"So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God." Hebrews 6:1 NLT
I have a friend that told this story. He loved horses. Had been around horses a lot during his adult life. So, he had been asking God for a horse. A horse would help him in his second job and also would be a great way to relax.
Well, his Heavenly Father answered his prayer request and gave him a horse. And it truly was a gift because this horse was given to him. The horse was named Pinto Joe. As far as horses go, he was beautiful, strong and seemed well-mannered. So, in the beginning, during the honeymoon period, as most honeymoon periods go, my friend and Pinto Joe became fast friends. They enjoyed each other's company and respected each other's strengths and weaknesses.
Then, as most honeymoon period go, it ended. Pinto Joe was becoming surly. He started playing games with his master--wanting to be the dominate one. Well, in turn, that caused my friend to stop trusting Pinto Joe. My friend didn't know from day-to-day, what kind of new game Pinto Joe would try on him. So that caused distrust, frustration and all thought of a relaxing horse ride was gone. The joy was gone.
What to do? Well, trade him in. Get a model that was dependable. And that is what he did. He took Pinto Joe to a horse trader friend to get a more discipline ride--one that was more mature perhaps or one who was mellower.
When the horse trader friend, Sam, saw Pinto Joe, he saw something else. Something that my friend had started to overlook in his frustration, in his distrust. Pinto Joe had potential. He had the beginnings of a great companion--he just needed a little training, a little horse etiquette schooling.
Sam approached my friend, asking if he could have permission to have Pinto Joe for a couple of weeks and see what he could do with him. Sam was given permission.
When my friend came back in a couple of weeks, he had a new horse! It was the same Pinto Joe on the outside but on the inside--the spirit--it was different. It was a calmer, more mature, gentler horse spirit. And what a joy to be around!
I hear this story and it reminds me of our relationship with our Heavenly Father. How many times have we been like Pinto Joe--calming and wanting to please our Heavenly Father when we first come into a relationship with Him--but as the honeymoon period is over, we want to control our Father instead of allowing Him to control us? Of course, we know better than Him. We start playing games, with ourselves and God.
But if given the chance, if we resubmit ourselves to the Father's gentle hand, go back to His feet, His table, His word--we can become more mature. A better model to be able to serve our Master.
Think about that in your walk today. Are you becoming surly, a mischievous game player or are you a trusted, true-blue Christ-follower? The choice is yours.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
What?! Me Worry?
"If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.
Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them." Matthew 6:25-29 (The Message)
On Monday morning on my way to work, I discovered a new Christian radio station, 99.9. I don't know who the speaker was, but yesterday and today, on my way to work, I turned on the radio and the message was the very same. Same verses, same person speaking, same message. The verse was Matthew 6:25-29, (though not this version).
So, I chuckled at God and ask,"Are you trying to tell me something?" And I heard back, "No, not really. But I am showing you something so that you can share with others." Fair enough I thought.
You see, where I work, I get confronted with worried voices on the end of a phone call all the time. People come into my office, worried, confused, frustrated. It's a worried time of life. Money, relationships, family, jobs, sickness--we are confronted with it all the time. And with my personality, I want to fix everyone--help make their pain go away--even though I know that is not my place. It's God's.
What brings it into prospective is this--society teaches us to fret, to worry, to try to control everything in your life and we can't. We aren't made to. But the version above puts it so plainly. Out of all the times you have fretted, has it helped give you peace? Has it made the problems go away? I dare say, no--it has only compounded the troubles.
But if you give it all to your Heavenly Father, if you truly give it ALL to Him--Wow! What a release! What a sense of peace. A weight off your shoulders. The sunshine can brilliantly shine in your life again. You can wake up excitedly looking forward to the gift of the new day and all it's promises. And praise your Father for it.
Do you ever see a bird looking worried or a flower looking naked? No. Why? Because they don't even question their welfare--they instinctly know that their Maker is looking out for their best interest. So if them, why not you? God loves all His creations--but He loves you best.
We all worry from time-to-time, it seems like it's a part of our DNA--but don't hang on to it. Not even for a moment. What to do? Pray. God's too busy. Pray. I prayed yesterday and it didn't seem to help. Pray. Pray until you have truly given and left it on the Lord's lap. Then that is when true peace will come. Peace that withstands all understanding.
And intertwining through all of this is faith. Faith in your Heavenly Father's care for you--no matter what your experience with your earthly father has been.
Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them." Matthew 6:25-29 (The Message)
On Monday morning on my way to work, I discovered a new Christian radio station, 99.9. I don't know who the speaker was, but yesterday and today, on my way to work, I turned on the radio and the message was the very same. Same verses, same person speaking, same message. The verse was Matthew 6:25-29, (though not this version).
So, I chuckled at God and ask,"Are you trying to tell me something?" And I heard back, "No, not really. But I am showing you something so that you can share with others." Fair enough I thought.
You see, where I work, I get confronted with worried voices on the end of a phone call all the time. People come into my office, worried, confused, frustrated. It's a worried time of life. Money, relationships, family, jobs, sickness--we are confronted with it all the time. And with my personality, I want to fix everyone--help make their pain go away--even though I know that is not my place. It's God's.
What brings it into prospective is this--society teaches us to fret, to worry, to try to control everything in your life and we can't. We aren't made to. But the version above puts it so plainly. Out of all the times you have fretted, has it helped give you peace? Has it made the problems go away? I dare say, no--it has only compounded the troubles.
But if you give it all to your Heavenly Father, if you truly give it ALL to Him--Wow! What a release! What a sense of peace. A weight off your shoulders. The sunshine can brilliantly shine in your life again. You can wake up excitedly looking forward to the gift of the new day and all it's promises. And praise your Father for it.
Do you ever see a bird looking worried or a flower looking naked? No. Why? Because they don't even question their welfare--they instinctly know that their Maker is looking out for their best interest. So if them, why not you? God loves all His creations--but He loves you best.
We all worry from time-to-time, it seems like it's a part of our DNA--but don't hang on to it. Not even for a moment. What to do? Pray. God's too busy. Pray. I prayed yesterday and it didn't seem to help. Pray. Pray until you have truly given and left it on the Lord's lap. Then that is when true peace will come. Peace that withstands all understanding.
And intertwining through all of this is faith. Faith in your Heavenly Father's care for you--no matter what your experience with your earthly father has been.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Random Acts
"'Plant goodness,
harvest the fruit of loyalty,
plow the new ground of knowledge.
Look for the Lord until he comes
and pours goodness on you like water.'" Hosea 10:12 NCV
Do you realize the power of the tongue? The Lord did. Remember when Zechariah doubted the Angel Gabriel, when he was told that his wife, Elizabeth was to have a child, what did the Lord do? He took away Zechariah's gift of speech until the baby, John the Baptist, was born. The proverbs are full of warnings of loose tongues, wicked tongues, a tongue that is like a double-edged sword--these are all warnings--reminders--of the power of the tongue. Of words.
It's a power that should be used ever so wisely. Just as a word can tear down a soul--it can just as easily build one up. We should endeavor to use our gift of tongue to build people up. To lighten their load. To add a spark of sunlight into their life.
Have you ever noticed how a kind word spoken cheers up someone who's down? How, when you plant a seed of kindness--whether in word or deed--the person seems to walk away a little bit taller, a lightened step, a sparkle in their eyes?
In this time when there is so much sadness, so much loneliness, so much emptiness, why not try to make a difference and do 'random acts of kindness.' You will never know how your acts/words of kindness will affect another's life.
After all, isn't that what Jesus did for you? As He was hanging on the cross, that was His ultimate 'random act of kindness' for you.
harvest the fruit of loyalty,
plow the new ground of knowledge.
Look for the Lord until he comes
and pours goodness on you like water.'" Hosea 10:12 NCV
Do you realize the power of the tongue? The Lord did. Remember when Zechariah doubted the Angel Gabriel, when he was told that his wife, Elizabeth was to have a child, what did the Lord do? He took away Zechariah's gift of speech until the baby, John the Baptist, was born. The proverbs are full of warnings of loose tongues, wicked tongues, a tongue that is like a double-edged sword--these are all warnings--reminders--of the power of the tongue. Of words.
It's a power that should be used ever so wisely. Just as a word can tear down a soul--it can just as easily build one up. We should endeavor to use our gift of tongue to build people up. To lighten their load. To add a spark of sunlight into their life.
Have you ever noticed how a kind word spoken cheers up someone who's down? How, when you plant a seed of kindness--whether in word or deed--the person seems to walk away a little bit taller, a lightened step, a sparkle in their eyes?
In this time when there is so much sadness, so much loneliness, so much emptiness, why not try to make a difference and do 'random acts of kindness.' You will never know how your acts/words of kindness will affect another's life.
After all, isn't that what Jesus did for you? As He was hanging on the cross, that was His ultimate 'random act of kindness' for you.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Just Do It!
"Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus." Philippians 2:5 NASB
Did you read this verse and say, "Hello! How can you seriously expect me to have the same attitude in myself as Christ Jesus did? He's God! He's perfect! I'm me--I'm human! I can never be like Him!"
I don't think that the apostle Paul meant the verse to mean that we are to have exactly the same attitude as Christ did--the point here is to strive to have the same attitude in yourself as Christ did. To be as close as you can, to be as genuinely Christ-like as possible with your thinking, reactions and words.
God doesn't expect us to be perfect. He doesn't love you more when you do good and love you less when you do bad. Unlike the love of the world--that tends to ride on the wave of acts and feelings--Your Father's love for you is a constant beacon. The same yesterday, today and tomorrow. But while He loves you just the way you are, it doesn't mean that He won't try to better you and make you stronger.
Your Heavenly Father won't love you stronger if your faith was stronger and His acceptance of you wouldn't be deeper if you had deeper thoughts. It just is. That's all that is needed.
Do you want to find that love? Do you need to change a few things in your life so that you can have that blessful, deep, committed love that only your Father can give you? Change. Ask your Heavenly Father for help and ask for forgiveness and just do it!
Did you read this verse and say, "Hello! How can you seriously expect me to have the same attitude in myself as Christ Jesus did? He's God! He's perfect! I'm me--I'm human! I can never be like Him!"
I don't think that the apostle Paul meant the verse to mean that we are to have exactly the same attitude as Christ did--the point here is to strive to have the same attitude in yourself as Christ did. To be as close as you can, to be as genuinely Christ-like as possible with your thinking, reactions and words.
God doesn't expect us to be perfect. He doesn't love you more when you do good and love you less when you do bad. Unlike the love of the world--that tends to ride on the wave of acts and feelings--Your Father's love for you is a constant beacon. The same yesterday, today and tomorrow. But while He loves you just the way you are, it doesn't mean that He won't try to better you and make you stronger.
Your Heavenly Father won't love you stronger if your faith was stronger and His acceptance of you wouldn't be deeper if you had deeper thoughts. It just is. That's all that is needed.
Do you want to find that love? Do you need to change a few things in your life so that you can have that blessful, deep, committed love that only your Father can give you? Change. Ask your Heavenly Father for help and ask for forgiveness and just do it!
Monday, April 19, 2010
Stuck
"God's loyal love couldn't have run out,
his merciful love couldn't have dried up.
They're created new every morning.
How great your faithfulness!
I'm sticking with God (I say it over and over).
He's all I've got left." Lamentations 3:22-27 (The Message)
My Grandpa Carter was this very special man that the Lord put in my life. I was so blessed to live just down the hill from him so that we could share everyday life.
As a child, you know, you can go through those times when you feel unloved, unfairly treated, nobody's friend. When I did, I could go to Papa, knowing that he loved me forever and true and I didn't have to be anyone but myself. He made me feel that he loved being with me--that I was so special to him. I knew that he loved all his grandchildren and they all knew he loved them. But it was also known that I was his special one. And he didn't do anything, as in giving me presents all the time, or anything like that. It was just that look that he gave me, that twinkle in his eye, his words of kindness.
It wasn't something to flaunt--it was something to cherish. And I truly did.
God has a way of knowing our needs before we do and having a solution already lined up. He knew that I would be fighting insecurity all of my life and--at least while Papa was alive--he placed us together to counteract that hole.
This is what your Heavenly Father does for you--if you let Him. His love for you will NEVER end. Even when you turn your back on Him, when you close your heart to Him--His love will NEVER run out. His graciousness is a fountain that does not know the word drought.
This kind of love is sometimes hard to take, to behold, to accept--but nonetheless, it's there. It's the kind of love that makes you want to do your darnedest not to let Him down. To disappoint Him.
Do you understand the depth? Do you know the feeling? So many times, just knowing that my Heavenly Father accepted me and loved me, got me through a lot of trying times. He was my anchor--I was 'stuck' with Him, and He with me. He was all I had left.
How about you? Do you want to be 'stuck' with God? To say that in the end, He was all that you had left? All you have to do is invite Him in. What a legacy!
his merciful love couldn't have dried up.
They're created new every morning.
How great your faithfulness!
I'm sticking with God (I say it over and over).
He's all I've got left." Lamentations 3:22-27 (The Message)
My Grandpa Carter was this very special man that the Lord put in my life. I was so blessed to live just down the hill from him so that we could share everyday life.
As a child, you know, you can go through those times when you feel unloved, unfairly treated, nobody's friend. When I did, I could go to Papa, knowing that he loved me forever and true and I didn't have to be anyone but myself. He made me feel that he loved being with me--that I was so special to him. I knew that he loved all his grandchildren and they all knew he loved them. But it was also known that I was his special one. And he didn't do anything, as in giving me presents all the time, or anything like that. It was just that look that he gave me, that twinkle in his eye, his words of kindness.
It wasn't something to flaunt--it was something to cherish. And I truly did.
God has a way of knowing our needs before we do and having a solution already lined up. He knew that I would be fighting insecurity all of my life and--at least while Papa was alive--he placed us together to counteract that hole.
This is what your Heavenly Father does for you--if you let Him. His love for you will NEVER end. Even when you turn your back on Him, when you close your heart to Him--His love will NEVER run out. His graciousness is a fountain that does not know the word drought.
This kind of love is sometimes hard to take, to behold, to accept--but nonetheless, it's there. It's the kind of love that makes you want to do your darnedest not to let Him down. To disappoint Him.
Do you understand the depth? Do you know the feeling? So many times, just knowing that my Heavenly Father accepted me and loved me, got me through a lot of trying times. He was my anchor--I was 'stuck' with Him, and He with me. He was all I had left.
How about you? Do you want to be 'stuck' with God? To say that in the end, He was all that you had left? All you have to do is invite Him in. What a legacy!
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Forever Faithful
"I cry out loudly to God, loudly I plead with God for mercy.
I spill out all my complaints before him,
and spell out my troubles in detail." Psalm 142:1 (The Message)
Do you ever feel that there is no one that really listens to you? That your friends and family are just too busy to take the time and truly hear what you are trying to say? It's such a lonely, sad feeling, isn't it?
They don't mean to be that way. They probably have even tried very hard to be there for you, but maybe they are in a sad spot too. Maybe they need to have someone truly listen to them. So, they are just as empty as you.
Jesus. Jesus is ALWAYS there. He ALWAYS has time for you. He hears your voice and instantly, He is intently, carefully, soulfully--listening to your every word. Do you ever feel that? There are times when I am in a sad spot and I know I can talk to Him about all my silliness, my insecurities, my hurts, my confusion and He hears. He's listening, just to me. He's not judging or half listening or multi-tasking--He's focused just on me, my words, my feelings. Why? Because He loves me. Because He loves you.
Please, never feel that you are just one in a billion. Don't deny yourself the peace that can come when you share yourself with your Father and allow Him to comfort you--to share His wisdom with you. How can you allow Him to share His love, comfort and wisdom? Listen. Sometimes we get so wrapped up with sharing the complaints, troubles, insecurities, etc. and forget to listen.
It's a three-step process: 1. Pray (share/talk) with your Father.; 2. Stop & truly listen to your Father's advice/wisdom.; 3. Remember to thank Him. Thank Him sincerely and from the depths of your spirit. (Dads love that!)
Do you have a faithful forever friend? What do you think?
I spill out all my complaints before him,
and spell out my troubles in detail." Psalm 142:1 (The Message)
Do you ever feel that there is no one that really listens to you? That your friends and family are just too busy to take the time and truly hear what you are trying to say? It's such a lonely, sad feeling, isn't it?
They don't mean to be that way. They probably have even tried very hard to be there for you, but maybe they are in a sad spot too. Maybe they need to have someone truly listen to them. So, they are just as empty as you.
Jesus. Jesus is ALWAYS there. He ALWAYS has time for you. He hears your voice and instantly, He is intently, carefully, soulfully--listening to your every word. Do you ever feel that? There are times when I am in a sad spot and I know I can talk to Him about all my silliness, my insecurities, my hurts, my confusion and He hears. He's listening, just to me. He's not judging or half listening or multi-tasking--He's focused just on me, my words, my feelings. Why? Because He loves me. Because He loves you.
Please, never feel that you are just one in a billion. Don't deny yourself the peace that can come when you share yourself with your Father and allow Him to comfort you--to share His wisdom with you. How can you allow Him to share His love, comfort and wisdom? Listen. Sometimes we get so wrapped up with sharing the complaints, troubles, insecurities, etc. and forget to listen.
It's a three-step process: 1. Pray (share/talk) with your Father.; 2. Stop & truly listen to your Father's advice/wisdom.; 3. Remember to thank Him. Thank Him sincerely and from the depths of your spirit. (Dads love that!)
Do you have a faithful forever friend? What do you think?
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Too Hard?
"Is anything too hard or too wonderful for the Lord?" Genesis 18:14 (Amplified Bible)
You have probably heard this verse many a time. But when I stumbled onto this version that stated 'too hard OR too wonderful', it made me stop. I hadn't heard it quite this way before and I liked the image.
Is there anything too hard or too wonderful for the Lord? The obvious answer is 'No.' After all, He is the Creator of ALL things. Anyone who has experienced any one of the millions and millions things that we see and experience everyday, knows that there is nothing too hard or too wonderful for our Lord.
Just think of the stars and the wildflowers, the millions of bugs--not too hard or wonderful. Coming down from heaven in a form of an innocent, helpless baby, sacrificing Himself and dying on the cross for us, for you--not too hard or wonderful.
May I dare to say, that if there is anything, anything at all too hard for our Lord--it's this--allowing us to make the wrong choices and go down wrong paths, time and time again, because of free will.
I'm sure that it's like a mother and father that is allowing their child to learn on their own to take their first steps, that first ride on their bike without training wheels, to stand up for themselves to the bully in school--having to sit back, hoping for the best but nervous about the outcome. Every fiber of their body is saying, 'protect, help, save.' Do you ever think that He has similar feelings? I think He does, except He's not hoping for the best--He already knows what the outcome will be.
What do you think? Do you think that loving you and having faith in you is too hard for your Lord? No--it's not too hard or too wonderful for Him at all!
You have probably heard this verse many a time. But when I stumbled onto this version that stated 'too hard OR too wonderful', it made me stop. I hadn't heard it quite this way before and I liked the image.
Is there anything too hard or too wonderful for the Lord? The obvious answer is 'No.' After all, He is the Creator of ALL things. Anyone who has experienced any one of the millions and millions things that we see and experience everyday, knows that there is nothing too hard or too wonderful for our Lord.
Just think of the stars and the wildflowers, the millions of bugs--not too hard or wonderful. Coming down from heaven in a form of an innocent, helpless baby, sacrificing Himself and dying on the cross for us, for you--not too hard or wonderful.
May I dare to say, that if there is anything, anything at all too hard for our Lord--it's this--allowing us to make the wrong choices and go down wrong paths, time and time again, because of free will.
I'm sure that it's like a mother and father that is allowing their child to learn on their own to take their first steps, that first ride on their bike without training wheels, to stand up for themselves to the bully in school--having to sit back, hoping for the best but nervous about the outcome. Every fiber of their body is saying, 'protect, help, save.' Do you ever think that He has similar feelings? I think He does, except He's not hoping for the best--He already knows what the outcome will be.
What do you think? Do you think that loving you and having faith in you is too hard for your Lord? No--it's not too hard or too wonderful for Him at all!
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