LAST LESSONS #138 – LAST THINGS – THE RACE – 1

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9

Life is a race, but for Christians it is not a “rat race.” Have you ever seen a rat trying to get away from getting caught? I have, and if you live in New York City, you know what I mean! Rats scurry here and there looking for a dark place to hide. Christians are not like rats. Christians are called out of darkness into the light.

Christians do not run and hide, they run a race that God has planned for his people. Christians are his people, his possession, his chosen race, his holy nation, his people who proclaim his excellencies to the world as they run the race he has set before them.

I remember the time when God made it clear to me as a teenager that I was his possession, that I belonged to him. That was the happiest day of my life. I was a part of his chosen race! Ephesians chapter 1 says that I was chosen before the foundations of the world, although I did not realize it until I was a teenager. It’s a whopper when you realize you are part of God’s chosen race. Reformed people call that “election.”

Are you part of God’s chosen race? Do you know that for sure? If you are not sure, read the Bible, especially the New Testament, and believe what it says about Jesus and you. When you grasp the implications of what God has done for you, you will want to read more and more of the Bible. So do it! Besides reading by yourself, I suggest that you get into a Rafiki Bible Study (RBS) group. If there is no RBS group in your area, then start one! You can learn all about RBS groups on Rafiki’s website: www.Rafikifoundation.org.

LAST LESSONS #137 – LAST THINGS – VOLUNTEERING

“Each one must give as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7

There are different ways to give, and the Scripture says we should give cheerfully.  Usually, we think of giving money or things.  This week I want to talk about giving time and/or energy without pay or reward, because that is what it means to volunteer. 
 
We are so grateful for the volunteers that give time and energy to Rafiki with no thought of reward.  Rafiki volunteers work at the Rafiki Exchange, at the Home Office, or in the Mount Dora store.  They help with printing or keeping the grounds.  They stuff envelopes and work in the kitchen.  These volunteers are cheerful givers.  Their “pay” is joy in knowing that they are doing something for someone else.
 
In my old age I have lived in three different senior living facilities in Florida.  In the first two God gave me the privilege of accompanying other "oldies” by bus to volunteer at the Rafiki Home Office.  What I noticed is that these volunteers were the happiest residents in our facilities.  They were doing something for someone else instead of complaining about the food and their aches and pains.
 
A few weeks ago, I moved into the third senior living facility because I now need more care and I am seeking to get this new (to me) facility to take a bus load of volunteers to Rafiki on a regular basis—walkers and wheelchairs included!
 
Of course, I am interested in old folks volunteering, but there are ways for every age to work without pay.  Little children should be taught to do things for others just for the joy of doing them.  Young people should enjoy volunteering in groups because it is fun!  Adults should model volunteering for their children.  And I have learned there is no age limit to volunteering!  And there is no limit to the ways to volunteer—at home (without an allowance!), at church, at school, in your community, in your favorite charity, for your country.  Just remember:
 
“Whatever you do, work heartedly, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” Colossians 3:23-24.
 
If you ask people why they volunteer, they will give you lots of reasons—like they want to stay busy, they want to make friends, they want to get “credit”, etc. but volunteering for Christ’s sake is all that really matters.
 
How are you volunteering just for Christ’s sake?

LAST LESSONS #136 – LAST THINGS – FAITHFUL FRIENDS

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” Proverbs 17:17

When you were little, did you ever say, “I don’t have any friends!”? Most children say this at some point. Even if they have some friends, they feel like they don’t.

We all need friends, and the Bible says a great deal about friends (Exodus 33:11; Proverbs 18:24; Proverbs 27:6; Proverbs 27:10; James 4:4; Proverbs16:28; Zechariah 13:6; John 15:13).

Friends are necessary to our happiness, but they must be faithful friends. Unfaithful friends break our hearts.

I have found that the best way to have a faithful friend is by BEING a faithful friend. I have also discovered that praying for a specific person every day will make that person my friend. Try it for a month. You will be amazed!

But our brothers and sisters are better than friends. The saying goes “Blood is thicker than water.” That is because God has given us siblings to befriend us. I watch my twin great-grandsons together and see their closeness. It is a beautiful thing.

My own sister is my best friend. She and I share experiences that bind us together. We are close in age, grew up together, both married doctors, both went to the mission field, and especially both of us are Christians in the Presbyterian church!

She is my faithful friend, and I know I can count on her for anything. I hope she knows that she can count on me.

Christians know that the most faithful friend of all is Jesus. He says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5.

When I am lonely and need a friend (like I am often in my new place where I don’t know many people) I sing that beloved hymn by Joseph Scrivan: 

What a Friend we have in Jesus, 

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry 

Everything to God in prayer!

Oh, what peace we often forfeit, 

Oh what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry 

Everything to God in prayer!

 

Have we trials and temptations? 

Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged–

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful, 

Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness;

Take it to the Lord in prayer!

 

Are we weak and heavy-laden, 

Cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior still our refuge—

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? 

Take it to the Lord in prayer!

In his arms he’ll take and shield thee.

Thou will find a solace there.

 

I pray that you will find that Friend.

LAST LESSONS #135 – LAST THINGS – NOW WHAT?

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9

As I look back, I realize that every time a big change occurs in my life, it’s because God wants me to do something new. For instance, when I have had to move to a different location, I end up doing a different work: when I end up in a hospital, I have to change my physical activities; and when my husband died, my whole life changed. But the next thing God had ready for me to do was to start the Rosemary Jensen Bible Foundation. Each time I have had to first accept the change and then seek the will of God for what would come next for me.

I am not unique in this. Each of us has the same experience. We go through stages of life and almost always these stages begin with a big change in some specific area of our life.

This is true in the organizations in which I have been involved too—including Christian organizations, like BSF and Rafiki.

When BSF founder, Wetherell Johnson, was diagnosed with cancer, her life changed and so did mine! When I retired from being president of the Board of Rafiki (in January 2023), Dennis Johnson’s life changed, and so did Rafiki’s.

And when I had a stroke and had to move to an assisted living facility, my life changed a great deal! So I am asking God, “What next?”

Rafiki is also asking, “What next?” Over a year ago, Rafiki began to consider a Rafiki Classical Academy that could be used as a demonstration school in training teachers (in the USA) to teach classical education. Christian Classical Education, of course!

It would seem that God has a pre-school – grade 3 Christian Classical Academy as the “next thing” for Rafiki. How exciting is that!

I do not know what God has for me next. Right now I cannot see what it could be, unless it is time for him to come for me. But if that is not the case, it will be something my eye has not seen, nor has my heart even imagined. But I am beginning to think!

What do you think is the “next thing” for you? Whatever it is, if you love God, it will be wonderful!