"Don't ever say, 'I'll get you for that!'
Wait for God; he'll settle the score."
Proverbs 20:22 (The Message)
If any of you have more than one child, I'm sure you've heard this , "But they started it!" or "They did it to me first."
Maybe my home is the only one. But I just had to deal with this. My response is this, "Well, you know, it takes two. Just ignore him and then the fun of teasing you will go away." Such wise words of motherhood! (not) But then I do end by asking, "What would Jesus do?"
When the chips are down and our primeval instincts are running rapid--what do we think, even if we don't say it? "I'll get them for that." "Just wait--they'll get theirs." "Don't let me catch them in a dark alley."
Don't you know that it's not your place? It's a normal human response when someone has really hurt us or someone we love--but it doesn't justify the response.
What an example Jesus is to us. Could anyone do half of what they did to Jesus to you? Could anything be so degrading, so traumatic, so uncalled for--as what was done to Jesus? Did Jesus retaliate? Did Jesus make threats? Did Jesus wish evil on His adversaries? No. He just did what His father told Him to. To love unconditionally, to turn the other cheek, to forgive 70 times 70 times.
Do you know the best way to getting even with your adversaries? Kill them with kindness. Love them in the name of Jesus. Pray for them, their hearts and their spirit. In the end, you will be in the winner seat. You can be at peace with your spirit and your Father. Isn't that the greatest revenge of all?
You do your job--God will do His. With God on your side, who can be against you?
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Passing Shadows
"We are here for only a moment, visitors and strangers in the land as our ancestors were before us. Our days on earth are like a passing shadow, gone so soon without a trace."
1 Chronicles 29:15 NLT
I don't know about you, but to me, I am amazed at how fast time speeds by. It seems that we are in a month for about a week and presto, all of a sudden, it's the last day of the month. I remember summer vacations that seem to go on forever, and now summer seems oh, about a month.
I keep thinking--one of these days, I am going to be able to get everything done that I plan. Am I just fooling myself? How about you? Do you think that next week you will start that exercise program? Tomorrow you will get the checkbook balance?
Somethings you can put off--but not everything. Don't put off making that call that will mend a relationship. Don't put off writing that thank you note. Don't put off telling someone that you love them. Most off all, don't put off having a relationship with your heavenly Father.
Think about it. We have time to get our hair done. We make time to go shopping. We surely don't want to miss our favorite sports show on T.V.--but when it comes to making time to get into the word, or to have quiet time with our Lord or going to church on Sunday--oops! So sorry, too busy--not enough time. Next week. Heaven knows how busy I am. Excuses--Excuses--Excuses!
Where would you be if Mary said to the angel, "Thanks for the offer, but I'm too busy planning my wedding to have a baby right now." What if Jesus said, "Father, I would love to go praying in the garden, get arrested, be crucified and rise up in three days, but I just checked my daytimer and I'm totally booked up until next year."
Jesus deserves our 100%. Not the last 1%. Make your shadow mean something. When your shadow has passed by, don't you want it to be known that you were one of His. That you lived your life to the fullest for Him? Didn't He live His fullest for you?
Make the most of this moment--this very moment! Make it count. You never know, it may be your last.
1 Chronicles 29:15 NLT
I don't know about you, but to me, I am amazed at how fast time speeds by. It seems that we are in a month for about a week and presto, all of a sudden, it's the last day of the month. I remember summer vacations that seem to go on forever, and now summer seems oh, about a month.
I keep thinking--one of these days, I am going to be able to get everything done that I plan. Am I just fooling myself? How about you? Do you think that next week you will start that exercise program? Tomorrow you will get the checkbook balance?
Somethings you can put off--but not everything. Don't put off making that call that will mend a relationship. Don't put off writing that thank you note. Don't put off telling someone that you love them. Most off all, don't put off having a relationship with your heavenly Father.
Think about it. We have time to get our hair done. We make time to go shopping. We surely don't want to miss our favorite sports show on T.V.--but when it comes to making time to get into the word, or to have quiet time with our Lord or going to church on Sunday--oops! So sorry, too busy--not enough time. Next week. Heaven knows how busy I am. Excuses--Excuses--Excuses!
Where would you be if Mary said to the angel, "Thanks for the offer, but I'm too busy planning my wedding to have a baby right now." What if Jesus said, "Father, I would love to go praying in the garden, get arrested, be crucified and rise up in three days, but I just checked my daytimer and I'm totally booked up until next year."
Jesus deserves our 100%. Not the last 1%. Make your shadow mean something. When your shadow has passed by, don't you want it to be known that you were one of His. That you lived your life to the fullest for Him? Didn't He live His fullest for you?
Make the most of this moment--this very moment! Make it count. You never know, it may be your last.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Stinkin' Thinkin'
"Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth."
Colossians 3:2 NLT
Do you find yourself in this scenario? You're in this situation and the thoughts in your head are just circling. They are going around and around--both the good thoughts and the bad thoughts. Getting all jumbled up like you're on a crazy carnival ride and you can't get off. You want to do the right thing, but your mind is thinking the opposite. What do you do?
"Think about the things of heaven," What? That's too easy. It has to be more difficult than that. It's not. How? You try to think about heavenly things and then all of a sudden, a Satan thought creeps in there and you have to start all over again. Pray & try again. Why? Because as you know, your mind and your spirit are very connected. They, at times, can also be total opposites. Your mind is controlled by outside forces, while your spirit is controlled by inside forces--the Lord. So, which one would you trust--your mind or your spirit--when it comes to a disparity? And how do you keep your spirit healthy? By praying.
So the next time that you find yourself in a mind storm--stop, pray and listen to your spirit. You will do the right thing and the thoughts will all calm down.
Colossians 3:2 NLT
Do you find yourself in this scenario? You're in this situation and the thoughts in your head are just circling. They are going around and around--both the good thoughts and the bad thoughts. Getting all jumbled up like you're on a crazy carnival ride and you can't get off. You want to do the right thing, but your mind is thinking the opposite. What do you do?
"Think about the things of heaven," What? That's too easy. It has to be more difficult than that. It's not. How? You try to think about heavenly things and then all of a sudden, a Satan thought creeps in there and you have to start all over again. Pray & try again. Why? Because as you know, your mind and your spirit are very connected. They, at times, can also be total opposites. Your mind is controlled by outside forces, while your spirit is controlled by inside forces--the Lord. So, which one would you trust--your mind or your spirit--when it comes to a disparity? And how do you keep your spirit healthy? By praying.
So the next time that you find yourself in a mind storm--stop, pray and listen to your spirit. You will do the right thing and the thoughts will all calm down.
Monday, February 22, 2010
WWJD?
"Do not those who plot evil go astray?
But those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness."
Proverbs 14:22 NIV
Today, we discovered that someone had robbed our church of the Lord's tithe that had been collected yesterday. What a horrible feeling! You feel violated, you feel angry that someone would do that to the Lord and to the church, you just feel bad.
Of course your mind goes who could have done this? Why would someone have done this? Were they mad at the pastor or his sermon? Were the upset at the church in general? Were they trying to teach us a lesson? Or, on the other hand, were they just desperate? Were they hungry? Did they have a family to feed? The what ifs could go on.
But on the Sunday, Pastor Eric was teaching with an emphasis on living a 'new' life, in Christ, not just a 'changed' life. How we shouldn't be happy with just being a 'changed' person but strive to becoming a 'new' person in the love and blood of Jesus. How we shouldn't be gossipers or throw stones or be a hypocrite--because even though we think that we are hiding all of our secret bad habits--and we all have some--the Lord and the world sees them all. They're not hidden at all.
And then this happens. We all could be gossiping about who could or could not have done it. We could be full of anger or even hate, at who did this. But, as the old saying goes, "What would Jesus do?" He would love the offender. It is not up to us to judge. It is up to us to pray, as our church has been doing--for the soul and life of the person or persons who did this. Satan can try to have his day with us, but in the spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ, he is again, not victorious. Our church family has once again, arise to the occasion, with forgiveness and prayer.
So, take a lesson in this. When someone has wronged you, don't attack wrong with wrong--sin with sin. Attack these things with love--God's love. That way you don't fall into the same trap as the offender--you rise above. You can stand proud and look your heavenly Father in the eyes and be confident. Knowing that you weren't a hypocrite---that you did what Jesus would do.
And He could look you straight back and say to you, "Job well done, my child, whom I love." What a moment!
But those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness."
Proverbs 14:22 NIV
Today, we discovered that someone had robbed our church of the Lord's tithe that had been collected yesterday. What a horrible feeling! You feel violated, you feel angry that someone would do that to the Lord and to the church, you just feel bad.
Of course your mind goes who could have done this? Why would someone have done this? Were they mad at the pastor or his sermon? Were the upset at the church in general? Were they trying to teach us a lesson? Or, on the other hand, were they just desperate? Were they hungry? Did they have a family to feed? The what ifs could go on.
But on the Sunday, Pastor Eric was teaching with an emphasis on living a 'new' life, in Christ, not just a 'changed' life. How we shouldn't be happy with just being a 'changed' person but strive to becoming a 'new' person in the love and blood of Jesus. How we shouldn't be gossipers or throw stones or be a hypocrite--because even though we think that we are hiding all of our secret bad habits--and we all have some--the Lord and the world sees them all. They're not hidden at all.
And then this happens. We all could be gossiping about who could or could not have done it. We could be full of anger or even hate, at who did this. But, as the old saying goes, "What would Jesus do?" He would love the offender. It is not up to us to judge. It is up to us to pray, as our church has been doing--for the soul and life of the person or persons who did this. Satan can try to have his day with us, but in the spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ, he is again, not victorious. Our church family has once again, arise to the occasion, with forgiveness and prayer.
So, take a lesson in this. When someone has wronged you, don't attack wrong with wrong--sin with sin. Attack these things with love--God's love. That way you don't fall into the same trap as the offender--you rise above. You can stand proud and look your heavenly Father in the eyes and be confident. Knowing that you weren't a hypocrite---that you did what Jesus would do.
And He could look you straight back and say to you, "Job well done, my child, whom I love." What a moment!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
A Thank You Card
"Thank you! Everything in me says 'Thank you!' Angels listen as I sing my thanks.
I kneel in worship facing your holy temple
and say it again: 'Thank you!'
Thank you for your love,
thank you for your faithfulness;
Most holy is your name,
most holy is your Word.
The moment I called out, you stepped in;
you made my life large with strength." Psalm 138:1-3 (The Message)
Did you have to do this? When I was growing up, my mother made my 11 brothers & sisters and I write 'thank you' cards after each birthday, Christmas, graduation--whenever we got something from someone, we had to do this. And from some reason it wasn't fun--it was a chore. Oh, it wasn't that I wasn't grateful. It was just that I didn't like taking the time to write all of them. And it had to be readable. If it wasn't, we would have to write it all over again. To this day, I try to write my 'thank you' cards and have my boys do it too.
What made this psalm jump out at me tonight was that it was such a happy, nice 'thank you' card. The words just seem so joyful--like David really meant what he wrote. It was genuine--from the heart. His mother didn't make him write it, he did it because his soul told him to and he just couldn't not write it.
So often, we ask, implore and beseech our petitions to our Father. We ask and we ask and we ask. But do we remember to thank? He loves our petitions, as He also loves our praises.
Do you remember to thank Him? And a true, genuine, joyful, 'thank you', shouldn't be reserved just for the times that you get what you prayed for. What about those times that you don't get what you asked for? Do you turn away and become a doubting Thomas? Do you pout? Throw a tantrum? Of course not!
There's an old country song sung by Garth Brooks and it's titled,"Thank God for Unanswered Prayers." And it's so true. Sometimes we pray for stuff that may, at the time, seem so right or perfect, but in the big picture of your life, God knows it's not. You don't know, because you can't see that far out--but your Father can. It's called faith.
So please, whether you have an answered or unanswered prayer, write a 'thank you' card on your heart for your Heavenly Father and send it to Him in a prayer. Both He and you will be so blessed!
I kneel in worship facing your holy temple
and say it again: 'Thank you!'
Thank you for your love,
thank you for your faithfulness;
Most holy is your name,
most holy is your Word.
The moment I called out, you stepped in;
you made my life large with strength." Psalm 138:1-3 (The Message)
Did you have to do this? When I was growing up, my mother made my 11 brothers & sisters and I write 'thank you' cards after each birthday, Christmas, graduation--whenever we got something from someone, we had to do this. And from some reason it wasn't fun--it was a chore. Oh, it wasn't that I wasn't grateful. It was just that I didn't like taking the time to write all of them. And it had to be readable. If it wasn't, we would have to write it all over again. To this day, I try to write my 'thank you' cards and have my boys do it too.
What made this psalm jump out at me tonight was that it was such a happy, nice 'thank you' card. The words just seem so joyful--like David really meant what he wrote. It was genuine--from the heart. His mother didn't make him write it, he did it because his soul told him to and he just couldn't not write it.
So often, we ask, implore and beseech our petitions to our Father. We ask and we ask and we ask. But do we remember to thank? He loves our petitions, as He also loves our praises.
Do you remember to thank Him? And a true, genuine, joyful, 'thank you', shouldn't be reserved just for the times that you get what you prayed for. What about those times that you don't get what you asked for? Do you turn away and become a doubting Thomas? Do you pout? Throw a tantrum? Of course not!
There's an old country song sung by Garth Brooks and it's titled,"Thank God for Unanswered Prayers." And it's so true. Sometimes we pray for stuff that may, at the time, seem so right or perfect, but in the big picture of your life, God knows it's not. You don't know, because you can't see that far out--but your Father can. It's called faith.
So please, whether you have an answered or unanswered prayer, write a 'thank you' card on your heart for your Heavenly Father and send it to Him in a prayer. Both He and you will be so blessed!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Faith in Action
"Dear friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, "Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!" and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?" James 2:14 (The Message)
Do you remember the advertisements of used car salesmen? They are usually sleazy, obnoxious people, but apparently they say the right things because out the customer walks, with a new car.
What's their secret? They know the right words to say, even if those words are not true.
That is how it seems sometimes with us Christians. We know the right words to say, but are they really a reflection of our hearts? On one hand, we know that we cannot 'work' our way into Heaven--on the other, doesn't what we do, or don't do, act or don't act--speak volumes to those around us?
Where are you? Are you into the faith talk but no action? Are you in the driving with a 'Proud to be a Christian' bumper sticker on the rear of your car--yet driving 85mph in a 65mph zone, honking your horn if someone slows you down or cutting someone off?
God doesn't want us to be the loud, brass car salesman, talking just to make ourselves feel important. Nor mouthing the words we know we should be saying without any true spirit or heart behind them. Sometimes it is the quiet prayer--the appropriate word spoken gently--the good Samaritan act done anonymously.
He desires us to be true to Him and ourselves. If you don't know what it means exactly to be a Christian, be honest and brave and tell someone that you trust. Then ask that person if they could lead you down that path in a Godly way.
Faith is an action, a verb--not a noun.
Do you remember the advertisements of used car salesmen? They are usually sleazy, obnoxious people, but apparently they say the right things because out the customer walks, with a new car.
What's their secret? They know the right words to say, even if those words are not true.
That is how it seems sometimes with us Christians. We know the right words to say, but are they really a reflection of our hearts? On one hand, we know that we cannot 'work' our way into Heaven--on the other, doesn't what we do, or don't do, act or don't act--speak volumes to those around us?
Where are you? Are you into the faith talk but no action? Are you in the driving with a 'Proud to be a Christian' bumper sticker on the rear of your car--yet driving 85mph in a 65mph zone, honking your horn if someone slows you down or cutting someone off?
God doesn't want us to be the loud, brass car salesman, talking just to make ourselves feel important. Nor mouthing the words we know we should be saying without any true spirit or heart behind them. Sometimes it is the quiet prayer--the appropriate word spoken gently--the good Samaritan act done anonymously.
He desires us to be true to Him and ourselves. If you don't know what it means exactly to be a Christian, be honest and brave and tell someone that you trust. Then ask that person if they could lead you down that path in a Godly way.
Faith is an action, a verb--not a noun.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
A Moment
"'Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.'" Matthew 11:28 (The Message)
It's O.K. you know. It's really O.K. to admit you're tired, burned out, disillusioned. It's what you do with it that counts.
We all get that way at some point--even Jesus had to get away from the crowds from time to time. There's times that I just feel the need to get out of the house and stand in the yard and look up at the night sky full of billions and billions of stars and listen to my Father speak to me. I share my deepest fears, frustrations and hurts. I sing my sweetest song of joy, gratitude and contentment. I feel my spirit just fill to the brim with a renewed sense of purpose and peace. I cherish those moments.
Can you imagine when Jesus would go out and just be with His Father. Imagine Him leaving tired and exhausted and coming back positively glowing and completely refreshed.
You think you don't have time--but you do. You think you're too busy--but you're not--not really. What's more important than your spiritual health? A few moments here, a hour there. A walk away from all the distractions. That's all it takes.
It just depends on your criteria of what's important to you. Your Heavenly Father is always ready and waiting for you. He is there--24/7. It's up to you. What are your priorities? He will not come uninvited. Please invite Him to lunch, on a walk, a moment in the laundry room. Anywhere you are--He is.
"Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
It's O.K. you know. It's really O.K. to admit you're tired, burned out, disillusioned. It's what you do with it that counts.
We all get that way at some point--even Jesus had to get away from the crowds from time to time. There's times that I just feel the need to get out of the house and stand in the yard and look up at the night sky full of billions and billions of stars and listen to my Father speak to me. I share my deepest fears, frustrations and hurts. I sing my sweetest song of joy, gratitude and contentment. I feel my spirit just fill to the brim with a renewed sense of purpose and peace. I cherish those moments.
Can you imagine when Jesus would go out and just be with His Father. Imagine Him leaving tired and exhausted and coming back positively glowing and completely refreshed.
You think you don't have time--but you do. You think you're too busy--but you're not--not really. What's more important than your spiritual health? A few moments here, a hour there. A walk away from all the distractions. That's all it takes.
It just depends on your criteria of what's important to you. Your Heavenly Father is always ready and waiting for you. He is there--24/7. It's up to you. What are your priorities? He will not come uninvited. Please invite Him to lunch, on a walk, a moment in the laundry room. Anywhere you are--He is.
"Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
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