From the time I was a little girl, I had a reoccuring dream. I used to dream that I would fly away from home; soaring above like a bird, with my arms straight out like wings, over trees and fields and wildflowers. Sometimes I would fly slowly, others I would speed along, seeing how far I could go and how much I could see. The scenery was above the countryside, never the landscape of a city. I had the dream again and again in different places until I was around 30.
I always wondered what it meant. But I think I now know. God created each of us to be unique. For a large part of my life, I think I tried to conform into the box that others put me in and I think I truly just wanted to be me. It takes a long time to figure out what that is. One of the best scenes in a movie that I can relate to was from a chick flick, The Runaway Bride. She keeps running away just as she is about to get married, but she goes into a cafe and has a conversation about what kind of eggs she likes to eat. Whomever she is engaged to at the time, she eats the kind of eggs that they like. She tries all different styles until she realizes how she likes them cooked for herself. Life can be so frustrating and binding when you try to be someone you really aren't to please others.
There are no two people alike. Members of a family have characteristics that are somewhat a like and yet, we are all different.
I love to sing and play the piano. I love cookies and brownies. Peanut butter is one of my most favorite things in the world, just a spoonful will do. My favorite color is purple. I love the smell of christmas trees and kids and puppies newly bathed. I love to write and sit and listen to how a person's life has been transformed, how they are learning new things about God's plan for them in life. I love to plant flowers and watch them grow and bloom. My favorite places on the planet are Hawaii and Steamboat Springs Colorado. I love to hike and look for wildflowers and see how high the trees reach up to the sky. I love to hear the rustling of the leaves and the sound of the wind through the forest. I love to go to Indiana and pick strawberries, raspberries and blueberries. I love to bake and have people over for dinner. I love to read. It is easy for me to see the bright side of things, even when things are difficult!
I am very random. To clean house from one end to the next is very difficult for me. I start in one room and end up in another putting things away having difficulty finishing one task. I have a hard time eating right and exercising at the same time. It is hard for me to concentrate on one let alone changing a lifestyle for both. I don't like being in a small space with a lot of people pushing and shoving. I have a hard time filing paperwork and avoiding stacks of paper and magazines. It is very hard for me to sit still and be quiet. I like to change subjects and only my husband can stay with me. It comes easy for me to start a project, difficult to finish. I store up emotions until I can't contain them anymore.
We all have likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses. We eventually find a place to use our gifts and talents and ways to overcome our weaknesses. I think that is one reason God created marriage, was to complete the other person. My spouse has different strengths then I do. Together, we make a great team. But the challenge is to allow the other person grace and to be able to forgive them and overlook their weaknesses. We want the same kind of acceptance as well.
There is peace and contentment knowing that God made me just the way I am and He is pleased with me. Although I do some things well, there are others that I need to work on and at times I know that I can rely on others for they can do the job so much better than I can.
He wants all of us to soar like eagles. He wants us all to be free from wishing that we were someone else or with a different life. He can use all of what I am for His glory. Although I have made mistakes, I will continue to make them in this journey called life, He will always love me for He created me in His image. Although I will always be a work in progress, He has given me a purpose while I am here and you have a purpose too!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Sweet Revenge
Should I Get Even?
Do not gloat when your enemy falls when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice. Proverbs 24:17
Do not repay evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written “It is mine to avenge; I will repay says the Lord. Romans 12:17-19
Have you ever been wrongly accused of something that you haven’t done? Has someone ever gossiped about you with no truth and it has gotten back to you? Have you ever been intentionally slighted or left out by a good friend? Have you ever invested a lot of your life into a relationship and they have “stabbed you in the back”?
We can often put aside offenses committed against us personally, but what if the offense is committed against our spouse or our kids? To watch someone hurt the people we love often makes us angry. We want justice, or we just want to get even.
Leviticus 19 says, “Do not go about spreading slander, do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. Do not hate your brother in your heart. Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge but love our neighbor as yourself.”
To avoid doing any of things is really hard. We want to tell everyone we know how we were wronged. Isn’t it natural to hold a grudge? In our human nature it almost seems impossible not to do these things. Why do you think He told us not to slander, hate or hold a grudge? Unresolved anger becomes bitterness. Bitterness poisons our heart and spills over into our other relationships. In the end, it also creates a barrier between us and God. Often when I find something is difficult for me to attain, I take it to prayer.
I picture myself gathering up all my thoughts and emotions concerning that struggle and putting them in a basket. Then I picture the cross and I lay my basket down at the foot. I am symbolically asking for God’s help, releasing them to His care and keeping, relinquishing my control of the situation and releasing the burdens that I carry myself.
What grudges do you carry that you want justice for? If you were to carry out revenge, what would it solve? Would it repair the relationship or cause a greater divide? Would it make you feel better, probably but it would only be temporary? Would it make your self look better in the eyes of others? Would it change the past? The best possible solution is leave it in God's hands, let Him take care of it. In the end, He knows best!
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
In the Dark
Remembering Those Who Suffer
Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. I Thessalonians 5:16-18
There is so much in the news about the nuclear reactors in Japan. It has overshadowed the underlying stories of the people who are missing, the thousands of people who had to leave their homes and are sitting in evacuation centers with just the clothes that they left with on their backs.
Last night I was reading all the updates and the underlying stories that don't make the front page of the news. Most of that area is without power. Japan lost 30% of its power losing these reactors. It is snowing there off and on so it is extremely cold. We complain when there is a storm and the power goes out for a few hours. They are saying it could takes months, maybe even a year to bring some of it back and then there are unknowns. They are even possibly talking about encasing the whole complex in a cement block and calling it a dead zone. The land is contaminated for growing crops and even the underground water supply will be uninhabitable for miles from the sight. All of this loss and devastation is beyond my comprehension. You can't help but mourn and have compassion for all the people that called this place home.
Imagine doing the things that you do normally on a daily basis, taking the kids to school, going to work, going to church, doing laundry and fixing meals and then at one brief moment, your entire world changes and you are displaced with thousands of others to a place of the unknowns, unknown of where your next meal will come from, how you will work, where your kids will get an education, where your missing family members and friends are and if you will ever see them again. It all seems so far away, we are so removed from all of that for I sit in my warm house, on my computer, having had a good breakfast, getting ready to take a hot shower and a cold glass of water from the sink and go into my refrigerator and get some ice. It is hard for me to even know all of the hardships they are facing in this new life that have been thrown into.
On the way to school today, Abby shared about one of her teachers who was deeply touched that is collecting used jeans to send over to Japan and the kids have collected more than $200 to send them. What should we do when devastation comes to others not part of our community, close to us geographically? Earthquakes and natural disasters are coming more often. At the very least, I think He wants us to mourn with those who mourn, pray continually for physical provision for those who have lost and pray for God's glory to be shown through tragedy. I pray that many will come to know Jesus for they desperately need hope. And then, as I move about my day, may I be thankful for all that He has given to me. For in just a blink of an eye, our world could be turned upside down and life could change for us forever too. We are blessed today for having all that we need. We should pray for those who aren't so blessed and who have so many needs, both physical and emotional.
Finally, I think we need to ask, what can we do with the resources that we have to make a difference?
Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. I Thessalonians 5:16-18
There is so much in the news about the nuclear reactors in Japan. It has overshadowed the underlying stories of the people who are missing, the thousands of people who had to leave their homes and are sitting in evacuation centers with just the clothes that they left with on their backs.
Last night I was reading all the updates and the underlying stories that don't make the front page of the news. Most of that area is without power. Japan lost 30% of its power losing these reactors. It is snowing there off and on so it is extremely cold. We complain when there is a storm and the power goes out for a few hours. They are saying it could takes months, maybe even a year to bring some of it back and then there are unknowns. They are even possibly talking about encasing the whole complex in a cement block and calling it a dead zone. The land is contaminated for growing crops and even the underground water supply will be uninhabitable for miles from the sight. All of this loss and devastation is beyond my comprehension. You can't help but mourn and have compassion for all the people that called this place home.
Imagine doing the things that you do normally on a daily basis, taking the kids to school, going to work, going to church, doing laundry and fixing meals and then at one brief moment, your entire world changes and you are displaced with thousands of others to a place of the unknowns, unknown of where your next meal will come from, how you will work, where your kids will get an education, where your missing family members and friends are and if you will ever see them again. It all seems so far away, we are so removed from all of that for I sit in my warm house, on my computer, having had a good breakfast, getting ready to take a hot shower and a cold glass of water from the sink and go into my refrigerator and get some ice. It is hard for me to even know all of the hardships they are facing in this new life that have been thrown into.
On the way to school today, Abby shared about one of her teachers who was deeply touched that is collecting used jeans to send over to Japan and the kids have collected more than $200 to send them. What should we do when devastation comes to others not part of our community, close to us geographically? Earthquakes and natural disasters are coming more often. At the very least, I think He wants us to mourn with those who mourn, pray continually for physical provision for those who have lost and pray for God's glory to be shown through tragedy. I pray that many will come to know Jesus for they desperately need hope. And then, as I move about my day, may I be thankful for all that He has given to me. For in just a blink of an eye, our world could be turned upside down and life could change for us forever too. We are blessed today for having all that we need. We should pray for those who aren't so blessed and who have so many needs, both physical and emotional.
Finally, I think we need to ask, what can we do with the resources that we have to make a difference?
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Dad, Where are You?
Torn Between Two Homes
For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life...We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. II Corinthians 5:4-8
March 26, 2003, I lost one of the most influential people in my life. He was perfectly healthy and around 10:30a.m. dropped to the ground with no notice. I was eating lunch with my grandparents that day, I drove like a maniac for 45 minutes after dropping off my kids to make it before he passed so that I could say goodbye. When I walked into the hospital he was gone. I will never forget that day as long as I live! It seems like just yesterday, although 8 years have passed us by.
Dylan doesn't remember my dad, he was only a year and a half. I have never been the same since that day. Although I cry often, not all the time, there isn't a day that goes by that I don't miss him. There are occasions that make me sad more than others. I have never liked Thanksgiving since he's been gone, ironically the day that we should be most thankful and putting up the Christmas tree is always sad for me. I always called my dad or went to see him when I was sad. It wasn't that he always had something profound to say but I always felt comfort being in his presence. I always felt like he was my direct connection to God, that if he prayed for me, his prayers would carry a little more weight than mine. Since then, I've learned that He hears all of our prayers just the same and that sheer honesty with everything that we think and feel carries great weight in God's eyes.
There are days when I wish the Lord would just bring me home so I could see him again. But then I feel guilty knowing that my family still needs me here, although I think they would all be Ok without me. I have felt torn between leaving and staying. For years I felt guilty thinking that I was just escaping, but then a few months ago I came across this passage with a rather lengthy explanation. I was so relieved, actually I felt like jumping for joy.
Before my dad passed, I thought about eternity and heaven from time to time. I like it here on earth but then someone that I deeply treasured left me here and it changed my perspective forever! Don't get me wrong, he spent his time well while he was here and impacted many lives during his stay. I don't wish him back here, I know that he is having a great time in the presence of Jesus, who wouldn't want to walk on streets of gold, living in a mansion? I promised my dad that I would bring as many people with me as I could when it was my time and that I would run the race strong until the end.
The verse above says that God has created us with a void in our lives, somehow knowing that our stay here on earth is only temporary. We have a longing built in us for eternity, to live at home with the Lord. In Psalm 139 it says that God knows the number of days we will have here on this earth even before we are born. God knew on March 26 that He would bring my dad home, even though it was sudden and unexpected for us.
My dad will always be a part of me. So many things that he said to me over the years come back to memory. His unconditional love for me regardless of what I said or did will always be a part of who I am. One of the greatest gifts he ever gave to me was his never ending belief that one day I would do great things for the Kingdom. To have someone believe in you that much is a priceless treasure!
Many of my friends have lost a parent or spouse in the past few years. We often wonder where our loved ones are and what they are doing. We wish we could just give them a hug, pick up the phone and call them or just hear their voice once again. We long for eternity, not just to see our loved ones, but to be in the presence of Jesus. I am so thankful to know that it's Ok to be torn between the present and the future. I don't have to live in guilt, but in confidence knowing that is how He created me!
For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life...We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. II Corinthians 5:4-8
March 26, 2003, I lost one of the most influential people in my life. He was perfectly healthy and around 10:30a.m. dropped to the ground with no notice. I was eating lunch with my grandparents that day, I drove like a maniac for 45 minutes after dropping off my kids to make it before he passed so that I could say goodbye. When I walked into the hospital he was gone. I will never forget that day as long as I live! It seems like just yesterday, although 8 years have passed us by.
Dylan doesn't remember my dad, he was only a year and a half. I have never been the same since that day. Although I cry often, not all the time, there isn't a day that goes by that I don't miss him. There are occasions that make me sad more than others. I have never liked Thanksgiving since he's been gone, ironically the day that we should be most thankful and putting up the Christmas tree is always sad for me. I always called my dad or went to see him when I was sad. It wasn't that he always had something profound to say but I always felt comfort being in his presence. I always felt like he was my direct connection to God, that if he prayed for me, his prayers would carry a little more weight than mine. Since then, I've learned that He hears all of our prayers just the same and that sheer honesty with everything that we think and feel carries great weight in God's eyes.
There are days when I wish the Lord would just bring me home so I could see him again. But then I feel guilty knowing that my family still needs me here, although I think they would all be Ok without me. I have felt torn between leaving and staying. For years I felt guilty thinking that I was just escaping, but then a few months ago I came across this passage with a rather lengthy explanation. I was so relieved, actually I felt like jumping for joy.
Before my dad passed, I thought about eternity and heaven from time to time. I like it here on earth but then someone that I deeply treasured left me here and it changed my perspective forever! Don't get me wrong, he spent his time well while he was here and impacted many lives during his stay. I don't wish him back here, I know that he is having a great time in the presence of Jesus, who wouldn't want to walk on streets of gold, living in a mansion? I promised my dad that I would bring as many people with me as I could when it was my time and that I would run the race strong until the end.
The verse above says that God has created us with a void in our lives, somehow knowing that our stay here on earth is only temporary. We have a longing built in us for eternity, to live at home with the Lord. In Psalm 139 it says that God knows the number of days we will have here on this earth even before we are born. God knew on March 26 that He would bring my dad home, even though it was sudden and unexpected for us.
My dad will always be a part of me. So many things that he said to me over the years come back to memory. His unconditional love for me regardless of what I said or did will always be a part of who I am. One of the greatest gifts he ever gave to me was his never ending belief that one day I would do great things for the Kingdom. To have someone believe in you that much is a priceless treasure!
Many of my friends have lost a parent or spouse in the past few years. We often wonder where our loved ones are and what they are doing. We wish we could just give them a hug, pick up the phone and call them or just hear their voice once again. We long for eternity, not just to see our loved ones, but to be in the presence of Jesus. I am so thankful to know that it's Ok to be torn between the present and the future. I don't have to live in guilt, but in confidence knowing that is how He created me!
Friday, March 25, 2011
Being Transparent
Will the Real Faith Please Stand Up?
When I was growing up there was a game show that had three people and two were pretending to be the real person. All of us wear masks. We are different people depending on whom we are with. There are very few us that are transparent with everyone exactly the same. We have different levels of whom we share personal information with and how deep the transparency goes.
I lived many years of my life pretending that I had it all together! That is the image that I wanted everyone to see. When I was a young mom people would say, you have the perfect family, the perfect life. How can you be so together? That was the image I wanted to portray. Looking back I realize that I wasn't together at all. There was so much I didn't know, so much I had to learn, so many mistakes that I was making as a wife as well as a mother. No one comes from a perfect family, is part of a perfect family or is perfect as an individual. We all have and live with imperfections. The question stands, how much of my imperfections am I willing to allow you to see?
I lived many years of my life pretending that I had it all together! That is the image that I wanted everyone to see. When I was a young mom people would say, you have the perfect family, the perfect life. How can you be so together? That was the image I wanted to portray. Looking back I realize that I wasn't together at all. There was so much I didn't know, so much I had to learn, so many mistakes that I was making as a wife as well as a mother. No one comes from a perfect family, is part of a perfect family or is perfect as an individual. We all have and live with imperfections. The question stands, how much of my imperfections am I willing to allow you to see?
Why do we wear masks? The first thing that comes to mind is as we grow older, we become more cynical. It becomes harder to trust people. People have let us down and others are judgmental. As kids we learn to build walls when people have disappointed us or it doesn’t feel safe. There is wisdom in choosing whom you put your trust in. It takes self-confidence to be able to be transparent with others but there is also freedom in allowing others to see who we really are. We can pick and choose how transparent we can be and what environment we should be transparent. If you are in a room full of people who make it a habit to gossip, that probably isn't a wise place to share of all of your personal history and current shortcomings.
God uses everything in our life whether they are good or bad experiences. Someone else can learn from our mistakes and failures, our trials and tribulations. Still, others can learn from our vulnerabilities and the things we struggle with. God created us to be in fellowship or relationships with others. As a young mother, I struggled with my identity. I joined a bible study with other young mothers. It was so comforting to hear that other mothers were struggling with the same issues. No longer did I feel like I was walking the journey alone.
That is what life is about, walking the journey with others. God redeems even our worst moments in life when it is shared with someone else, someone who can keep a confidence and is trustworthy, not only for our own healing, but also to help someone who is walking or is going to walk a similar path as we have in the past. Taking a risk of opening up to someone often makes us uncomfortable. We wonder if they will still like us or see us in a bad light. We just have to remember that there is not a single person who does not come with past baggage, or issues that they have to deal with. We are all imperfect beings who have made mistakes and have had bad things happen to us. But we all have a story to tell and someone else can benefit from our transparency.
Are you willing to take a risk and take the mask off?
Are you willing to take a risk and take the mask off?
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Heavenly Conversation
How Do I Talk to God?
What is prayer?
Is prayer meditation, or silence? Simply put, prayer is talking to God. As I was a child we said simple prayers like God is good, God is great, let us thank Him for this food AMEN. We said this prayer at mealtime. Others have prayers that they say before they go to bed like "Now I lay me down to sleep I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take."
Prayers are a reflection of our thoughts and feelings. Most people think only to pray when they have a list of things they need; God please help me win the lottery, please help me get an A, please help me to buy this new car. While He cares about hearing all the big and the little details of our life, I often think about how I talk to others in my earthly relationships. Do I only talk to my kids when I want something from them? No, I tell them how great they are, I ask they questions about what they did at school? How do they feel about certain situations? All the conversations are building a relationship. It is the same thing when we talk to God. He wants us to say how thankful we are for all the good things that are happening. He wants to hear how sad we are about certain things that are taking place in life. He wants to hear our negative feelings we have about a person or our questions when life isn’t going the way we want it to. We can pray long prayers or short prayers, at different times and in different places such as while we are in a store, in our car, in the morning or at night, or a little all throughout the day.
The best guidelines we have in scripture about how to pray is found in Matthew 6. His disciples asked Jesus when He was on earth how they should pray. He said, “And when you pray, do not keep babbling like pagans.” He is saying, when you talk to God don’t use a bunch of words just to being saying something out of ritual. Think about what you are saying to him. It doesn’t have to be profound or fancy. He wants to hear what is on your heart.
Then He goes on to say:
Our Father who is in Heaven, hallowed be your name.
Show Him respect when you speak to Him, don’t just rush there without thought.
Your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
He is doing work here as well as preparing for the days we will be with Him in heaven. Ask for things if it is His will, not ours and what we want.
Give us today, our daily bread.
He cares about all of our needs, whether they are physical, mental, emotional or spiritual. He cares about the big things as well as the little things.
Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Confess to God all that we have done and He promises to forgive us and remember them no more. We also must learn to forgive others so that He will forgive us.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
We can avoid doing things we shouldn’t if we ask Him to keep us from being tempted.
Do you ever talk to God? Do you treat Him respect when you talk to Him? Do you thank Him as much as you ask Him to help you with things? How often do you talk to Him? Does He ever talk back to you? If He does how does He speak to you? A relationship is a two way street! Try having a conversation with Him. He wants a relationship with You!!!
Do you ever talk to God? Do you treat Him respect when you talk to Him? Do you thank Him as much as you ask Him to help you with things? How often do you talk to Him? Does He ever talk back to you? If He does how does He speak to you? A relationship is a two way street! Try having a conversation with Him. He wants a relationship with You!!!
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Proverbs 1:7
Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage is this, that wisdom preserves the life of its possessor. Ecclesiastes 7:12
God gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things. He knows what lies in the darkness and light dwells with him. Daniel 2:21-22
What comes to mind when you think about someone that you know who is smart? Do you know someone that is highly intelligent about everything? Do you know someone that is brilliant in a certain area? Are they naturally gifted or have they studied that subject for years and have years of experience?
Do you know someone that is very wise? When you ask them about life situations they always give you wise solutions or they always know the wise thing to say or not to say in a given circumstance. Do you know someone who has a lot of common sense? They have wonderful problem solving skills and just always know the right thing to do.
Proverbs says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge. Is it the kind of fear that makes you shake and tremble and want to turn away? No, it is a reverent respect and understanding acknowledging that it is God who gives us all wisdom and understanding. God is the one who gives man his knowledge to create, invent, dream up new inventions, new technology, new discoveries of the world that God has created.
Would you rather have a genius IQ, or wisdom and understanding that comes only from God to be able to love Him more, and to love others as our self? If there is something that you don't understand, ask Him to show you the answers, to provide people in your life to give you wisdom. Some things will remain a mystery to us on this side of eternity, but often He does provide many answers if we just ask!
Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage is this, that wisdom preserves the life of its possessor. Ecclesiastes 7:12
God gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things. He knows what lies in the darkness and light dwells with him. Daniel 2:21-22
What comes to mind when you think about someone that you know who is smart? Do you know someone that is highly intelligent about everything? Do you know someone that is brilliant in a certain area? Are they naturally gifted or have they studied that subject for years and have years of experience?
Do you know someone that is very wise? When you ask them about life situations they always give you wise solutions or they always know the wise thing to say or not to say in a given circumstance. Do you know someone who has a lot of common sense? They have wonderful problem solving skills and just always know the right thing to do.
Proverbs says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge. Is it the kind of fear that makes you shake and tremble and want to turn away? No, it is a reverent respect and understanding acknowledging that it is God who gives us all wisdom and understanding. God is the one who gives man his knowledge to create, invent, dream up new inventions, new technology, new discoveries of the world that God has created.
Would you rather have a genius IQ, or wisdom and understanding that comes only from God to be able to love Him more, and to love others as our self? If there is something that you don't understand, ask Him to show you the answers, to provide people in your life to give you wisdom. Some things will remain a mystery to us on this side of eternity, but often He does provide many answers if we just ask!
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
A Cure for the Give Me's
A Lesson in Contentment
For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Philippians 4:11-12
It starts young. Will you buy me a pack of gum? Can I have a quarter for that candy machine by the door? Can we buy a new movie? No, no, no, how many ways can I say no? Do you think if you ask me the same question 15 times the answer will change? "Well, maybe I can break her down", they have it the back of their minds.
Veggie tales, a set of children's movies had a video of Madame Blueberry. I must have made my sweet girl Abby watch it 100 times when she was little to cure her case of the give me's. No wonder she still doesn't eat blueberries. It was about a talking blueberry who had a bad case of the give me's and overloaded her tree house with so much "stuff" that it bent the tree over and she lost everything.
Are we any different? Most of us have an apartment, condo or house to live in. We have furniture and things to make us comfortable. And yet, we always want bigger and better. One of the best books I have every read on parenting is Shepherding a Child's Heart by Ted Tripp. When they talk about disciplining your child they talk about not just treating the symptoms. Often a character problem such as griping and complaining has a root cause. Do you know what it is? When we always want more, we have an ungrateful heart, not being thankful or content with what we have.
In the past year, I have been looking at my life as it stands today. What will I take with me into eternity? Nothing! What things could I do without? Why is it that I have overflowing "stuff" with no place to put it? We continue to go through our things and give away what we aren't using or don't need. Why is it that we hold on so tightly to all that we own? Or does it own and control us?
Another key for me to living the abundant life is being content not with just what I have but also being thankful for the life that He has given me; my family, friends, church, extended family! All that has been given to me, has been given to me by My Heavenly Father who is the giver of all good gifts. I need to learn to thank Him more and wish for less!!!
For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Philippians 4:11-12
It starts young. Will you buy me a pack of gum? Can I have a quarter for that candy machine by the door? Can we buy a new movie? No, no, no, how many ways can I say no? Do you think if you ask me the same question 15 times the answer will change? "Well, maybe I can break her down", they have it the back of their minds.
Veggie tales, a set of children's movies had a video of Madame Blueberry. I must have made my sweet girl Abby watch it 100 times when she was little to cure her case of the give me's. No wonder she still doesn't eat blueberries. It was about a talking blueberry who had a bad case of the give me's and overloaded her tree house with so much "stuff" that it bent the tree over and she lost everything.
Are we any different? Most of us have an apartment, condo or house to live in. We have furniture and things to make us comfortable. And yet, we always want bigger and better. One of the best books I have every read on parenting is Shepherding a Child's Heart by Ted Tripp. When they talk about disciplining your child they talk about not just treating the symptoms. Often a character problem such as griping and complaining has a root cause. Do you know what it is? When we always want more, we have an ungrateful heart, not being thankful or content with what we have.
In the past year, I have been looking at my life as it stands today. What will I take with me into eternity? Nothing! What things could I do without? Why is it that I have overflowing "stuff" with no place to put it? We continue to go through our things and give away what we aren't using or don't need. Why is it that we hold on so tightly to all that we own? Or does it own and control us?
Another key for me to living the abundant life is being content not with just what I have but also being thankful for the life that He has given me; my family, friends, church, extended family! All that has been given to me, has been given to me by My Heavenly Father who is the giver of all good gifts. I need to learn to thank Him more and wish for less!!!
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Who or What Defines Me?
Who are you?
You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mothers's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful. Psalm 139:13-14
So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female he created them...God saw all that He had made, and it was very good! Genesis 1:26-31
There were 7,220,00 entries when I asked google to give me information on how to build my self-esteem. Are you kidding me, over 7 million entries? What do you think that says? People are searching trying to find themselves, who they are, why were they created, what is their purpose on this earth. One of the best books I ever read on this subject was Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. He addresses all of these issues. One of the best women's books I have ever read on how God feels about me as a woman is Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge.
Each stage of life that you walk through you ask questions about who am I. When you are a child and then a teenager, friends view of us dictate how we think and act. Peer pressure is powerful defining how many kids live their lives and the choices that they make that often affect them for years to come. When you leave home for the first time, you want to detach yourself from your upbringing, asking questions about how you have been raised and if you believe what you have been taught. Are you defined by your family namesake?
When you get married, you now are accountable to your spouse for how you spend your time and your finances. Does your spouse define how you see yourself, what do you believe, what is your opinion concerning things of life? When you start a career, you gain a title. Does your job and your boss define who you are? Do you gain your self worth and self confidence in what you do and how well you do it? Are you empowered by a pat on the back or a bonus in your pocket for a job well done? Does your success in your career define what kind of person you are?
When you become a parent for the first time, at times your identity gets lost somewhere along the way. Dads take the back seat for this new being in the house and many times has to fend for himself. He used to be king and now he is second in line of priorities and at times is annoyed at lack of attention he receives. Moms often leave behind careers to stay at home. She used to get paid for the work she did, as well as praise for a job well done and now day to day tasks go without notice and she struggles with who she is. She again has find herself. At the next stage of life, kids are growing up and going on to school, days seem quiet and now mom tries to enter the work place once again, trying to rekindle the skill set that once came seamlessly to her. Just when she has gotten it all back juggling all the balls of mom, wife and career, the kids go away and now the home is entirely empty.
Life is an evolution of change. We continue to grow and change as individuals. We are a work in progress and life never stays the same. Relationships with each other, family as well as friends is always evolving. Life circumstances dictate the evolution. What happens to the individual that depends on popular opinion, opinions of a spouse, job titles for their self-esteem? It is like the story of the house built on sand...
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against the house, yet it did not fall, because it has its foundation built on the rock...The foolish man built his house on sand. The rain came down, the stream rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash. When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law. Matthew 7:25-29
If my self esteem comes from what I do, or what others think of me, it will be ever changing. The strong foundation should say that who I am is based on the fact that God created me in His image, he continues to redeem, and restore me as He intended me to be, to be like Him. He died for me, not only to save me eternally but to make me spiritually, phyiscally and emotionally whole again, regardless of what life experiences I have walked through. Because I have accepted His love for me, I am a daughter of the King, I am royalty. Now when the winds come, change comes, trials come, my foundation of who I am is firm, because my foundation is built upon THE ROCK, Jesus. Although I continue to struggle with self-confidence, I firmly know who I am and why He put me here on this earth.
Do you know who you are? Do you know whom you belong to? Where does your self-confidence come from? Do you rely on man's opinion of you or do you live your life to please God?
You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mothers's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful. Psalm 139:13-14
So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female he created them...God saw all that He had made, and it was very good! Genesis 1:26-31
There were 7,220,00 entries when I asked google to give me information on how to build my self-esteem. Are you kidding me, over 7 million entries? What do you think that says? People are searching trying to find themselves, who they are, why were they created, what is their purpose on this earth. One of the best books I ever read on this subject was Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. He addresses all of these issues. One of the best women's books I have ever read on how God feels about me as a woman is Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge.
Each stage of life that you walk through you ask questions about who am I. When you are a child and then a teenager, friends view of us dictate how we think and act. Peer pressure is powerful defining how many kids live their lives and the choices that they make that often affect them for years to come. When you leave home for the first time, you want to detach yourself from your upbringing, asking questions about how you have been raised and if you believe what you have been taught. Are you defined by your family namesake?
When you get married, you now are accountable to your spouse for how you spend your time and your finances. Does your spouse define how you see yourself, what do you believe, what is your opinion concerning things of life? When you start a career, you gain a title. Does your job and your boss define who you are? Do you gain your self worth and self confidence in what you do and how well you do it? Are you empowered by a pat on the back or a bonus in your pocket for a job well done? Does your success in your career define what kind of person you are?
When you become a parent for the first time, at times your identity gets lost somewhere along the way. Dads take the back seat for this new being in the house and many times has to fend for himself. He used to be king and now he is second in line of priorities and at times is annoyed at lack of attention he receives. Moms often leave behind careers to stay at home. She used to get paid for the work she did, as well as praise for a job well done and now day to day tasks go without notice and she struggles with who she is. She again has find herself. At the next stage of life, kids are growing up and going on to school, days seem quiet and now mom tries to enter the work place once again, trying to rekindle the skill set that once came seamlessly to her. Just when she has gotten it all back juggling all the balls of mom, wife and career, the kids go away and now the home is entirely empty.
Life is an evolution of change. We continue to grow and change as individuals. We are a work in progress and life never stays the same. Relationships with each other, family as well as friends is always evolving. Life circumstances dictate the evolution. What happens to the individual that depends on popular opinion, opinions of a spouse, job titles for their self-esteem? It is like the story of the house built on sand...
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against the house, yet it did not fall, because it has its foundation built on the rock...The foolish man built his house on sand. The rain came down, the stream rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash. When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law. Matthew 7:25-29
If my self esteem comes from what I do, or what others think of me, it will be ever changing. The strong foundation should say that who I am is based on the fact that God created me in His image, he continues to redeem, and restore me as He intended me to be, to be like Him. He died for me, not only to save me eternally but to make me spiritually, phyiscally and emotionally whole again, regardless of what life experiences I have walked through. Because I have accepted His love for me, I am a daughter of the King, I am royalty. Now when the winds come, change comes, trials come, my foundation of who I am is firm, because my foundation is built upon THE ROCK, Jesus. Although I continue to struggle with self-confidence, I firmly know who I am and why He put me here on this earth.
Do you know who you are? Do you know whom you belong to? Where does your self-confidence come from? Do you rely on man's opinion of you or do you live your life to please God?
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Worry Wart
What causes you to be anxious?
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food and the body more important than clothes?...Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Matthew 6:25-27
Do not worry about what to say or how to say it? Matthew 10:19
Worry are the thoughts and images of a negative nature in which mental attempts are made to avoid anticipated potential threats. My grandpa was the world's best/worst worrier! He truly was a professional his ENTIRE life! He worried about the weather, even if it was on the other side of the US. He worried about us if we were driving, and when we were coming home. I always had to call him when I arrived. If someone in our family was sick, he would call twice a day. It was awesome in a sense that someone cared so deeply about me. But looking into it further, there was something more to his worry.
We worry about so many things in life. We worry about our future, we worry about the world around us and how it looks so bleak and depressing. We worry about how long we will have the freedoms that we now enjoy. Friday was the last day of our grading quarter. We worry about if we will get all A's. We worry about our projects that we do and tests that we take. We worry about our jobs, whether we will still have one, or when we will get one if we've lost one. We worry about finances, how will pay our bills, how we will pay off our debts, when will the value of our houses increase. When will be the stock market look brighter?
If we have children or grandchildren we worry about their health. When they have the flu, high fevers, diseases, immune problems, or accidents when and will they return to normal? We worry about their future and what schools/colleges they will attend. Who will they marry? Will they continue to have faith in how we have raised them spiritually? Will they stay out of trouble through their teen and college years?
There are THOUSANDS of reasons to worry, about ourselves and about our children!!!! But let me ask you this, of all the things that I mentioned, just a few examples; how many of those things do I have personal control of? A few...And if you worry about things in the future, how many of our worse case scenarios in our mind will actually come to pass? In reality, probably very few!
If I become anxious, have negative thoughts, what do you think is the underlying issue of worry? I lack trust in God that HE will be in control of my future, my children's future. I render HIM powerless to take care of things so I try to take it upon myself to carry the burdens of what might not be. The result is I lack joy because I am so anxious over things that I cannot control for the most part or change what happened in the past or what might not occur in the future. I am spending an enormous amount of mental energy that is pointless. The end result is I lose joy!!! Jesus' remedy for worry is found in Matthew 6:33: "But seek first HIS kingdom, and HIS righteousness and all of these things will be given to you as well." Trust in the only trustworthy one, my loving heavenly Father should replace my worry and anxiety and the end result will be that I have a peace that I can't comprehend with my finite mind!
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food and the body more important than clothes?...Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Matthew 6:25-27
Do not worry about what to say or how to say it? Matthew 10:19
Worry are the thoughts and images of a negative nature in which mental attempts are made to avoid anticipated potential threats. My grandpa was the world's best/worst worrier! He truly was a professional his ENTIRE life! He worried about the weather, even if it was on the other side of the US. He worried about us if we were driving, and when we were coming home. I always had to call him when I arrived. If someone in our family was sick, he would call twice a day. It was awesome in a sense that someone cared so deeply about me. But looking into it further, there was something more to his worry.
We worry about so many things in life. We worry about our future, we worry about the world around us and how it looks so bleak and depressing. We worry about how long we will have the freedoms that we now enjoy. Friday was the last day of our grading quarter. We worry about if we will get all A's. We worry about our projects that we do and tests that we take. We worry about our jobs, whether we will still have one, or when we will get one if we've lost one. We worry about finances, how will pay our bills, how we will pay off our debts, when will the value of our houses increase. When will be the stock market look brighter?
If we have children or grandchildren we worry about their health. When they have the flu, high fevers, diseases, immune problems, or accidents when and will they return to normal? We worry about their future and what schools/colleges they will attend. Who will they marry? Will they continue to have faith in how we have raised them spiritually? Will they stay out of trouble through their teen and college years?
There are THOUSANDS of reasons to worry, about ourselves and about our children!!!! But let me ask you this, of all the things that I mentioned, just a few examples; how many of those things do I have personal control of? A few...And if you worry about things in the future, how many of our worse case scenarios in our mind will actually come to pass? In reality, probably very few!
If I become anxious, have negative thoughts, what do you think is the underlying issue of worry? I lack trust in God that HE will be in control of my future, my children's future. I render HIM powerless to take care of things so I try to take it upon myself to carry the burdens of what might not be. The result is I lack joy because I am so anxious over things that I cannot control for the most part or change what happened in the past or what might not occur in the future. I am spending an enormous amount of mental energy that is pointless. The end result is I lose joy!!! Jesus' remedy for worry is found in Matthew 6:33: "But seek first HIS kingdom, and HIS righteousness and all of these things will be given to you as well." Trust in the only trustworthy one, my loving heavenly Father should replace my worry and anxiety and the end result will be that I have a peace that I can't comprehend with my finite mind!
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Hold Your Horses!
What drives you insane?
And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. I Thesselonians 5:14-15
For me it is driving! Driving in a big city filled with "snowbirds" (seniors who fly in for the winter) tests my patience beyond comprehension. On a daily basis, I am cut off, people drive me out of my lane, I am flipped off, yelled at and people shake their fists at people behind them and in front of them, horns are honking, speed limits are disregarded, no I'm not talking about speeding, I am talking about doing 30 in a 50 zone. Do I sound irritated? Yes, I am I have to humbly admit, I am not a patient driver. I get frustrated all of the time when I am driving!
Yes, I know that I should be thankful for the car that I have to drive, thankful for the students that I have to teach, thankful that I have kids at home to drive places with, thankful that I have gas in my car to go places.
I also know that I am responsible for my own actions and reactions. That is why I do not have a fish or a Jesus Freak bumper sticker on the back of my car...I would represent HIM poorly. I am not defending my bad attitudes in any shape or form. And yes, I am being a poor example to the two kids I have in my car, which brings me to an accountability knowing that I need to work on this with the Lord's help. Can I change things in my own strength and power???Absolutely not, for each time I get behind the wheel and someone pulls out in front me and cuts me off it takes self-control not to use unwholesome language or to dishonor the faceless person behind the wheel that is driving the car that is driving itself...What did I just say? Well if you live here you understand what I just said. When you drive behind cars here, most of the cars drive themselves, you can't see a driver sitting in the driver's seat, they don't see over the steering wheel. Follow me yet?
I am being utterly transparent! But be honest yourself! Aren't there things in your life that drive you crazy and you have a hard time showing grace to others and you get frustrated and impatient? Thank you for being honest, we ALL do!!! Some of us have more patience than others. Now being raised in the church all my life, I have sense enough not to pray for patience. That doesn't make sense to some of you. We have been told that if we have a need or something we want to work on just ask God. I can tell you HE is faithful to answer our prayers. HE will do it again and again. The problems comes that how you gain patience is through trials, big and small, short and long in duration. The moral of the story is don't ask for this, He'll be happy to oblige!
Ok, so pratically speaking how do I handle this properly, like Jesus would? Well first of all, don't run over the little old lady in front of me. One day I will be just like her! I won't see so well, hear so well, I'll run over the curb and drive in the bike lane almost hitting the pedestrians that choose to use the road not the sidewalks. She is weaker now in life, I should smile at her instead of shaking my head and my fist, even though I don't feel like it. Next, I should hold my tongue so that when my kids get their driver's license they won't be yelling at people who cut them off "you stupid idiots!" Someone in my family used to use that phrase but it is a family secret, and no its not me! I don't believe in calling people idiots or stupid, that is kind of a no no word in our house! I'd be a hypocrite if I used it! Finally, I need to ask the Lord to help me have a better attitude when I get in the car. Maybe I need to listen to Scripture Cd's or praise music to distract myself about how annoyed I am. Again, if I want to live an abundant life, I need to figure out how to be a more pleasant driver!!!
And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. I Thesselonians 5:14-15
For me it is driving! Driving in a big city filled with "snowbirds" (seniors who fly in for the winter) tests my patience beyond comprehension. On a daily basis, I am cut off, people drive me out of my lane, I am flipped off, yelled at and people shake their fists at people behind them and in front of them, horns are honking, speed limits are disregarded, no I'm not talking about speeding, I am talking about doing 30 in a 50 zone. Do I sound irritated? Yes, I am I have to humbly admit, I am not a patient driver. I get frustrated all of the time when I am driving!
Yes, I know that I should be thankful for the car that I have to drive, thankful for the students that I have to teach, thankful that I have kids at home to drive places with, thankful that I have gas in my car to go places.
I also know that I am responsible for my own actions and reactions. That is why I do not have a fish or a Jesus Freak bumper sticker on the back of my car...I would represent HIM poorly. I am not defending my bad attitudes in any shape or form. And yes, I am being a poor example to the two kids I have in my car, which brings me to an accountability knowing that I need to work on this with the Lord's help. Can I change things in my own strength and power???Absolutely not, for each time I get behind the wheel and someone pulls out in front me and cuts me off it takes self-control not to use unwholesome language or to dishonor the faceless person behind the wheel that is driving the car that is driving itself...What did I just say? Well if you live here you understand what I just said. When you drive behind cars here, most of the cars drive themselves, you can't see a driver sitting in the driver's seat, they don't see over the steering wheel. Follow me yet?
I am being utterly transparent! But be honest yourself! Aren't there things in your life that drive you crazy and you have a hard time showing grace to others and you get frustrated and impatient? Thank you for being honest, we ALL do!!! Some of us have more patience than others. Now being raised in the church all my life, I have sense enough not to pray for patience. That doesn't make sense to some of you. We have been told that if we have a need or something we want to work on just ask God. I can tell you HE is faithful to answer our prayers. HE will do it again and again. The problems comes that how you gain patience is through trials, big and small, short and long in duration. The moral of the story is don't ask for this, He'll be happy to oblige!
Ok, so pratically speaking how do I handle this properly, like Jesus would? Well first of all, don't run over the little old lady in front of me. One day I will be just like her! I won't see so well, hear so well, I'll run over the curb and drive in the bike lane almost hitting the pedestrians that choose to use the road not the sidewalks. She is weaker now in life, I should smile at her instead of shaking my head and my fist, even though I don't feel like it. Next, I should hold my tongue so that when my kids get their driver's license they won't be yelling at people who cut them off "you stupid idiots!" Someone in my family used to use that phrase but it is a family secret, and no its not me! I don't believe in calling people idiots or stupid, that is kind of a no no word in our house! I'd be a hypocrite if I used it! Finally, I need to ask the Lord to help me have a better attitude when I get in the car. Maybe I need to listen to Scripture Cd's or praise music to distract myself about how annoyed I am. Again, if I want to live an abundant life, I need to figure out how to be a more pleasant driver!!!
Friday, March 11, 2011
Entitled
What do you think you deserve?
We are a world of "it is my right" and "I deserve to be...." Just look at some of our advertisements; "You deserve a break today" (McDonalds), "Have it your way" (Burger King), "Just do it" (Nike). I am sure you could come up with dozens yourself. It has been since the beginning of time that we want it our way. It is part of human flesh, me, I, we, our. Life centers around me!
Look at children from the beginning, what is one of their first words they say, mine! They don't want to share their toys, their food, kisses, etc. My sweet Abby from the very beginning had her own sense of personal fashion from the time she was little. I couldn't tell her what to wear or how to wear it. She thought it was her right to dress herself and at times, me too! Dylan has a mind of his own, thinking that you should think like he does and do things on his time frame. They forget at times that they are children and we are the parents. They forget that everything is "given" to them. They come to believe over the years that they "deserve" certain activities, traditions, gifts given at holidays, services done for them out of our love for them. They forget that lessons, sports, vacations, cars are a privilege not a given right.
But, are we as adults any different? Really? How many times have you gone into a restaurant and the service was sub par? We think that we deserve to have our drinks refilled, for them to take our order as soon as we sit down, our orders to be absolutely without error, the food to be hot when it comes out and our check to be returned to us as soon as we take our last bite and lay our fork down. We deserve for our children to treat us with respect at all times regardless of their age, stage or location. We have the right to say whatever we think or feel regardless of who is listening. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard people say that they have the right to feel happy in their marriage. There is no mention of taking personal responsibility for the unhappiness or working things out, the person just deserves to be treated right in all circumstances. If we work hard in our jobs, we "deserve" a raise. If we meet a personal goal, we "deserve" to treat ourselves with something materially. If we work hard, we deserve to go on vacation even if we don't have the funds to do so. The list goes on and on of all the things that we deserve and all the ways that our rights have been violated.
There is a parable (fictional story to tell a principle) that Jesus told during his three years of ministry.
There was an estate manager who went out early in the morning to hire workers in his vineyard. They agreed on a wage of a dollar a day, and went to work. Later about nine o'clock, the manager saw some other men hanging around the town square unemployed. He told them to go to work in his vineyard and he would pay them a fair wage. They went. He did the same thing at noon, and again at three o'clock. At five o'clock he went back and found still others standing around. He said, Why are you standing around all day doing nothing?" They said, "because no one hired us." He told them to go to work in his vineyard. When the day's work was over, the owner of the vineyard instructed his foreman, "Call the workers in and pay them their wages. Start with the last hired and go on to the first. Those hired at five o'clock came up and were each given a dollar". When those who were hired first saw that, they assumed they would get far more. But they got the same, each of them one dollar. Taking the dollar, they groused angrily to the manager, "These last workers put in only one easy hour, and you just made them equal to us, who slaved all day under a scorching sun." He replied to the one speaking for the rest, "friend, I haven't been unfair. We agreed on the wage of a dollar didn't we? So take it and go. I decided to give it to the one who came last the same as you. Can't I do what I want with my own money? Are you going to get stingy because I am generous?" The point of this story that Jesus was making was the last shall be first. Matthew 20:1-16
However, I think it applies to being "entitled". We have expectations and preconceived notions about how we should be treated and what we are justified in receiving at a given moment. However, when we feel we are slighted or short changed we become frustrated, bent out of shape, angry because we have been treated unjustly. What do we actually "deserve"? Psalm 103:10 says He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities (those things we do wrong). Sin deserves death! (Romans 6:23) We all deserve it!
There are two things that I think about freedom and having rights. The first is found in I Peter 2:16-17 Live as free men; but do not use your freedom as a cover up for evil, live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone. Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king (or those in authority). Secondly, Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interest of others. Philippians 2:3-4
What do you feel entitled to? Are there things that you think you deserve? Is it truly something you need or is it your expectations of others? How do you live as a free person? Do you use your freedom for God's glory or your own personal gain?
We are a world of "it is my right" and "I deserve to be...." Just look at some of our advertisements; "You deserve a break today" (McDonalds), "Have it your way" (Burger King), "Just do it" (Nike). I am sure you could come up with dozens yourself. It has been since the beginning of time that we want it our way. It is part of human flesh, me, I, we, our. Life centers around me!
Look at children from the beginning, what is one of their first words they say, mine! They don't want to share their toys, their food, kisses, etc. My sweet Abby from the very beginning had her own sense of personal fashion from the time she was little. I couldn't tell her what to wear or how to wear it. She thought it was her right to dress herself and at times, me too! Dylan has a mind of his own, thinking that you should think like he does and do things on his time frame. They forget at times that they are children and we are the parents. They forget that everything is "given" to them. They come to believe over the years that they "deserve" certain activities, traditions, gifts given at holidays, services done for them out of our love for them. They forget that lessons, sports, vacations, cars are a privilege not a given right.
But, are we as adults any different? Really? How many times have you gone into a restaurant and the service was sub par? We think that we deserve to have our drinks refilled, for them to take our order as soon as we sit down, our orders to be absolutely without error, the food to be hot when it comes out and our check to be returned to us as soon as we take our last bite and lay our fork down. We deserve for our children to treat us with respect at all times regardless of their age, stage or location. We have the right to say whatever we think or feel regardless of who is listening. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard people say that they have the right to feel happy in their marriage. There is no mention of taking personal responsibility for the unhappiness or working things out, the person just deserves to be treated right in all circumstances. If we work hard in our jobs, we "deserve" a raise. If we meet a personal goal, we "deserve" to treat ourselves with something materially. If we work hard, we deserve to go on vacation even if we don't have the funds to do so. The list goes on and on of all the things that we deserve and all the ways that our rights have been violated.
There is a parable (fictional story to tell a principle) that Jesus told during his three years of ministry.
There was an estate manager who went out early in the morning to hire workers in his vineyard. They agreed on a wage of a dollar a day, and went to work. Later about nine o'clock, the manager saw some other men hanging around the town square unemployed. He told them to go to work in his vineyard and he would pay them a fair wage. They went. He did the same thing at noon, and again at three o'clock. At five o'clock he went back and found still others standing around. He said, Why are you standing around all day doing nothing?" They said, "because no one hired us." He told them to go to work in his vineyard. When the day's work was over, the owner of the vineyard instructed his foreman, "Call the workers in and pay them their wages. Start with the last hired and go on to the first. Those hired at five o'clock came up and were each given a dollar". When those who were hired first saw that, they assumed they would get far more. But they got the same, each of them one dollar. Taking the dollar, they groused angrily to the manager, "These last workers put in only one easy hour, and you just made them equal to us, who slaved all day under a scorching sun." He replied to the one speaking for the rest, "friend, I haven't been unfair. We agreed on the wage of a dollar didn't we? So take it and go. I decided to give it to the one who came last the same as you. Can't I do what I want with my own money? Are you going to get stingy because I am generous?" The point of this story that Jesus was making was the last shall be first. Matthew 20:1-16
However, I think it applies to being "entitled". We have expectations and preconceived notions about how we should be treated and what we are justified in receiving at a given moment. However, when we feel we are slighted or short changed we become frustrated, bent out of shape, angry because we have been treated unjustly. What do we actually "deserve"? Psalm 103:10 says He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities (those things we do wrong). Sin deserves death! (Romans 6:23) We all deserve it!
There are two things that I think about freedom and having rights. The first is found in I Peter 2:16-17 Live as free men; but do not use your freedom as a cover up for evil, live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone. Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king (or those in authority). Secondly, Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interest of others. Philippians 2:3-4
What do you feel entitled to? Are there things that you think you deserve? Is it truly something you need or is it your expectations of others? How do you live as a free person? Do you use your freedom for God's glory or your own personal gain?
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Is Your Beauty Only Skin Deep?
Inner Beauty
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. I Peter 3:3-4
I live in a city where there is much emphasis on how you look. People pay to have things added to their bodies and have things altered or diminished. People pay money to have their teeth whitened, hair removed, hair styled and colored, nails done, facials, botox, some have muscles implanted into their arms or calves, tans sprayed on all to keep up their appearance, young, trim and hip!
As time takes over, bodies change and age and what once was is now different. What happens to those who have spent a lifetime working on their outward appearance without being concerned with their inward appearance? They continue to pay doctors and health care people to keep them looking young and vibrant but are lacking in character.
Scripture says that "charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting" (Prov 31:30). Man looks at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart (I Samuel 16:7). Take care of your body, for it is God's temple, you were bought with a price. What are my inner attitudes and qualities? Do I display a gentle and quiet spirit? Do I spend the majority of my time talking about the holy trinity; me, myself and I? Am I more concerned about the interests of others? What occupies the majority of my time and what I think about?? If you are really brave, ask your close family and friends how they see you. Ask them about your positive inner qualities and ask them what they think you could improve upon.
God lives a lot of instruction about how women should live. One of the best chapters that speaks about inner beauty is found in Proverbs 31. While this passage portrays a woman over a period of years, it does not require this wife to be all these things at once, superwoman if you will.
A wife of noble character brings her husband good not harm.
She works eager with her hands.
She cooks for her family.
She helps earn money for her family at some point in her life.
She has good business sense about her.
She is concerned and cares for the poor.
She provides clothing for her family.
She decorates her house and dresses nicely.
She is clothed with strength and dignity.
She has a sense of humor.
She speaks with wisdom.
She gives faithful instruction to others.
She doesn't sit idle.
A woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
We are all aging, even if you are in your 20's. I have known several women who have gone through cancer treatments. Treatments altered their looks and their bodies. There are no guarantees how we will look over time. I believe that I am a reflection on my husband and should take of myself and look good for him when I go out with him. However, how I look should not consume me.
Do I live to entirely please man or God? Over and over He says how He cares about what is in our hearts. What kind of woman do you want to be as you continue to age? Do you want to be beautiful on the outside, or do you want to be beautiful on the inside and the outside. What kind of woman do you want your daughter to be? What is the focus of your conversations with her? Do you always focus on how she looks, what she eats or is your focus on who she is as a person?
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. I Peter 3:3-4
I live in a city where there is much emphasis on how you look. People pay to have things added to their bodies and have things altered or diminished. People pay money to have their teeth whitened, hair removed, hair styled and colored, nails done, facials, botox, some have muscles implanted into their arms or calves, tans sprayed on all to keep up their appearance, young, trim and hip!
As time takes over, bodies change and age and what once was is now different. What happens to those who have spent a lifetime working on their outward appearance without being concerned with their inward appearance? They continue to pay doctors and health care people to keep them looking young and vibrant but are lacking in character.
Scripture says that "charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting" (Prov 31:30). Man looks at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart (I Samuel 16:7). Take care of your body, for it is God's temple, you were bought with a price. What are my inner attitudes and qualities? Do I display a gentle and quiet spirit? Do I spend the majority of my time talking about the holy trinity; me, myself and I? Am I more concerned about the interests of others? What occupies the majority of my time and what I think about?? If you are really brave, ask your close family and friends how they see you. Ask them about your positive inner qualities and ask them what they think you could improve upon.
God lives a lot of instruction about how women should live. One of the best chapters that speaks about inner beauty is found in Proverbs 31. While this passage portrays a woman over a period of years, it does not require this wife to be all these things at once, superwoman if you will.
A wife of noble character brings her husband good not harm.
She works eager with her hands.
She cooks for her family.
She helps earn money for her family at some point in her life.
She has good business sense about her.
She is concerned and cares for the poor.
She provides clothing for her family.
She decorates her house and dresses nicely.
She is clothed with strength and dignity.
She has a sense of humor.
She speaks with wisdom.
She gives faithful instruction to others.
She doesn't sit idle.
A woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
We are all aging, even if you are in your 20's. I have known several women who have gone through cancer treatments. Treatments altered their looks and their bodies. There are no guarantees how we will look over time. I believe that I am a reflection on my husband and should take of myself and look good for him when I go out with him. However, how I look should not consume me.
Do I live to entirely please man or God? Over and over He says how He cares about what is in our hearts. What kind of woman do you want to be as you continue to age? Do you want to be beautiful on the outside, or do you want to be beautiful on the inside and the outside. What kind of woman do you want your daughter to be? What is the focus of your conversations with her? Do you always focus on how she looks, what she eats or is your focus on who she is as a person?
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Qualities of I AM
It is said that our picture of God is based on our picture of our earthly fathers. If your father is stern and unloving, you see God as harsh. If you had an abusive father, you see God as unjust, not loving. If you see your father as a perfectionist, you see God as being hypercritical, just waiting for you to make a mistake and bam, you are punished. If your father left your family behind, you may wonder if God will abandon you too! How do you view your earthly father?
My father was very strict, but loving. I have to say though that I always felt that I had to live up to a perfect standard, afraid if I was rebellious or did something wrong it would put him in a bad light. My dad was a pastor, our family lived in a "fish bowl" for all to see. People in the church held us up on a pedestal with high expectations. It has taken me most of my adult life to "just accept" the love of God. I don't have to "do" anything to earn his love. I just had to accept that He loves me no matter what, because I am His child. It was not a short journey or an easy one.
In my previous blog I talked about the attributes of God. Beyond those attributes, He has many distinctive qualities.
God is Love.
I pray that you being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. Ephesians 3:18
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only son. That whoever believes in Him, will not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16
God is merciful.
For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your forefathers, which he confirmed to them by oath. Deuteronomy 4:31
Mercy is defined as God's lenient compassion. He doesn't give us what we deserve.
God is full of grace. In Him, we have redemption, through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. Ephesians 1:7-8
May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us. Psalm 67:1
Grace is unmerited favor, we don't do anything to do deserve grace.
God is righteous. Righteous are you, O Lord, and your laws are right. The statutes you have laid down are righteous; they are fully trustworthy. Psalm 119:137-138
Righteousness is a condition of being in right relationship with God.
God is good.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17
Why do you call me good? Jesus answered. "No one is good-except God alone". Mark 10:18
God is faithful.
God is faithful to all of His promises. The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all that He has made. Psalm 145:13
He is the rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is He. Deuteronomy 32:4
God's justice is impartial and fair.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins, and purify us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:9
God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. Hebrews 6:10
Because of your stubborness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God will give to each person according to what he has done. Romans 2:5-6
God hates sin.
For those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be anger and wrath. Romans 2:8
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed which is idolatry. Because of these the wrath of God is coming. Colossians 5:6
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:23
God has perfect wisdom.
The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure, then peaceloving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. James 3:17
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. James 1:5
God is powerful.
You are worthy our Lord and God to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being. Revelations 4:11
The Mighty One, God, the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets. Psalm 50:1
The power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick. Luke 5:17
You have been given fullness in Christ, who is head over every power and authority...having buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. Colossians 2:10-12
I know this post has been lengthy but I have had such a burdened heart that there are so many that have such a limited knowledge about who God is. It is hard to have faith in someone when you just don't understand Him. Take my word for it, time and time again, He has proved His faithfulness to me. There are times when everyone has a doubt. But I always go back to all the times He as been faithful to everything He has promised, especially when I seek Him and ask! Experiences only deepen my faith and it becomes easier to surrender my life to Him!
My father was very strict, but loving. I have to say though that I always felt that I had to live up to a perfect standard, afraid if I was rebellious or did something wrong it would put him in a bad light. My dad was a pastor, our family lived in a "fish bowl" for all to see. People in the church held us up on a pedestal with high expectations. It has taken me most of my adult life to "just accept" the love of God. I don't have to "do" anything to earn his love. I just had to accept that He loves me no matter what, because I am His child. It was not a short journey or an easy one.
In my previous blog I talked about the attributes of God. Beyond those attributes, He has many distinctive qualities.
God is Love.
I pray that you being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. Ephesians 3:18
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only son. That whoever believes in Him, will not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16
God is merciful.
For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your forefathers, which he confirmed to them by oath. Deuteronomy 4:31
Mercy is defined as God's lenient compassion. He doesn't give us what we deserve.
God is full of grace. In Him, we have redemption, through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. Ephesians 1:7-8
May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us. Psalm 67:1
Grace is unmerited favor, we don't do anything to do deserve grace.
God is righteous. Righteous are you, O Lord, and your laws are right. The statutes you have laid down are righteous; they are fully trustworthy. Psalm 119:137-138
Righteousness is a condition of being in right relationship with God.
God is good.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17
Why do you call me good? Jesus answered. "No one is good-except God alone". Mark 10:18
God is faithful.
God is faithful to all of His promises. The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all that He has made. Psalm 145:13
He is the rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is He. Deuteronomy 32:4
God's justice is impartial and fair.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins, and purify us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:9
God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. Hebrews 6:10
Because of your stubborness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God will give to each person according to what he has done. Romans 2:5-6
God hates sin.
For those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be anger and wrath. Romans 2:8
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed which is idolatry. Because of these the wrath of God is coming. Colossians 5:6
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:23
God has perfect wisdom.
The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure, then peaceloving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. James 3:17
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. James 1:5
God is powerful.
You are worthy our Lord and God to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being. Revelations 4:11
The Mighty One, God, the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets. Psalm 50:1
The power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick. Luke 5:17
You have been given fullness in Christ, who is head over every power and authority...having buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. Colossians 2:10-12
I know this post has been lengthy but I have had such a burdened heart that there are so many that have such a limited knowledge about who God is. It is hard to have faith in someone when you just don't understand Him. Take my word for it, time and time again, He has proved His faithfulness to me. There are times when everyone has a doubt. But I always go back to all the times He as been faithful to everything He has promised, especially when I seek Him and ask! Experiences only deepen my faith and it becomes easier to surrender my life to Him!
Saturday, March 5, 2011
I Am
Who Is God? You hear people ascribe all kinds of names for God, many use God's name as a curse or part of a curse. He calls Himself, I Am!
Several years back Paul and I were at a baseball game and we met Senator John McCain. We can say we know him. But do we truly know him? What is favorite meal, his favorite movie, his favorite restaurant, his favorite place to vacation? Or do we just know of him?
The same is true of God. We have heard so many things from so many people. The most famous saying being, Why did God do this........to me? The truth of the matter is unless you have spent much time studying about Him and talking to Him, you probably know of him. It is very difficult to follow and believe in someone that you can't see. It's even harder to love and give control to someone that you truly don't trust.
In this blog, I want to talk about some of His attributes.
God is constant in nature. "I am the Lord who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the Lord. Jeremiah 9:24
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. Hebrews 13:8
God is the One True God. Now to the Kind eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God. I Tim 1:17
God is not subject to death. He lets us see evidence of His glory but He doesn't permit us to make an image that would represent Him.
God is holy. Moses thought, "I will go over and see this strange sight-why the bush does not burn up". When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, "Moses!Moses! Do not come any closer", God said. "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground". Then He said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob". At this Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
Exodus 3:4-6
He is separate from all else. He is without sin (righteous), he has ethical purity.
God is transcendent and immanent. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens. Psalm 148:13
Transcendent is that He is supreme, above or beyond all of His creation and yet He stoops down to make Himself known to us, He wants a relationship with us.
Immanence is that He shows His presence in his creation.
God is eternal. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1
He has no beginning and no ending. He always was and He always will be.
God is spirit. God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth. John 4:24
He is not physical as we are. He can be with His people anywhere all at once.
God is intimate. See to it brothers, that non of our has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. Hebrews 3:12
You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you...Among the gods, there is none like you, O Lord; no deeds can compare with yours...For you are great, and do marvelous deeds, you alone are God. But you, O Lord, are a compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. Psalm 86
He has personal characteristics like us. He is living, working in the world, relating to His people. He is jealous and wants us to take Him seriously.
God is sovereign. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power, and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and pwer to exalt and to give strength to all. I Chronicles 29:11-12
God has freedom from outward restraint. He has unlimited rule of and control over His creation.
God is omnipotent. He has unlimited power to do that which is within His holy and righteous character.
God is omniscient. God has unlimited knowledge.
God is omnipresent. God has unlimited ability to be present in all places at the same time.
Do you know of God, or do you truly Know Him?
Several years back Paul and I were at a baseball game and we met Senator John McCain. We can say we know him. But do we truly know him? What is favorite meal, his favorite movie, his favorite restaurant, his favorite place to vacation? Or do we just know of him?
The same is true of God. We have heard so many things from so many people. The most famous saying being, Why did God do this........to me? The truth of the matter is unless you have spent much time studying about Him and talking to Him, you probably know of him. It is very difficult to follow and believe in someone that you can't see. It's even harder to love and give control to someone that you truly don't trust.
In this blog, I want to talk about some of His attributes.
God is constant in nature. "I am the Lord who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the Lord. Jeremiah 9:24
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. Hebrews 13:8
God is the One True God. Now to the Kind eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God. I Tim 1:17
God is not subject to death. He lets us see evidence of His glory but He doesn't permit us to make an image that would represent Him.
God is holy. Moses thought, "I will go over and see this strange sight-why the bush does not burn up". When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, "Moses!Moses! Do not come any closer", God said. "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground". Then He said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob". At this Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
Exodus 3:4-6
He is separate from all else. He is without sin (righteous), he has ethical purity.
God is transcendent and immanent. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens. Psalm 148:13
Transcendent is that He is supreme, above or beyond all of His creation and yet He stoops down to make Himself known to us, He wants a relationship with us.
Immanence is that He shows His presence in his creation.
God is eternal. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1
He has no beginning and no ending. He always was and He always will be.
God is spirit. God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth. John 4:24
He is not physical as we are. He can be with His people anywhere all at once.
God is intimate. See to it brothers, that non of our has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. Hebrews 3:12
You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you...Among the gods, there is none like you, O Lord; no deeds can compare with yours...For you are great, and do marvelous deeds, you alone are God. But you, O Lord, are a compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. Psalm 86
He has personal characteristics like us. He is living, working in the world, relating to His people. He is jealous and wants us to take Him seriously.
God is sovereign. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power, and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and pwer to exalt and to give strength to all. I Chronicles 29:11-12
God has freedom from outward restraint. He has unlimited rule of and control over His creation.
God is omnipotent. He has unlimited power to do that which is within His holy and righteous character.
God is omniscient. God has unlimited knowledge.
God is omnipresent. God has unlimited ability to be present in all places at the same time.
Do you know of God, or do you truly Know Him?
Friday, March 4, 2011
Engine or Caboose?
Are you a leader or a follower?
Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. I Tim 4:12
Do you know that there are people throughout out centuries that have been stoned, beheaded, hung for their faith? Do you know that there are people today in many countries who are being shot, beheaded, their churches and houses burned to the ground for their faith in God? Voices of the Martyrs is a magazine and a Christian organization that tells the story and sends financial provisions to people who are family members of those that have been martyred. These people are "an engine". They take a stand, even to the point of death for what they believe, not afraid of the consequences. They know what they believe and can stand alone!
Do you know what you believe? Do you believe what others tell you on tv, through your church, through friends or do you seek to find out the truth for yourself? How do you know what is truth? The only source that I know of that is absolute truth is "The Holy Bible". It is the only book through history that its contents have remained the same, from language to language. I compare every pastor's words, every movie, every radio show or tv show to The Bible. Men can interpret things and at times it is far from the Bible. Take the story of the group that followed Jim Jones that drank Koolaid several years ago. They were poisoned and they all died. Their teacher made up his own religion and people followed blindly. How about our current terrorists? They all believe in Jihad, following a god and taking the lives of others in the name of religion. They are followers not asking questions for themselves, they just follow their leaders blindly.
If I say that I believe in God and love others and my life says something different, we are not supposed to judge but we are to ask questions about if what I say and what I do matches up. If I say that I love everyone and then I go out and murder, do my words and my actions line up? There is a saying "Actions speak louder than words." Do you have principles in your life that you live by, that you would die for? Or are your beliefs because of someone else, you are just going along with what they say? Do you spend time studying what you believe or do you learn more from osmosis from what others tell you, or popular opinion? Do you set an example for others to see? Where are you on the train? Are you just coasting along or are you leading the pack?
Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. I Tim 4:12
"If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything."
Do you know that there are people throughout out centuries that have been stoned, beheaded, hung for their faith? Do you know that there are people today in many countries who are being shot, beheaded, their churches and houses burned to the ground for their faith in God? Voices of the Martyrs is a magazine and a Christian organization that tells the story and sends financial provisions to people who are family members of those that have been martyred. These people are "an engine". They take a stand, even to the point of death for what they believe, not afraid of the consequences. They know what they believe and can stand alone!
Do you know what you believe? Do you believe what others tell you on tv, through your church, through friends or do you seek to find out the truth for yourself? How do you know what is truth? The only source that I know of that is absolute truth is "The Holy Bible". It is the only book through history that its contents have remained the same, from language to language. I compare every pastor's words, every movie, every radio show or tv show to The Bible. Men can interpret things and at times it is far from the Bible. Take the story of the group that followed Jim Jones that drank Koolaid several years ago. They were poisoned and they all died. Their teacher made up his own religion and people followed blindly. How about our current terrorists? They all believe in Jihad, following a god and taking the lives of others in the name of religion. They are followers not asking questions for themselves, they just follow their leaders blindly.
If I say that I believe in God and love others and my life says something different, we are not supposed to judge but we are to ask questions about if what I say and what I do matches up. If I say that I love everyone and then I go out and murder, do my words and my actions line up? There is a saying "Actions speak louder than words." Do you have principles in your life that you live by, that you would die for? Or are your beliefs because of someone else, you are just going along with what they say? Do you spend time studying what you believe or do you learn more from osmosis from what others tell you, or popular opinion? Do you set an example for others to see? Where are you on the train? Are you just coasting along or are you leading the pack?
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Little White Lie
Honesty, The Best Policy
The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful. Prov. 12:22
A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who pours out lies will perish. Prov. 19:9
The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. Prov. 15:4
Is there such a thing as a little white lie? Is a little exaggeration or a "fish story", to make my story a little more interesting a lie? What constitutes a little white one or a big fat one? How about if I tell a lie so that I won't hurt your feelings? Is there times it is Ok to justify lying to someone for their benefit? Is it a lie if I just leave out a little bit of information so that I can achieve the results that I need? There is no such thing as a little white lie. You are either completely honest or you are being deceitful. You can't sit on the fence justifying this or that. When you have to testify in court, the saying says it all, "Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?"
We have all been guilty at one point or another. Lying starts at a very young age. Bobby did you eat a cookie out of the jar? Nope. I have gone to school several times and the kids ask me if I have a pet cheetah, a jacuzzi in my house, a shark in my bathroom. There is an ounce of truth in all those statements, yes, we have a cheetah but it is a stuffed animal, yes I have a jacuzzi bathtub, we have plastic sharks in our bathroom. But the truth has been twisted to make people believe something that is not so.
How about if a friend asks you if their dress makes them look fat, or if they look beautiful when you think it looks terrible? Do you just lie to appease them and make them feel better about themselves or do you find something else to say, instead of stretching the truth? How about if a telemarketer calls and you tell the kids to tell them that you aren't home? Have you ever bought something, stuck it in your closet and brought it out at a later date so you don't have to explain to your spouse about your purchase? We do all kinds of things to avoid confrontation. Why is it so hard to just tell the truth?
For some, lying is a habit that has been cultivated since childhood. A person truly doesn't even realize that they are unable to look a person in the eye and just be honest. The problem with a person who perpetually lies is that they can't keep the truth straight. They have to continue telling one lie after another to keep their story straight. In the end, they can't remember what they have said along the way. I often say that when a person continually lies, the only one who is truly deceived is the one who lies, everyone else around them sees the truth. The real tragedy for the one who lies is that they break a trust and it is such a hard thing to earn it back once it is lost. Dishonesty puts stress on friendships and other relationships because you don't ever know if you are being told the truth or if you can trust what is being said. Furthermore, the most valuable characteristic a person can have is integrity. People know that they can count on you for anything because you are honest.
Since my daughter has been a small child, almost always without exception, however she has had some human moments, if you ask her what happened between two people she will almost always tell the truth. We have encouraged honesty by diminishing the penalty if our kids are honest in their response. Lying is actually one of the 10 Commandments, You shall not give false testimony. (Ex 20:16) Colossians says Do not lie to each other since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. (9:10)
When you are young and you lie, the consequences are minimal. As we get older, the consequences can be much greater and more lasting. Going unchecked as any other sins, a lying tongue and deceptive heart can cause one to perish in the end (Prov. 19:9). At the end of the day, I have to live with my conscience. I know in my heart if I have been honest with friends and family. Honesty may cost me something at times, however if I'm not, I create a wall between me and God and my prayers are hindered. The greatest reminder for me for so many character issues is that I have three sets of eyes watching me in my house, there is no fooling any of them. They know if I am a woman of integrity or not, I cannot hide! How about you? Do you live your life with integrity or do you have an issue being honest with others? Ask God for forgiveness if you find yourself being deceitful with others. You will be able to sleep at night if you do!
The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful. Prov. 12:22
A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who pours out lies will perish. Prov. 19:9
The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. Prov. 15:4
Is there such a thing as a little white lie? Is a little exaggeration or a "fish story", to make my story a little more interesting a lie? What constitutes a little white one or a big fat one? How about if I tell a lie so that I won't hurt your feelings? Is there times it is Ok to justify lying to someone for their benefit? Is it a lie if I just leave out a little bit of information so that I can achieve the results that I need? There is no such thing as a little white lie. You are either completely honest or you are being deceitful. You can't sit on the fence justifying this or that. When you have to testify in court, the saying says it all, "Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?"
We have all been guilty at one point or another. Lying starts at a very young age. Bobby did you eat a cookie out of the jar? Nope. I have gone to school several times and the kids ask me if I have a pet cheetah, a jacuzzi in my house, a shark in my bathroom. There is an ounce of truth in all those statements, yes, we have a cheetah but it is a stuffed animal, yes I have a jacuzzi bathtub, we have plastic sharks in our bathroom. But the truth has been twisted to make people believe something that is not so.
How about if a friend asks you if their dress makes them look fat, or if they look beautiful when you think it looks terrible? Do you just lie to appease them and make them feel better about themselves or do you find something else to say, instead of stretching the truth? How about if a telemarketer calls and you tell the kids to tell them that you aren't home? Have you ever bought something, stuck it in your closet and brought it out at a later date so you don't have to explain to your spouse about your purchase? We do all kinds of things to avoid confrontation. Why is it so hard to just tell the truth?
For some, lying is a habit that has been cultivated since childhood. A person truly doesn't even realize that they are unable to look a person in the eye and just be honest. The problem with a person who perpetually lies is that they can't keep the truth straight. They have to continue telling one lie after another to keep their story straight. In the end, they can't remember what they have said along the way. I often say that when a person continually lies, the only one who is truly deceived is the one who lies, everyone else around them sees the truth. The real tragedy for the one who lies is that they break a trust and it is such a hard thing to earn it back once it is lost. Dishonesty puts stress on friendships and other relationships because you don't ever know if you are being told the truth or if you can trust what is being said. Furthermore, the most valuable characteristic a person can have is integrity. People know that they can count on you for anything because you are honest.
Since my daughter has been a small child, almost always without exception, however she has had some human moments, if you ask her what happened between two people she will almost always tell the truth. We have encouraged honesty by diminishing the penalty if our kids are honest in their response. Lying is actually one of the 10 Commandments, You shall not give false testimony. (Ex 20:16) Colossians says Do not lie to each other since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. (9:10)
When you are young and you lie, the consequences are minimal. As we get older, the consequences can be much greater and more lasting. Going unchecked as any other sins, a lying tongue and deceptive heart can cause one to perish in the end (Prov. 19:9). At the end of the day, I have to live with my conscience. I know in my heart if I have been honest with friends and family. Honesty may cost me something at times, however if I'm not, I create a wall between me and God and my prayers are hindered. The greatest reminder for me for so many character issues is that I have three sets of eyes watching me in my house, there is no fooling any of them. They know if I am a woman of integrity or not, I cannot hide! How about you? Do you live your life with integrity or do you have an issue being honest with others? Ask God for forgiveness if you find yourself being deceitful with others. You will be able to sleep at night if you do!
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
One Way Ticket Home
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction; and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Matt 7:13-14
Today there is a plethora of religions to choose from. You can pick and choose, mix and match and make up your own. Just ask Oprah, she is the expert! Let's the pick the best of all of them and we can create a new religion to fit our lifestyle. Then we can live guilt free with our lifestyle choices and have our religion to back us up. There are so many world religions; buddhism, hinduism, catholicism, you name it, its out there. But what separates one from the other? They all have gods that they serve.
Will the real God please stand up? There is only one religion that stands apart from all others, Christianity. Christianity believes in God the Father, but also God the Son, Jesus. America was built on Christianity but in the past few years we have been leaving God out. We have those who wanted to take prayer out of school, the 10 commandments off of Judicial walls, In God we Trust off of our currency and Christ out of Christmas to make it Xmas? Our society screams tolerance, but tolerance to every religion but Christianity! So what is all of this commotion about really?
No one wants to admit that there is life after death and one day we will all be held accountable for our words and deeds that we have done here on this earth. If that is so, who will be the ultimate judge? There have been so many jokes about standing at the "pearly gates". Those gates refer to the gates of heaven. So who gets the golden ticket to get in the pearly gates? Does being a good person give you the golden ticket? Can you ride in on the coat tails of a friend or family member? Can you earn your way there?
Many people have misperceptions about hell. People picture Satan as a red man with horns and a pitch fork, a fictional character? Do you know that he actually exists? Do you know that he was actually a very beautiful angel? I picture him being exceptionally strong and handsome. The problem was, He wanted to be God so he was cast out of heaven. Since then, he and his fallen angel friends have been running around enticing humans for hundreds of years to "do their own thing", live their own life, control their own destiny. The problem comes that we can try, but in reality, there is not much in life we can control other than our own choices to do good or evil. Given to our own wisdom, a lot of times we pick the latter choice. People joke that hell is a big party. Ironically, it is just the opposite, it is a place of darkness and isolation, an eternity of being alone. Hardly the picture of a party!
What is heaven then? The Bible says He is preparing many mansions with streets of gold. Think of the most beautiful places here on earth, beaches with white sand, mountains covered with wildflowers, waterfalls and luscious forests. If earth has that much beauty, how much more heaven will have, beyond our wildest dreams. There will be no more death, sickness, fighting or disease. Everyone will actually like each other and get along. We will be reunited with our family members who have passed before us and we won't have to work anymore! All the miserable things about this life will be no more!
Man, since Adam and Eve is fallen, we are born into this world and will make bad choices. Just watch a toddler, continually telling their parents emphatically "No" when they are told to do something. God created every human being with a void and the choice in who and how they want to believe. Many people know they have a void but they spend their entire lives "finding themselves". They try to fill the void with material things, pleasure, family, careers, everything you can name, some even go through many religions but in the end, the void remains. Many people leave this earth having never found the answer to the void that they spent their entire life trying to fill.
How about you? Do you feel a void in your life? What do you believe if anything? Do you feel like you are missing something and keep trying to find yourself? Are you on a quest to find out why you do not have peace and joy in your life? Will you hold the golden ticket to get into the pearly gates? Do you know how to get there?
Today there is a plethora of religions to choose from. You can pick and choose, mix and match and make up your own. Just ask Oprah, she is the expert! Let's the pick the best of all of them and we can create a new religion to fit our lifestyle. Then we can live guilt free with our lifestyle choices and have our religion to back us up. There are so many world religions; buddhism, hinduism, catholicism, you name it, its out there. But what separates one from the other? They all have gods that they serve.
Will the real God please stand up? There is only one religion that stands apart from all others, Christianity. Christianity believes in God the Father, but also God the Son, Jesus. America was built on Christianity but in the past few years we have been leaving God out. We have those who wanted to take prayer out of school, the 10 commandments off of Judicial walls, In God we Trust off of our currency and Christ out of Christmas to make it Xmas? Our society screams tolerance, but tolerance to every religion but Christianity! So what is all of this commotion about really?
No one wants to admit that there is life after death and one day we will all be held accountable for our words and deeds that we have done here on this earth. If that is so, who will be the ultimate judge? There have been so many jokes about standing at the "pearly gates". Those gates refer to the gates of heaven. So who gets the golden ticket to get in the pearly gates? Does being a good person give you the golden ticket? Can you ride in on the coat tails of a friend or family member? Can you earn your way there?
Many people have misperceptions about hell. People picture Satan as a red man with horns and a pitch fork, a fictional character? Do you know that he actually exists? Do you know that he was actually a very beautiful angel? I picture him being exceptionally strong and handsome. The problem was, He wanted to be God so he was cast out of heaven. Since then, he and his fallen angel friends have been running around enticing humans for hundreds of years to "do their own thing", live their own life, control their own destiny. The problem comes that we can try, but in reality, there is not much in life we can control other than our own choices to do good or evil. Given to our own wisdom, a lot of times we pick the latter choice. People joke that hell is a big party. Ironically, it is just the opposite, it is a place of darkness and isolation, an eternity of being alone. Hardly the picture of a party!
What is heaven then? The Bible says He is preparing many mansions with streets of gold. Think of the most beautiful places here on earth, beaches with white sand, mountains covered with wildflowers, waterfalls and luscious forests. If earth has that much beauty, how much more heaven will have, beyond our wildest dreams. There will be no more death, sickness, fighting or disease. Everyone will actually like each other and get along. We will be reunited with our family members who have passed before us and we won't have to work anymore! All the miserable things about this life will be no more!
Man, since Adam and Eve is fallen, we are born into this world and will make bad choices. Just watch a toddler, continually telling their parents emphatically "No" when they are told to do something. God created every human being with a void and the choice in who and how they want to believe. Many people know they have a void but they spend their entire lives "finding themselves". They try to fill the void with material things, pleasure, family, careers, everything you can name, some even go through many religions but in the end, the void remains. Many people leave this earth having never found the answer to the void that they spent their entire life trying to fill.
How about you? Do you feel a void in your life? What do you believe if anything? Do you feel like you are missing something and keep trying to find yourself? Are you on a quest to find out why you do not have peace and joy in your life? Will you hold the golden ticket to get into the pearly gates? Do you know how to get there?
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Peppy Penguin or Prickly Porcupine
Bad company corrupts good character. I Corinthians 15:33
Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. Phil 4:8
Are you a people magnet or a repellant?
How do you interpret life experiences that occur? Do you accept and ask what lessons can be learned? Do you complain and whine when things do not go your way? What kind of people do you like to be with? Do you enjoy people who have lots of energy and are positive? Or, do you enjoy being with people that are miserable?
Paul and I are in a stage of life where life spins very fast. We both work outside the home and there is so much to do at home. We have two kids in different sports and we are also involved in church activities. Outside of all of those things, there is not much time for social activities for us. Time is precious. For Paul especially, he is gone 50% of the time. When he is home, he wants to be with his family. I try to honor him by making lunch dates or social visits when he is gone so we can do things as a family when he is home.
While I am losing some of my pep (energy) as I get older, I still choose to see life in a positive manner. I love life and I love others. I naturally gravitate to other peppy penguines. I am not speaking about when people go through ups and downs, we all have down days. But it is difficult to be around people who gossip all the time, complaining about everything in their life, or always talking negatively about others. In essence, they choose to be miserable, and in doing so, seek to recruit others to share in their misery. We all know someone like this, many times they live on our family tree somewhere.
What can we do with the porcupines in our life? Love them anyway, but in small amounts! I choose to surround myself with positive individuals who love life and others too, yet still have human moments. I try to encourage the porcupines to count their blessings when they see one. I think that is probably one of the underlying reasons that our porcupine friends see life so negatively. They haven't stopped to see all the things and people in their life that they have to be thankful for. They see all the things in life that they don't have that they think they need or want. Even in our darkest days, we still have things to be thankful for.
Our actions start with the thoughts that we think. I love the verse above that talks about focusing on good thoughts, pure and lovely, excellent and pure. We are very careful about the tv shows and movies that we watch. They feed into our thoughts and then part of our being over time.
Which kind of person do you want to be? What personality do you exemplify for your kids and the kids that you influence in your life? What kind of people do you surround yourself with? Time is short, we have to make every moment count!
Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. Phil 4:8
Are you a people magnet or a repellant?
How do you interpret life experiences that occur? Do you accept and ask what lessons can be learned? Do you complain and whine when things do not go your way? What kind of people do you like to be with? Do you enjoy people who have lots of energy and are positive? Or, do you enjoy being with people that are miserable?
Paul and I are in a stage of life where life spins very fast. We both work outside the home and there is so much to do at home. We have two kids in different sports and we are also involved in church activities. Outside of all of those things, there is not much time for social activities for us. Time is precious. For Paul especially, he is gone 50% of the time. When he is home, he wants to be with his family. I try to honor him by making lunch dates or social visits when he is gone so we can do things as a family when he is home.
While I am losing some of my pep (energy) as I get older, I still choose to see life in a positive manner. I love life and I love others. I naturally gravitate to other peppy penguines. I am not speaking about when people go through ups and downs, we all have down days. But it is difficult to be around people who gossip all the time, complaining about everything in their life, or always talking negatively about others. In essence, they choose to be miserable, and in doing so, seek to recruit others to share in their misery. We all know someone like this, many times they live on our family tree somewhere.
What can we do with the porcupines in our life? Love them anyway, but in small amounts! I choose to surround myself with positive individuals who love life and others too, yet still have human moments. I try to encourage the porcupines to count their blessings when they see one. I think that is probably one of the underlying reasons that our porcupine friends see life so negatively. They haven't stopped to see all the things and people in their life that they have to be thankful for. They see all the things in life that they don't have that they think they need or want. Even in our darkest days, we still have things to be thankful for.
Our actions start with the thoughts that we think. I love the verse above that talks about focusing on good thoughts, pure and lovely, excellent and pure. We are very careful about the tv shows and movies that we watch. They feed into our thoughts and then part of our being over time.
Which kind of person do you want to be? What personality do you exemplify for your kids and the kids that you influence in your life? What kind of people do you surround yourself with? Time is short, we have to make every moment count!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)