Learning to Laugh at Ourselves

It was laughable that Abraham and Sarah would have a child now. After all, Abe was 100 years old, and Sarah not much younger. What would people think? This was so out-of-the-box that God would give them their promised son at such a ridiculous age, that they decided to laugh along with God. So they named their son 'Isaac'... meaning 'laughter.' Yet God was fulfilling His promise to give them a son who would influence the whole world.

Sometimes we get way too serious, starchy and stiff when it comes to God's promise to make us His witnesses. Maybe we need to learn to laugh at ourselves a little. After all, isn't God ordering our steps (Proverbs 16:9), just like Abraham and Sarah? If we need a good laugh, just look in the mirror! God has chosen US to be His ambassadors?!

Picture this likely conversation in heaven:

God: "Gabriel, I am going to challenge Tom Elie to share his faith everyday. You see, Tom has a problem, while he speaks to thousands from pulpits and international stages, he is scared to share his faith one-on-one. I know it seems odd that fear would rule him, but it's true. Even though he is afraid of failure, he is deciding to run right at his fears. And I will run with him."

God: "Gabriel, he doesn't know it yet, but this decision to share his faith daily will transform his life... and many others. Let's watch Tom together... this will be fun."

Someday we will get to watch heaven's videos of our life's metamorphosis. We will watch ourselves going from timid, to tender, to tenacious... and we will all laugh along with God!



Let's start now. Here's a hilarious video I found called Linebacker Evangelism. Let's learn to laugh at our shortcomings. God is!

Laughing while learning,

Tom Elie
Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries
www.oasisworldministries.org

The Culture of Self

"And take heed to yourselves lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares"(Luke 21:34).

Have you ever met someone who likes to talk about themselves? I have... me.

I enjoy talking about personal experiences in the past, and vision for the future. Maybe all of us do to a degree. Some people focus continually on their problems. But being consumed with ourselves is both dangerous and addicting.

I wrote the above verse in the old King James version, because I wanted us to see the word 'surfeiting.' It means 'given to continual overeating.' Does that describe us? We are a generation given to consumption in many areas. And once this is a habit, then it becomes an entitlement. Soon we deserve all the 'goodies' of life, and we deserve even more. We never compare ourselves with half the world that earns $4/day or less, but with our neighbor who has something we don't.

Today let's repent for selfishness, and all that comes with it. Jesus has called us to a higher call. He said if we lose our life we will find it. Let's pray.

Let's pray for ourselves.

Dear Lord,

I am sorry for being so focused on myself and my needs, which are often just greeds. Forgive me for laying down my cross instead of daily taking it up. Forgive me for demanding my own way, and judging others in my heart as not as good as myself. This is simply pride, and I repent. Change my heart. Show me how to learn something valuable from every person I meet by listening more than speaking.

Let's pray for our city and country.

Dear Lord,

We humble ourselves today, and acknowledge that any good thing we have is a gift from you. Any good thing we have accomplished happened because You gave us the ability to make it happen. Forgive us for our prideful and independent spirit. Help us be agents of change in our city by humbly giving all the glory to You for any good in us.

Let's pray for the global advance of the gospel.

Dear Lord,

You warned us to not be consumed with ourselves, lest we lose track of Your soon return. Awaken the eyes of not only the unreached, but especially of the reached, to see again the urgency of the hour. Bring the worldwide church back to their first love again. Revive us, so we will be like the virgins who had their lamps full of oil, eagerly waiting your return. In Jesus' mighty name we pray, amen.

Releasing God's Favor

"The goodness of God leads men to repentance" (Romans 2:5).

I recently heard evangelist Ed Silvosa say something insightful and yet simple. He remarked that if we want to get favor with unsaved people, do them a favor!

Jesus also said it, "Whatever you would like men to do to you, do also the same to them" (Matthew 7:12). And again, "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Mark 12:31).

The first thing we should do is pray. Pray that God will show us how to love others without expecting anything in return.

The next thing we should do is to find a way toreach out to unsaved people with a favor. Here's some ideas:

• Go out of your way to ask questions about their family
• Look for unexpected ways to bless them
• Offer authentic compliments
• Show neighborly hospitality
• Take them out to eat

An unexpected act of kindness will be remembered long after the act is finished.

Recently a family friend came up to me, looked me in the eye, and said something that both impressed and blessed me. "You have a marvelous son,"she said. Then she went on to give specific examples of the character traits she saw in my son. It made my day! But I was also reminded of the tremendous power of thoughtful words. Later as I told my wife of this incident, (since it's her son, too!) I said that we should try harder to make our words an unexpected, but true, gift of love.

Can I encourage us to ask people about themselves before we talk about ourselves?

Let the first nine words from our mouths bring life."It's so good to see you," or "I've been hoping I could see you again to tell you how much I appreciate you," or "It's always a joy to run into you," or "You're looking younger every time I see you." Well, don't stretch the truth too much, but you get the point. The Bible tells us that 'faith without works is dead.' Let's model a living faith by doing unexpected favors for people.

Intentional for souls,
Tom Elie
Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries
www.oasisworldministries.org

What is God's Will?

"I delight to do Your will, O my God" (Psalm 40:8a).

My teenage years were great... filled with fun, friends, and loving parents. But one question seemed to never leave me... 'God, what is Your will for my life?' What career should I choose, whom should I marry, where should I live, and what school should I attend are all major decisions for which I have needed God's wisdom!

As a ninth grader we were assigned to write about three possible career choices that interested us. I remember mine clearly... an evangelist, an FBI agent, and a policeman. They all seem to have lots of excitement. And in retrospect, it's interesting that all three involve helping people find justice.

We all want to know our God-given purpose. But at times, our steps seem uncertain like walking up an icy, slippery sidewalk. Some people live their whole life searching for God's will.

So how do we know God's will? Let's take a look at David, who was a man after God's own heart. Listen to how he describes his quest:

"I delight to do Your will, O my God" (Psalm 40:8).
"I do not restrain my lips" (Psalm 40:9).
"I have not hidden Your righteousness in my heart" (Psalm 40:10).
"I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation" (Psalm 40:10).
"I have not concealed Your loving-kindness" (Psalm 40:10).

David found that if he delighted in God with all his heart, and helped others find God's love, he would be in the will of God. Did you get that? David was determined to share God's love with others; he was not ashamed that Jehovah was his God! After that, he seemed confident that God's will for life's specifics would eventually become clear. Affirming this he wrote, "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 34:7). In the book of Psalms David repeatedly reminds us how we find the 'sweet spot' of God's presence when we give ourselves to disciplined prayer.

When we make God the main thing, everything else seems to work out.

Luke was also clear as to the will of God: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind' ; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself'" (Luke 10:27). Matthew said it right. "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33). So we can conclude that if we continuously pursue these main two goals, God's favor and wisdom will be extended to us for every other decision.

So, what's God's will? Let's follow the examples of David, Luke, and Matthew. Love God passionately today, but don't hold it in your heart. Let it out through your lips. Declare the glory of God both privately and publicly. Don't confine his glory to a church service or seal it within your heart. Reveal His magnificent, life-changing glory through your life to others!

It's God's will.

Intentional for souls,
Tom Elie
Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries
www.oasisworldministries.org