no one should judge you about. Yet it happens. But nutrition is also something that I personally never talk about unless someone asks me about it. In fact, I most often take a very light-hearted approach if the subject happens to come up and joke about it to ease the other person's discomfort.

I blog about my food choices and post recipes that are healthy, but I would not post on Facebook (or other social networks) about this topic. Anyone of my friends from church can read that and people just do not understand how such food choices could make a difference. They tend to become defensive and often offended. I used to be the same way.

It's important to me that I make no one feel like I am judging them based on their food choices. I just don't take it so seriously in front of others that they feel an intensity from me, like it's all-important, though it is. That is what I am more concerned about rather than others judging me.

Prioritize - unity, love, ministry and Christ's glory are crucial

There should be freedom for any woman to come to me for counsel (regarding any topic) or fellowship, so I don't want food standing in the way of that. I don't want anyone feeling intimidated by my food choices. Loving others has to be first. My food choices are hidden behind my love for others, so to speak.

It is important what we eat, but unity is more important. The unity of the church has everything to do with Christ's glory, the gospel message and eternity. Jesus said, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another" (John 13:34-35).

"All people" - both in and out of the church - "will know that you are my disciples". If we, as the body of Christ, are constantly bickering over disputable matters (see note below)  like food, to outsiders we will look just like the world. As a result, the gospel message will be invalidated.

And inside the church, Christ will not be glorified either. Paul tells us in Romans 12:9a-10, "Let love be genuine...Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor."

In Philippians, Paul tells us to be of the same mind and same love. "Do nothing from rivalry...but in humility count others more important than yourselves" (Philippians 2:2-3). And of course, we all know the wonderful description of love found in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. The church thrives when the love of Christ is the core motivation for all we do.

Understand that food choices are important for health but insignificant spiritually speaking

Consequently, I will not say a word about any food that is in front of me at church potlucks or when we are invited to someone's home. I eat everything I can get away with at those times. Yet, I will not eat anything that I know will cause me to be ill; however, I would never draw the host's or hostesses' attention to that food as an unhealthy choice.

There was a time when I could hardly crawl out of bed and ministry was impossible. But when I began eating whole foods my health greatly improved. For me to now intentionally eat foods that put me back in bed would be sin unless I had absolutely no other choice. People can ask if they'd like and I'd be happy to tell them that in whatever I do, even in what I eat or drink, I will do all for the glory of God (First Corinthians 10:31), both in showing love by not judging others and in not eating foods that keep me from ministering to others.

Though I am better off physically, however, regarding my food choices, I will never be better off spiritually speaking. Again the apostle Paul puts it well, "Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do" (First Corinthians 8:8). God does not hand out spiritual "kudos" for the types of food we choose to eat.

Respond in the opposite Spirit

As for those people who think I look down on them because of the way I eat as opposed to the way they eat, I yearn that they would know how insignificant this important part of my life is compared to my love for them. Could they see my heart, they would drop all their defenses and just enjoy the fellowship we have in Christ.

One person, in particular, asks me on a regular basis why I won't eat sweets at church functions. I tell that person, "Because I like to sleep at night". I'm also asked by this dear saint why I would ever get sick (presently) if I eat such a healthy diet.

First off, in answering these questions, I don't get offended. I love this person, so I respond in the opposite spirit. In a light-hearted way, laughing, I say, "If you think I get sick often now, you should have seen me seven years ago." I don't lecture about why sprouted grains are a better choice for me than whole or refined grains. I don't discourse on why raw milk has helped me, etc. I just answer that I can now function and minister when I couldn't seven years ago and laugh when I say it.

When another saint was critical, I invited that family over for dinner and fed them the most delicious meal I could that was organic and locally grown, etc. Their taste buds were delighted and surprised I think, but the topic never came up in our conversation. We just had such a great time and the subject of food has ceased to be an issue. In fact, that family's love for us has grown and there is absolutely no tension regarding this subject now.

Never harbor a hidden agenda

It is also of the greatest importance that you not have a hidden agenda in your relationship to others. Are you ministering with the thought that you might be able to influence others as they get to see how loving you are? God forbid it! Love then takes a back seat to your agenda and Christ will not be honored, nor will you in the long run.

If it should happen that the ones you minister to ask you for information regarding nutrition, let it not be because you had an agenda, but because you didn't. Your agenda must be love alone or it's not love at all.

Pray about all of this

Ask God to give you the ability to let any judgmentalism just roll off your back like water off a duck's back. Ask Him to give you an intense love for the saints, even especially for those who judge you. Make it a reason to love them all the more.

This is also something you can pray for - that your love would far exceed any important lifestyle choice to the point that you felt that choice was totally insignificant compared to your love for others. Your food choices are important, but compared to your love for others, your relationship to that choice should feel like hatred.

Keep a God-honoring attitude and eat for health
It's really all about your attitude. Love always wins the day as does humility. Consistently take the low road and think of others as better than yourself, especially those who are critical.

Keep up the good work of feeding your family in a way that produces the best health. God will never fault you for that. But He will fault you when food's importance exceeds your love for others, though He will not require that you eat differently, just that you think differently - for His glory.

How have you shown love to those who are critical of you regarding your food choices (or other "disputable matters")? How have you, as a guest in another's home, lovingly opted out of eating foods that are detrimental to your health?

Note: "Disputable matters" are matters that are not essential to the Christian faith. We are not defined as Christians by such matters, nor do such matters make any difference in one's standing before God. As the apostle Paul wrote in First Corinthians 8:8, "Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off (spiritually speaking) if we do not eat and no better off (spiritually speaking) it we do." (Parenthesis added are mine.)

Posted by Sharon Kaufman

Rising Above Food Wars

on July 24, 2011 1 comments

Parenting with Humility From A to Z - Part One

Last night, after presenting a devotional at a baby shower, I was asked by many of the young moms there if they could have a copy of it. So I've decided to post it here on the blog over the next few days.

This is an acrostic writing, meaning that each new thought begins with (or is based on) a letter of the alphabet and follows the sequential order of it. In other words, the first thought starts with the letter A, the second thought starts with the letter B and so on all the way through the alphabet.

This devotion will be posted over the next four days since it really is too long for just one post. Today's post covers letters A through F.

Alpha…Make Christ your Alpha – your beginning for true humility. (Philippians 2:3-8)

Brokenness…Learn how to be broken before God. If the grace of God does not bring you to tears often, if you cannot say like the penitent tax collector, “Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner” and weep because He has done that very thing for you, then you are taking God’s grace for granted. Put yourself before His throne of grace and ask Him to give you a heart that is beautiful in His sight. If your heart is cold and unmoved, your parenting will reflect that and God will oppose you. If your heart is broken, humble and contrite, God promises to pour out His grace for your need. (James 4:6)

Correct...your children. It is a proud parent who will not discipline their child as God has commanded, for they think they know better than He does how to train their children. (1 Sam 2:29-30; Ephesians 6:1; Hebrews 12:6)

Deprive...your child of what he asks for if getting it will fuel his self-centeredness, except when it can provide a tangible lesson about the condition of his heart. (Proverbs 29:17)

Equal training...with diverse treatment for each child means that you are committed to training all your children equally in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. But to do that it is necessary to recognize each child for the unique individual that he is and apply godly instruction and discipline in ways specific and appropriate for that child. What interests him? Where does he shine? Put many opportunities before him to discover what piques his interest. This task requires humble dependency and wisdom from God. (Ephesians. 6:4)

Forgive...Freely forgive as you have been forgiven in Christ. I remember, as a child, when the news broke about five missionary men in Ecuador being slaughtered by a group of tribesmen in the remote Amazon jungle. The American men had been pursuing contact with the Waodoni tribe in an effort to bring the message of Jesus to the inhabitants of that village.


Nate Saint, one of the men who was slain, had a young son, Steve. Now, in 2010, fifty-four years later, despite his young age at the time, he still vividly remembers his mom, Marge Saint, telling him that his dad was never coming home again. At five years of age, he was faced with the searing pain of great loss - a type of loss that many people have never experienced even as adults.

In a recent interview (by Nancy Leigh DeMoss recounted in her book Choosing Forgiveness: Your Journey to Freedom), Steve was asked if he had ever struggled with bitterness toward his father’s murderers. He replied: "I took my cues from my mom and the four other widows. I never, ever, heard any of them even suggest that God may have made a mistake..." These newly widowed women modeled a depth of godly trust that was evident even to their young children.

The power of those young widows’ faith, manifested before their children in forgiveness toward the men who took the lives of their husbands, was used of God to shield them, young as they were, "from carrying armfuls of man-made baggage into the next generation". (Matthew 6:12-15; Colossians 3:13)

The next Parenting with Humility post will cover letters G through L. Please come back to learn your alphabet for parenting with humility.

Copyright Sharon Kaufman 2007/2010

Posted by Sharon Kaufman

Parenting with Humility From A to Z - Part One

on November 06, 2010 2 comments

Parenting with Humility From A to Z - Part Two

As promised, here is the second of four parts - G through L - of a baby shower devotional I did a few nights ago. If you missed Part One, please go here to read it first.

Give up...your expectations. Each child has certain propensities and interests – physical abilities such as sports, various arts, music, skills, hobbies and other leanings. Humility will let go of selfish expectations and allow the child to pursue the giftedness God has created in him. (Philippians 2:4) 

Honor...your vows to love, honor, respect and submit to the father of your child – your husband. A mark of humility is respect toward those who God gives to lead. If you expect your child to love, respect and honor his God-given authority, then you must love, respect and honor yours. Little ears and eyes observe. (I Peter 3:3-6; Ephesians 5:22-23, 33; Titus 2:4)

Imitate...your Heavenly Father. Be childlike before Him, so that you can emulate Him in love, kindness, patience, joyfulness and sacrifice before your child. By becoming like a child with your Heavenly Father, you will learn from the first and best father how to parent the children He has given you. (Matthew 18:4; Ephesians 5:1-2)

Judge...yourself rightly before the Lord. Confess your sin to Him and, if applicable, ask your child to forgive you. Unconfessed sin cherished in your heart becomes a stumbling block of God’s grace in your child’s life. (1 Corinthians 11:31-32; James 5:16; I John 1:9-10)

Keep...your home in order. In doing so, you are regarding others as more important than yourself, looking to their needs. But don’t obsess over it, like Martha did. At that point it has become an idol. Remember that people live in your home and they make messes, especially little people. Some quotes about housekeeping: “Your house should be clean enough to be healthy, and dirty enough to be happy.” “Housework is something you do that nobody notices until you don't do it.” “Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing.” “We labor to make a house a home, then every time we're expecting visitors, we rush to turn it back into a house.” “I am thankful for the piles of laundry and ironing because it means my loved ones are nearby.” (Proverbs 31:27; Philippians 2:3-4; Titus 2:5)

 

Love... your child. Learn how to love him by sitting at Jesus’ feet and abiding in His love. When you sit at His feet in adoration, you will be transformed by His love for you and, like a mirror reflects light, you will return Christ’s love to Him. When you love Jesus with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, you will become more and more like Him. The more you are like Christ, the more you will love others, especially those who God has specifically given to you to love. Charles Spurgeon said, “You cannot love a thing without becoming something like it in proportion to the force of love. And just in proportion as you love Jesus, you must become like Him.” (Matthew 22:37-39; John 13:34; II Corinthians 3:18)

Laugh...with your child. Take pleasure in him, play with him, laugh with him and let him know that he has bought much joy into your life. Laughing leaves little room for anger, so laugh over spilled milk. “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22)  

Laugh... at yourself. Some quotes that illustrate this happy idea: "Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves, for they will never cease to be amused." (Unknown) "One out of four people in this country is mentally unbalanced. Think of your three closest friends ~ if they seem okay, then you're the one." (Ann Landers) "Angels fly because they take themselves lightly." (G.K. Chesterton) “Your burden is lightened when you laugh at yourself.” “Laughter is the corrective force which prevents us from becoming cranks.” “Laugh at yourself first, before anyone else can.” “If you can't laugh at yourself, life's going to be very tedious and unpleasant.” (Genesis 21:6; Ecclesiastes 9:7-9)

Tomorrow, letters M through S will be posted. Please come back to learn this very important alphabet.

                                                                                                                                                    Copyright Sharon Kaufman 2007/2010

Posted by Sharon Kaufman

Parenting with Humility From A to Z - Part Two

on November 05, 2010 0 comments