Christian Family Services Ministry

5-24-2024 – A Word to the Wise – How understanding the gifts can add a new dimension to your study of Scripture.

If you go back through my reviews and teaching on the gifts you will see patterns which help you understand people better. Now we will apply this understanding of the gifts to Scripture.

Elijah, the Old Testament prophet is obviously a Prophet. His outspoken behavior, challenging others regardless the position, even the showdown with Ahab on Mt. Carmel all fit the picture of a Prophet. Elijah was relentless in confronting evil, and was not concerned with what anyone thought of him.

So let’s try apply what we have learned to a New Testament passage. The only purpose here is to make the person and the situation come alive as we observe the character, looking at clues to what their gifts may be. This example is two simple verses yet look at what happens when we apply our insights.

Mark 1:30-31. Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever, and immediately they told him of her. And he came and took here by the hand and lifted her up and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.”

The gift that stands out here is a Server. Notice how the first thing this woman does after being healed is to get up and serve them. She does not sit and listen to Jesus’ teaching or run off and tell everyone what He has done, rather she serves them. So, it is very likely she is a Server.

Now the traits of Server. They work tirelessly 12- 14 hours a day achieving a tremendous amount in a short time. They are exceptionally loyal to those who help them. They immediately see physical needs and act to help. On the negative side, they never feel what they have done is ever good enough. They do not like the help of others, preferring to do things themselves. They sometimes talk and do not make sense to other gifts.

Now you can see how knowing the characteristics of the gifts brings a two-dimensional Biblical character more alive. It helps you see them as a real person, and makes their actions more relatable.

I implore you to go to my website and download the positive and negative traits of the gifts, so you can begin to apply this information to Biblical characters. The outcome is not perfection or being totally correct, but rather to see the people and situations through a different lens, and for that to give you a new exciting tool for studying Scripture.

Read Full Post »

5-13-2024 – A Word to the Wise – Memory

I have wondered these days about my memory, does your memory ever bother you? I mean after all I find it difficult to remember things that I know I have forgotten. Does that happen to you? So, I ask the Lord, does he have a problem remembering?

Nope never. Don’t forget a thing.

But Lord there are a couple of things that I did years ago the memory of which even today I cringe and wonder how I could do that I wish you would forget them as well.

Tell me son what are you referring to? Surely Lord you remember when I was 16 and was waiting on your table passing out communion and when it came to taking up collection taking $20 from the collection plate so I could go to the Fair. Remember?

Sorry son, the memory of that event eludes me. But Lord what about this sin and that sin, Lord being guilty of those things Lord surely your book of remembrance has the grave details of those sins? Sorry son there just is no record I suggest you live as if they never occurred, I do.

Read Full Post »

5-4-2024 – A Word to the Wise – Some calls never leave the memory of a police officer, it was mid-summer we had answered a couple of disturbance call. I have just finished the reports. “341 you have a missing child 3200 Minco” “341 in route” This is the kind of call you really do not want to get. Most often it’s a runaway or the child did not make it home and was with friends.

“341 put us out.” About then this frantic mother ran up to the car. “My daughter never does this something has happened. Can you give us a full description, how old is she, what is she wearing who are her friends. “Mam, we will keep you advised, please call if she shows up.”

“341 put us out on this nine-year-old black female wearing a bright yellow dress, about 4’5, 80 pounds.

This means we will be out the rest of the evening looking for the child. We will not be able to answer any other calls until she is found.

So, we began to look in all the possible places a nine-year-old would go. Two hours go by. Let’s try down by the railroad track maybe she if playing there. No child.

It gets weary stopping and asking people if they have seen her, but none have. ‘Lord, we need you to lead us to the child.

Twenty minutes later we pass an overgrown area with grass and weeds. I happened to look over and see a bit of yellow. For some reason it caught my attention. Stop John, let me go check this out.

About twenty yards half hidden in the grass is the little girl. She is weeping and moaning. I look down and she has no panties but is bleeding virginally and out of her rectum. “John call for an ambulance, hurry. I stooped down to comfort her. John tells me no one is available and that it will be 30 minutes before one is free. I shook my head, let’s take her to Baylor.

I picked up the frail child and hurried to the squad car. Got in the front seat and John shuts the door.

We are off in a rush, “341 request code three to Baylor” “341 your authorized code three and we are notifying Baylor you’re on the way. The siren cries moanfully as we fly down the narrow streets, light reflecting off the other vehicles and store windows.

The little child continues to moan softly. We pull into the service bay and doctors and nurses are waiting. I handed her over, this frail blood-soaked little child.

Later, that evening striping off the blood-soaked uniform, I cried.

Read Full Post »