Your Relationship IS Worth Saving…
by Adam & Adrienne Mixon
Love letters?
Once upon a time, letter writing was the primary means of communicating across distances.
But letter writing has been replaced by the telephone, and the telephone is very quickly being replaced by text messaging and emails.
I can remember when passing notes in school was the way you let someone know a secret or ask them if they ‘liked’ you! I can’t remember the last time I received a letter that was not a bill or an advertisement.
In the early church, letters were the way the Gospel was circulated. It was the way people were introduced to new communities, how their credit was approved, and how credentials were verified.
When Paul was asked for ‘letters of commendation’ by the very people to whom he had preached the Gospel, his amazing and sarcastic response was, ‘You are my letters…’ Paul pointed to the people he blessed, encouraged, healed, and helped, and said – ‘You are my letters…’
Hmm… the imagery got me wondering…
If we are all ‘living letters,’ what message are we transmitting? Are we slick advertisements, or are we bills?
Perhaps we are love letters…
What if our lives are letters – stamped and sealed by Spirit – sent to the world, to one another, to remind one another of God’s grace and love through Jesus Christ?
Would you send it?
2 You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. 3 And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
2 Corinthians 3:2–3
Good Morning, I love you all!
ihs,
just adam
What’s on the Inside? (4)
Have you ever known someone who had a knack for saying the wrong thing?
I’m not talking about the person who may have a speech impediment or the one who may stumble over their words from time to time. I’m talking about those who are routinely rude, careless, insensitive, or just downright brutal. I hope I’m not talking about any of us.
What’s on the inside?
Did you know that the words we say to and about others, actually reveal our own hearts? Did you know that gossip and coarse jesting are NOT just harmless words? They are a type of violence, once unleashed are nearly impossible to reign in.
What’s on the inside?
All of us are subject to outbursts when we are in pain or under pressure. This is understandable though even this is not excusable. We need to be careful with our words.
Blessings and curses, building up and tearing down, life and death – these things lie in the power of our own words (Proverbs 18:21; James 3:1-12). Our words have both creative and destructive powers. But, beyond all this, our words reveal our own hearts.
What’s on the inside?
The old adage says, ‘sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me…’ This is a lie. Hurtful, careless, reckless speech can ruin people – both the one who says them and the one they are aimed at!
What’s on the inside?
Listen:
The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
Luke 6:45
Good Morning, I love you all!
ihs,
just adam
What’s on the Inside? (3)
Jesus reserved his harshest words for those who were religious. Some might wonder why Jesus was so hard on those who appeared to be trying so hard to do the right thing. Shouldn’t Jesus have congratulated and celebrated them for their piety?
Instead of praise, Jesus offered a rebuke – what had to be a painful critique!
What’s on the inside?
Sometimes in our spiritual walk, we can get enamored by our own virtues – standing so close to the mirror that we cannot see our own flaws. Sadly, our myopia causes us to become judgmental and hypocritical. We get puffed up and sanctimonious, and we forget that it is only by God’s grace that we are not consumed.
We turn, ‘all have sinned’ to ‘y’all have sinned.’ And we place ourselves in danger of judgment. We are undone with a single question.
What’s on the inside?
Can you hear the voice of the Spirit today? Has someone offended or frustrated you? Are you ready to curse them and throw them away? Before you call down fire, take a long slow look in the mirror and ask yourself, ‘What’s on the inside?’
Yes, there are times when anger is appropriate, and righteous indignation is justifiable. Yes, there are times when wrong needs to be called out and protest is necessary. There’s a time when a curse seems like the right thing to do, but this is a slippery slope. We may find that we’ve become what we despise!
May God guard our hearts against self-righteousness, and cultivate compassion in our hearts toward others – especially those we think don’t deserve it.
What’s on the inside?
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness.
Matthew 23:27
Good Morning, I love you all!
ihs,
just adam
What’s on the Inside? (2)
Years ago when we bought our first home, we fell in love with it immediately. We made many of the mistakes that young first time buyers often do. We were drawn in by how the home was staged and all the little things that make an older home charming.
We moved quickly to place an offer and we got the house. Then we moved in. But, in a matter of days problems started to pop up – plumbing, electrical, hvac issues – expensive issues! Our charming little home very quickly became a money pit!! And, we had buyer’s remorse!
When we first saw the house, I don’t think anyone could’ve said anything to deter us from pursuing it. We learned the hard way. Our ignorance was not blissful – it was expensive!
So, we’ve learned to ask different questions, to be more critical – and to hire our own inspector – not the one the realtor suggests! It was a costly lesson, but we learned it!
What’s on the inside?
We will regularly be approached with what seem like good opportunities. Be deliberate and be discerning. Ask questions. Above all, pray! Never be afraid to ask, ‘what’s on the inside?’
An intelligent heart acquires knowledge,and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
Proverbs 18:15
What’s on the inside?
Good Morning, I love you all!
ihs,
just adam
What’s on the Inside?
In our culture, we spend bundles of money on marketing, advertising, and packaging things for sale. Unfortunately, the packaging is often the best thing about these things.
The resources we spend on cosmetics and clothing pales in comparison to what we invest in those things that cultivate character.
I know it’s easier to wash a car than it is to rebuild its engine. I get it. I don’t mean to suggest that we ignore appearances, but we must never get so enamored by aesthetics that we ignore ethics!
We gotta do better! While things may pass the ‘eye-test’ we need to become more discriminating. We need to learn the difference between style and substance!
When Israel desired a king, Saul became the first. He was tall and handsome but his rule ended disastrously. Before David was anointed, God gave Samuel these instructions:
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7
It behooves us all to begin to check the contents of what and who we invest in. The old adage says, ‘all that glitters isn’t gold!’
Before you allow your eyes and desires to deceive you, ask, ‘What’s on the inside?’
Good Morning, I love you all!
ihs,
just adam
Fighting Differently?
This morning as you’re preparing to start your day, amid the swirl of bad news, necessities, chores, and responsibilities, I want to make a plea for you… for us…
There are powerful forces at work aimed at isolating us, aimed at weaponizing our fears, aimed at making us suspicious of our differences, and exploiting us for their own nefarious purposes. We have to learn to fight differently!
There are powerful people with distorted perspectives who are spreading their irrational and hateful ideas with the intention of blinding us to the beauty that is in the world and the possibility that still exists to participate in what gives life, brings joy, that sheds light, and fosters peace. We have to learn to fight differently…
Today, I make a plea for us. Don’t let the darkness win. Don’t let fear win. Don’t let hatred win. Don’t let violence and vitriol prevail. We have to learn to fight differently.
For years we’ve attempted to fight fire with fire – to transform corrupt systems from within – to use the prescribed tools to promote peace and justice – and for years we’ve witnessed progress followed by backlash and regress. Every apparent gain cost us a bit of our souls. Every step forward costs us a bit of our souls. And sadly, every supposed victory is tainted by some vice that erodes our virtue. We have to learn to fight differently.
So, today, I make a plea for us. Let’s stop playing their games. Let’s refuse to be pawns in their plans. Let’s take up the tools given us by our loving Creator. Let’s exercise our shared, sanctified, imaginations, and exercise a hope that embodies goodwill and grace everywhere that we go. We have to learn how to fight differently.
Yes, indeed, we are in a war. But our weapons are not carnal but spiritual. Yes, we are in a war, but it is not against flesh and blood that we wrestle. Yes, we are in a war, but our goal is not the ruin of but rather the redemption of those who would label us foes.
Yes indeed, we are at war, but our goal is not conquest but conversion. Are you ready to fight?
10 Finally, ebe strong in the Lord and in fthe strength of his might. 11 gPut on hthe whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against ithe schemes of the devil. 12 For jwe do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against kthe rulers, against the authorities, against lthe cosmic powers over mthis present darkness, against nthe spiritual forces of evil oin the heavenly places. 13 Therefore ptake up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in qthe evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
Ephesians 6:10-13
Good Morning, I love you all!
Ihs,
just adam
Staying Connected…
Over the last few weeks, I, like many of you, have found myself troubled and overwhelmed by the waves of bad news that continue to flood the airwaves.
In times like these we must remember the promise of the Spirit’s presence with us everywhere and in all things. But we must also be reminded of the need we all have for community and connection!
For followers of Jesus, church is not an event we attend but a community we are born into. Church is where we challenge, encourage, and comfort one another! Church is where we share both burdens and blessings. When we gather for worship, prayers, fellowship, or study, we remind one another of God’s grace. In times like these, especially, we need one another!
More than once over the last few weeks, a word or note from a brother or sister has been just what I needed to keep going. God has gifted us to one another to care for one another!
Stay connected! We need it. And, someone is relying on you!
In our times where communities have been reconfigured by our technology and the way we connect to one another has made the world smaller – this can be a powerful tool when used properly! When we can’t touch one another – we can still reach one another!
Stay connected!
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Hebrews 10:24–25
Good Morning, I love you all!
ihs,
just adam
We are Still Here…
I’ve got a very early start this morning, and I’m straining to hear what Good News the day will deliver. I refuse to turn on the television, because I don’t want to hear about the latest overnight shooting or the antics going on in our government. But the pause, I know, will only be temporary.
As I’m preparing for my first meeting, I can hear my youngest getting ready for school, and guess what? She’s singing! “I am still here, and it’s by the grace of God…”
Thank you, Jesus.
We are still here. By the grace of God. Things are in no way ideal, and there is much to lament with all that’s going on, but we are still here! God is yet holding all things together. As fraught as things are, as upsetting as circumstances are, and as disappointed as we may feel – we are all living, breathing proof – witnesses to the grace of God. We are still here. There is breath in our bodies. There is blood running warm in our veins. We have the mind to read/write these words. We are still here. This is grace.
We are still here. What will this grace produce in us today? My hope is that as we receive this grace, this grace will produce within us more grace until it overflows and extends to those around us. This is the grace that gives life and transforms, no?
We are still here, by the grace of God. It is living and active – it is at work within us – producing within us – world-changing power! Let this be our witness, let this be our protest against the pressure and dark powers that stokes fears that leave us to despair. We are still here by the grace of God.
Thank you, Jesus.
13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Colossians 1:13-14
Good Morning, I love you all!
ihs,
just adam
Clarity in a Storm
Adversity has a way of reminding us of what really matters.
Years ago, when our house was hit by a tornado, I can remember huddling in the darkness with my family drawn close to me. After the storm passed, I attempted to assess the damage in the darkness but it was pitch black! I discovered the downed power lines popping in the yard, and knew that I needed to get my family out of the house fast!
As I was corralling my folks, I stopped and hugged them, while I considered what I needed to grab before we got out of that house! A surprising calm overcame me, when I realized that the answer was ‘Nothing!’
Thank God. We had everything that we needed. In the midst of the storm, we had everything that we needed.
Adversity has a way of reminding us what’s important – what is truly needed – what really matters! The LORD works in mysterious ways…
Did you get that?
I frequently consider the clarity that I received in that storm – especially when I get beside myself with worry or anxiety. Thank God, I have everything I need!
It makes me think about the encouraging words Paul wrote from prison:
19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Philippians 4:19–20
Even in the storm, we have everything we need!
Good Morning, I love you all!
ihs,
just adam
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