Too many things to do and not enough time to do them.
Now, I know in reality that's not a true statement, because I know that God always gives us time to accomplish what we NEED to accomplish, but that's the way I FELT this morning. I tried to list in my head all of the things clamoring for my time and attention, but it just made me more stressed. The more I thought about it, the more my shoulders tensed and the more my brow furrowed. That's not a very good way to start the day, and it sure doesn't make for a Happy Mommy!
But I'll tell you what DID make for a Happy Mommy this stressful morning - these verses:
Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God's peace which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things (Phil. 4:6-8 The Amplified Bible).
I NEEDED that Truth this morning, because my tendency today was to be anxious. My tendency was to fret. My tendency - rather than taking each moment as it came, thanking God for that moment, asking Him to do what He wanted in that moment, and leaving that moment with Him - was to try to envision my day as a whole: how I could do it - how I could manage my time well - how I could accomplish it all. My list became my god, and my day revolved around it...instead of around Him.
God showed me something a few days ago, and I have yet to try it on paper. I've done it mentally, but today, I'm feeling as if I need to do it physically. So when I get finished here, I'm going to sit down with a pen and paper in my hand and write out my day, so that I can see it. I already have in mind what my list looks like, but I'm going to write it out just the same. After each "to do," I'm going to breathe a prayer to God, thanking Him for that thing I need to do, and then asking Him to control the circumstances and everything else around it. Then, I'm going to mark it off, literally, as done - not as done as in "accomplished", but done as in "prayed over and worry-free." Then, when that thing comes up in my day or when it tries to tighten my shoulders or furrow my brow, I will remember and know that it's all been taken care of. I've already checked it off my list.
Why don't you try it with me? I mean, really, physically write out a "to done" list and check it off before the Father. Then, let's see what God does.
Dear Jesus, thank You SO much for this day and for all the opportunities that You have provided for us...opportunities to make Your name great among those around us. Help us order our days and then give them back to You as an offering. Help us understand how to let You have our list. We love You, Jesus and thank You again for Your help throughout our day. Praise You, Jesus. Praise You.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
When You Pass Through the Waters
"Why does that passage mention water twice?" I thought. Over and over again, I read it, trying to answer my own question: When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you Is. 43:2.
It just didn't make sense to me. There had to be a reason why God would speak of water two times in the same verse and fire only once. After mulling over the words for a few seconds, I finally got it. The two waters God was describing were completely different. "Passing through waters," envokes the idea of calm, deep water like a pond or slow-moving stream, but passing "through rivers," creates a whole new feeling of urgency and unexpectedness. You would think the latter would be more consuming and fearful to me, but as I read the verse over, it was the first part of the passage that bothered me the most. Fear and uneasiness swelled within me, and I knew something wasn't right. Why would the thought of calm, deep water actually make me fearful? Why was I afraid?
Then, I remembered.
I remembered the murky water. I remembered what it looked like - to actually see through it. I remembered my favorite dress and my mom stretching her arm across our chests as she said, "Y'all hold on." I remembered being wrapped in a towel and riding in a white car to the doctor's office. I remembered...and the fear swelled again.
We were little - my brothers and I. We were riding home from seeing my grandpa in the hospital when it happened. Through no fault of her own, my mom lost control of the pick-up, and we rolled off an embankment into the water. As the truck sank, my mom quickly grabbed my little brother (3 years old) and pulled him out of the truck, holding his head - and hers - above the water as she balanced on the outside of the door. My older brother, then 5, dogpaddled out the broken, side window, bobbing up and down until someone finally came and rescued him. Me? Well, I just stood there, on the truck seat, looking around. I don't know what I was waiting for. I'm not sure why I didn't follow my brother out the window, but I didn't.
Before I knew it, mom had me, too. Reaching backwards in through the truck window, she couldn't find my body, but she did find the sash of my dress. She grabbed it and pulled me out of the window and into the air.
After replaying the accident in my mind, I once again remembered...when you pass through the waters. Now I understood. I understood why the first part of that verse caused such fear. I understood why I was afraid of calm, deep water. I understood why my fear was there, and I also understood that it had to go.
Immediately, I asked God to take it from me...to make this "fearfulness" go away - forever. I didn't want it in my life anymore. I wanted it GONE.
And in an instant I heard Him gently speak the words that follow "pass through the waters" into my spirit, "I was there with you then, too, Belinda." Needless to say, I sat there on my bed and cried and cried. Even then, in the literal water of my childhood, God was with me. The promise He had made over two thousand years ago didn't just apply to "Grown up Belinda." Instead, His promise of companionship has encircled me my entire life...even in the waters...even then - and forevermore. How blessed I am to know such a God.
It truly was a miracle that day that any of us got out of the murky water alive. When they went to pull the truck out of the water, the wrecker's hook hit the tailgate and the truck disappeared. Evidently, it was balancing on a broken tree stump, ten feet or so above the bottom of the pond. Isn't it funny that all that time my mom was thrashing around trying to save us, the truck never moved. Yet, then when a hook touched the tailgate, it became unstable and sank to the bottom?
"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you..." and He was.
And He still is.
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your presence, for it, alone, is enough to dispell our fear as we walk with You through the water. Thank You that You speak peace to us through Your Word and fill us not with a sense of dread, but with a sense of excitement at seeing what You are doing for us and in us. Thank You Jesus that You truly never will leave us nor forsake us...that You have been with us from the very beginning and the You will hold us until our eyes close in death. And even then, You will be with us! You are SO good, and we are SO grateful. Praise You, Lord. Praise You.
It just didn't make sense to me. There had to be a reason why God would speak of water two times in the same verse and fire only once. After mulling over the words for a few seconds, I finally got it. The two waters God was describing were completely different. "Passing through waters," envokes the idea of calm, deep water like a pond or slow-moving stream, but passing "through rivers," creates a whole new feeling of urgency and unexpectedness. You would think the latter would be more consuming and fearful to me, but as I read the verse over, it was the first part of the passage that bothered me the most. Fear and uneasiness swelled within me, and I knew something wasn't right. Why would the thought of calm, deep water actually make me fearful? Why was I afraid?
Then, I remembered.
I remembered the murky water. I remembered what it looked like - to actually see through it. I remembered my favorite dress and my mom stretching her arm across our chests as she said, "Y'all hold on." I remembered being wrapped in a towel and riding in a white car to the doctor's office. I remembered...and the fear swelled again.
We were little - my brothers and I. We were riding home from seeing my grandpa in the hospital when it happened. Through no fault of her own, my mom lost control of the pick-up, and we rolled off an embankment into the water. As the truck sank, my mom quickly grabbed my little brother (3 years old) and pulled him out of the truck, holding his head - and hers - above the water as she balanced on the outside of the door. My older brother, then 5, dogpaddled out the broken, side window, bobbing up and down until someone finally came and rescued him. Me? Well, I just stood there, on the truck seat, looking around. I don't know what I was waiting for. I'm not sure why I didn't follow my brother out the window, but I didn't.
Before I knew it, mom had me, too. Reaching backwards in through the truck window, she couldn't find my body, but she did find the sash of my dress. She grabbed it and pulled me out of the window and into the air.
After replaying the accident in my mind, I once again remembered...when you pass through the waters. Now I understood. I understood why the first part of that verse caused such fear. I understood why I was afraid of calm, deep water. I understood why my fear was there, and I also understood that it had to go.
Immediately, I asked God to take it from me...to make this "fearfulness" go away - forever. I didn't want it in my life anymore. I wanted it GONE.
And in an instant I heard Him gently speak the words that follow "pass through the waters" into my spirit, "I was there with you then, too, Belinda." Needless to say, I sat there on my bed and cried and cried. Even then, in the literal water of my childhood, God was with me. The promise He had made over two thousand years ago didn't just apply to "Grown up Belinda." Instead, His promise of companionship has encircled me my entire life...even in the waters...even then - and forevermore. How blessed I am to know such a God.
It truly was a miracle that day that any of us got out of the murky water alive. When they went to pull the truck out of the water, the wrecker's hook hit the tailgate and the truck disappeared. Evidently, it was balancing on a broken tree stump, ten feet or so above the bottom of the pond. Isn't it funny that all that time my mom was thrashing around trying to save us, the truck never moved. Yet, then when a hook touched the tailgate, it became unstable and sank to the bottom?
"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you..." and He was.
And He still is.
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your presence, for it, alone, is enough to dispell our fear as we walk with You through the water. Thank You that You speak peace to us through Your Word and fill us not with a sense of dread, but with a sense of excitement at seeing what You are doing for us and in us. Thank You Jesus that You truly never will leave us nor forsake us...that You have been with us from the very beginning and the You will hold us until our eyes close in death. And even then, You will be with us! You are SO good, and we are SO grateful. Praise You, Lord. Praise You.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
My Wise Hair
My daughter calls it my "wise hair." I just call it gray...and believe me, I have lots of it. I used to toy with my brothers when their hair color changed to varying shades of salt & pepper, but this time when I see them again, I'm afraid the tables will be turned. What I could hide, at one time, underneath my dark brown covering, is now gloriously white and shining in the open for all to see.
That's okay. I think I'm gonna keep my "wise hair." It's growing on me...emotionally and literally.
Yet, no matter how much "wise hair" I have, it seems I'm always lacking on the "wise side." Sometimes I can't believe how I can make such ridiculous decisions in the heat of the moment. Because of that, I can't tell you how thrilled I am that Scripture has an answer for my lack of wisdom. James 1:5(NAS) tells us that "if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him."
"Ask for it," God says, "ask Me, and I'll give it to you."
How does that translate into real life? Well, here's a few examples. When kids are sick, ask for the wisdom on how to make them better. When kids are rebellious, ask for the wisdom to know how to draw their hearts back to God. When jobs are difficult places to be, ask for the wisdom to figure out how to make the workplace better. When there is no job, ask for the wisdom to know what to do. When all hope seems lost, ask for the wisdom to see the bigger picture. Or in my case, when you have a newspaper column due by Tuesday morning, and it's late Monday night, and you have nothing written, ask for the wisdom to know what to write about!
Oh, and get this - I love it that when we ask, He doesn't look at us and remind us that we haven't had our quiet time that day. He doesn't turn His head and stick His nose up in the air until we "do something" to appease the fact that we haven't spent any time with Him. Instead, He encourages us that He "gives to all generously and without reproach." That's just another way of saying that He doesn't point His finger at us. He LAVISHES His wisdom on us without "finding fault," - without an "I told you so" on His lips.
God has given us a beautiful invitation to come to Him and receive what we need to know. But there is one little catch - we simply have to believe that He will give us wisdom, when we ask for it. "But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord" (James 1:6,7).
There's a whole other blog post wrapped up in those verses. Maybe that will be for next week, but for now, I think I'd better stop here. But before I go, I have one question for you and for me in light of these verses we've looked at today - what's keeping you and me from asking for wisdom right now?
I agree - absolutely nothing.
Jesus, we know that You know all things and are fully aware of the big picture. However, we don't see it. We need wisdom today, Lord to be able to see with Your eyes how to respond in the situations that come about. We need Your help to "do life" today. We need to see clearly through the muddied water, and we trust that you will give us this wisdom generously and without reproach. Thank You that you love to respond to the prayers of Your children. We love You, Father, and we praise You.
That's okay. I think I'm gonna keep my "wise hair." It's growing on me...emotionally and literally.
Yet, no matter how much "wise hair" I have, it seems I'm always lacking on the "wise side." Sometimes I can't believe how I can make such ridiculous decisions in the heat of the moment. Because of that, I can't tell you how thrilled I am that Scripture has an answer for my lack of wisdom. James 1:5(NAS) tells us that "if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him."
"Ask for it," God says, "ask Me, and I'll give it to you."
How does that translate into real life? Well, here's a few examples. When kids are sick, ask for the wisdom on how to make them better. When kids are rebellious, ask for the wisdom to know how to draw their hearts back to God. When jobs are difficult places to be, ask for the wisdom to figure out how to make the workplace better. When there is no job, ask for the wisdom to know what to do. When all hope seems lost, ask for the wisdom to see the bigger picture. Or in my case, when you have a newspaper column due by Tuesday morning, and it's late Monday night, and you have nothing written, ask for the wisdom to know what to write about!
Oh, and get this - I love it that when we ask, He doesn't look at us and remind us that we haven't had our quiet time that day. He doesn't turn His head and stick His nose up in the air until we "do something" to appease the fact that we haven't spent any time with Him. Instead, He encourages us that He "gives to all generously and without reproach." That's just another way of saying that He doesn't point His finger at us. He LAVISHES His wisdom on us without "finding fault," - without an "I told you so" on His lips.
God has given us a beautiful invitation to come to Him and receive what we need to know. But there is one little catch - we simply have to believe that He will give us wisdom, when we ask for it. "But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord" (James 1:6,7).
There's a whole other blog post wrapped up in those verses. Maybe that will be for next week, but for now, I think I'd better stop here. But before I go, I have one question for you and for me in light of these verses we've looked at today - what's keeping you and me from asking for wisdom right now?
I agree - absolutely nothing.
Jesus, we know that You know all things and are fully aware of the big picture. However, we don't see it. We need wisdom today, Lord to be able to see with Your eyes how to respond in the situations that come about. We need Your help to "do life" today. We need to see clearly through the muddied water, and we trust that you will give us this wisdom generously and without reproach. Thank You that you love to respond to the prayers of Your children. We love You, Father, and we praise You.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Whom Do You Choose?
The World says, "It's okay to get angry and stay angry."
The Lord says, "Be angry and sin not." (Eph. 4:26)
The World says, "Pay back those who hurt you."
The Lord says, "Don't return evil for evil." (I Pet. 3:9)
The World says, "Hold a grudge, after all, they deserve it."
The Lord says, "Forgive as I have forgiven you." (Eph. 4:32)
The World says, "Hate those who hate you."
The Lord says, "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you." (Luke 6:27)
The World says, "There's no need to apologize. What's done is done."
The Lord says, "Leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift." (Matt. 5:24)
The World says, "Gossip really never hurt anyone who didn't deserve to be hurt."
The Lord says, "With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. From the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way." (James 3:9,10)
The World says, "Christianity is rubbish...foolishness."
The Lord says, "But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong." (I Cor. 1:27)
Father, help us to choose You today. When everything around us and in us screams, let us listen hard for Your still small voice that contradicts worldly advice. Thank You for communicating through Your Word and Your Spirit. You are truly amazing.
The Lord says, "Be angry and sin not." (Eph. 4:26)
The World says, "Pay back those who hurt you."
The Lord says, "Don't return evil for evil." (I Pet. 3:9)
The World says, "Hold a grudge, after all, they deserve it."
The Lord says, "Forgive as I have forgiven you." (Eph. 4:32)
The World says, "Hate those who hate you."
The Lord says, "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you." (Luke 6:27)
The World says, "There's no need to apologize. What's done is done."
The Lord says, "Leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift." (Matt. 5:24)
The World says, "Gossip really never hurt anyone who didn't deserve to be hurt."
The Lord says, "With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. From the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way." (James 3:9,10)
The World says, "Christianity is rubbish...foolishness."
The Lord says, "But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong." (I Cor. 1:27)
Father, help us to choose You today. When everything around us and in us screams, let us listen hard for Your still small voice that contradicts worldly advice. Thank You for communicating through Your Word and Your Spirit. You are truly amazing.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Let the Graveclothes Lie
I've been thinking about graveclothes a lot lately. That might seem a little strange, but I promise there's a reason.
It all started when I read the account of Lazarus found in John 11. Scripture says Lazarus was Jesus' friend - His buddy, His pal, His comrade. So, when Lazarus got sick - to the point of death - his sisters did the only thing they knew to do. They called for Jesus. They knew the Savior wouldn't let His friend die, if He were there.
But by the time Jesus arrived, Lazarus had already been dead three days. The people were mourning. Lazarus' sisters were beside themselves. All seemed lost...UNTIL Jesus told them to remove the stone from the entrance of the tomb. Martha, Lazarus' sister, was shocked. Evidently she didn't think Jesus realized that Lazarus was beyond hope, so she decided to let Jesus in on a little secret, "Lord, he stinketh." I love the way the King James Version doesn't mince words!
But that didn't deter the Savior. He directed His attention to the dead man's abode and "cried with a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come forth!' And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, 'Loose him, and let him go.'"
Yeah! Lazarus was alive! Whoopie! BUT he came out of the grave still wrapped in his grave clothes. Look back at the verse above. He, "came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth." There was no doubt about it. Lazarus was definitely alive, but because he was still wrapped in the clothes of death, he wasn't really an accurate representation of life. He still had evidence of his death ON him, and that evidence bound him from the top of his head to the bottom of his feet and kept him from moving freely, as a resurrected man should.
Now, that's why I've been thinking about graveclothes. For you see, even though Christ through His blood has made me alive together with Him and clothed me in the royal robes of righteousness, there are many times that I reach down and pick up those old graveclothes of mine and wrap my aliveness with death. I choose to speak harsh words and say things to hurt my family, when I should be speaking kindness and being patient - wrap. I hold grudges against those who hurt me, when I should forgive them as Christ forgave me - wrap. I let the root of bitterness grow within my heart unchecked, when I should be ripping it out root by root with all the force I can muster - wrap. What Christ has freed me from, I return to, binding myself all the more with graveclothes that are fit only for a dead man, not a resurrected one.
Scripture says to "rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips." Jesus tells us, "Take them off." Take off the graveclothes and instead, "clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, bearing with each other and forgiving whatever grievances you may have against one another, forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."
Let's do it. Let's choose to let our graveclothes lie in the dirt where they belong. Let's not bind ourselves all over again. Let's choose not to "stinketh."
Deal? Deal.
Dearest Jesus, Thank You for clothing us with Your righteousness. Help us to choose to be an example of that. When we feel like binding ourselves again, prick our hearts to remember to leave the graveclothes where they life. Thank You that not only WILL You do that for us, You WANT to do that for us. We love You, Father.
It all started when I read the account of Lazarus found in John 11. Scripture says Lazarus was Jesus' friend - His buddy, His pal, His comrade. So, when Lazarus got sick - to the point of death - his sisters did the only thing they knew to do. They called for Jesus. They knew the Savior wouldn't let His friend die, if He were there.
But by the time Jesus arrived, Lazarus had already been dead three days. The people were mourning. Lazarus' sisters were beside themselves. All seemed lost...UNTIL Jesus told them to remove the stone from the entrance of the tomb. Martha, Lazarus' sister, was shocked. Evidently she didn't think Jesus realized that Lazarus was beyond hope, so she decided to let Jesus in on a little secret, "Lord, he stinketh." I love the way the King James Version doesn't mince words!
But that didn't deter the Savior. He directed His attention to the dead man's abode and "cried with a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come forth!' And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, 'Loose him, and let him go.'"
Yeah! Lazarus was alive! Whoopie! BUT he came out of the grave still wrapped in his grave clothes. Look back at the verse above. He, "came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth." There was no doubt about it. Lazarus was definitely alive, but because he was still wrapped in the clothes of death, he wasn't really an accurate representation of life. He still had evidence of his death ON him, and that evidence bound him from the top of his head to the bottom of his feet and kept him from moving freely, as a resurrected man should.
Now, that's why I've been thinking about graveclothes. For you see, even though Christ through His blood has made me alive together with Him and clothed me in the royal robes of righteousness, there are many times that I reach down and pick up those old graveclothes of mine and wrap my aliveness with death. I choose to speak harsh words and say things to hurt my family, when I should be speaking kindness and being patient - wrap. I hold grudges against those who hurt me, when I should forgive them as Christ forgave me - wrap. I let the root of bitterness grow within my heart unchecked, when I should be ripping it out root by root with all the force I can muster - wrap. What Christ has freed me from, I return to, binding myself all the more with graveclothes that are fit only for a dead man, not a resurrected one.
Scripture says to "rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips." Jesus tells us, "Take them off." Take off the graveclothes and instead, "clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, bearing with each other and forgiving whatever grievances you may have against one another, forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."
Let's do it. Let's choose to let our graveclothes lie in the dirt where they belong. Let's not bind ourselves all over again. Let's choose not to "stinketh."
Deal? Deal.
Dearest Jesus, Thank You for clothing us with Your righteousness. Help us to choose to be an example of that. When we feel like binding ourselves again, prick our hearts to remember to leave the graveclothes where they life. Thank You that not only WILL You do that for us, You WANT to do that for us. We love You, Father.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Stir It Up!
I woke up early this morning with two little words haunting me - stir up. Interesting, don't you think? I did, too, so I decided that was God's way of telling me I needed to get up, shake off the sleepy and write something. I sat down with my Bible and decided to look up that phrase. You won't believe what I found. (Okay, so maybe you will!)
The phrase "stir up" is used over and over again in Scripture. In my Bible's concordance (which is not exhaustive), "stir up" is mentioned 11 times about all different kinds of things - wrath, hatred, grevious words, unbelief, agitators, kings, generosity, repentance, ministry, memory - quite a mixture, huh?
One of the most familiar passages to me is Proverbs 15:1 which says, "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." That description of stirring up something is not so flattering. It kinda makes me think of stirring up an antbed - ouch. But there are other places in the Bible where stirring up something IS a good thing. Hebrews 10:24 tells us to "stir up one another to love and good works." You and I are supposed to motivate, encourage, stimulate, provoke, and incite other Believers to love one another and do good works for Christ.
In a practical sense, how does that happen? How do we do stir one another up? Well, in order for any of this to happen, we've got to be together. Get this - we should actually go to church - not just for our own benefit, but for the benefit of others. Let me make that statement again - we should go to church not just for our own benefit, but for the benefit of others. The sentence that began in Heb. 10:24, continues in 10:25: "not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." How can we, as Believers, follow the command of Christ to motivate and encourage one another IN the Body of Christ, if we never are WITH the Body of Christ? Hmmm...
Another way to stir up one another to love and do good works is to simply use words. When you see someone doing something well, tell them they did a good job. When you see the potential in someone to fulfill a need in the Body of Christ, tell them you think they'd be great for that particular area of service. When you see someone respond well in a bad situation, tell them you're proud of them and that they honored Christ with their response.
And words aren't the only way - smiles, hugs, cards, - okay, is your mind teeming with ideas yet? There are so many Christians who just need a little "something" to get them going or keep them going. Why don't you and I decide today to be a part of God giving them that little "stir."
And don't just wait until the opportunity presents itself to be an encourager. The first part of Hebrews 10:24 says to "consider one another." We're supposed to be proactive in thinking of ways we can be an encourager to our brothers and sisters in Christ, even before the opportunity to do so, arises.
With all this in mind, let me start my day by encouraging you. You are loved wholly and completely. Nothing you have ever done or will ever do can change the way God loves you. You are beautiful in the eyes of the Father. You are His treasure...His friend...His child. He created you for a specific purpose, and will fulfill that purpose in you. You are His glory here on earth. He's crazy about you.
Now, it's your turn.
Help us, Lord to do a better job of this. Help us to think of ways we can "stir up" one another to love and good works...and then do them. Open our eyes to see those who need encouragement today and thank You for the privilege of being Your arms and hands and mouth to those around us here on this earth. May we serve You well. Thank You, Jesus. Thank You.
The phrase "stir up" is used over and over again in Scripture. In my Bible's concordance (which is not exhaustive), "stir up" is mentioned 11 times about all different kinds of things - wrath, hatred, grevious words, unbelief, agitators, kings, generosity, repentance, ministry, memory - quite a mixture, huh?
One of the most familiar passages to me is Proverbs 15:1 which says, "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." That description of stirring up something is not so flattering. It kinda makes me think of stirring up an antbed - ouch. But there are other places in the Bible where stirring up something IS a good thing. Hebrews 10:24 tells us to "stir up one another to love and good works." You and I are supposed to motivate, encourage, stimulate, provoke, and incite other Believers to love one another and do good works for Christ.
In a practical sense, how does that happen? How do we do stir one another up? Well, in order for any of this to happen, we've got to be together. Get this - we should actually go to church - not just for our own benefit, but for the benefit of others. Let me make that statement again - we should go to church not just for our own benefit, but for the benefit of others. The sentence that began in Heb. 10:24, continues in 10:25: "not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." How can we, as Believers, follow the command of Christ to motivate and encourage one another IN the Body of Christ, if we never are WITH the Body of Christ? Hmmm...
Another way to stir up one another to love and do good works is to simply use words. When you see someone doing something well, tell them they did a good job. When you see the potential in someone to fulfill a need in the Body of Christ, tell them you think they'd be great for that particular area of service. When you see someone respond well in a bad situation, tell them you're proud of them and that they honored Christ with their response.
And words aren't the only way - smiles, hugs, cards, - okay, is your mind teeming with ideas yet? There are so many Christians who just need a little "something" to get them going or keep them going. Why don't you and I decide today to be a part of God giving them that little "stir."
And don't just wait until the opportunity presents itself to be an encourager. The first part of Hebrews 10:24 says to "consider one another." We're supposed to be proactive in thinking of ways we can be an encourager to our brothers and sisters in Christ, even before the opportunity to do so, arises.
With all this in mind, let me start my day by encouraging you. You are loved wholly and completely. Nothing you have ever done or will ever do can change the way God loves you. You are beautiful in the eyes of the Father. You are His treasure...His friend...His child. He created you for a specific purpose, and will fulfill that purpose in you. You are His glory here on earth. He's crazy about you.
Now, it's your turn.
Help us, Lord to do a better job of this. Help us to think of ways we can "stir up" one another to love and good works...and then do them. Open our eyes to see those who need encouragement today and thank You for the privilege of being Your arms and hands and mouth to those around us here on this earth. May we serve You well. Thank You, Jesus. Thank You.
Monday, August 15, 2011
He is Good, Regardless
There's a particular line in a song that's been playing over and over in my head since last night:
You are good. Lord, You are good. And I am in wonder how could it be? Lord, You are good. You are so good. In so many ways You've been good to me. If suddenly it all were ended and the blessings disappeared. Looking back over a lifetime, the evidence is clear. It's so clear. You have been good.
God is indeed, good. Scripture says it repeatedly. The Psalmist says in Ps. 145:7-9, They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness,and shall sing of Your righteousness. The Lord is gracious and full of compassion. Slow to anger and great in mercy. The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are overall His works. And in Jeremiah 31:14, God testifies of His own goodness: "I will satiate the soul of the priests with abundance, and My people shall be satisfied with My goodness," says the Lord.
So, the question is - what happens to God's goodness when circumstances in our lives seem to point in a different direction? What happens to His goodness when loved ones die unexpectedly, when children suffer, when depression just won't go away? What happens to God's goodness then?
Nothing, absolutely nothing. He is good, regardless.
How do I know? How can I testify of His goodness? He's proven it to me. I remember a specific time in my life when everything around me seemed to scream, "God is not good! He is cruel!" During that time, I remember putting my kids down for their naps in the afternoon and burying my face in the carpet, begging God to show me His goodness, because I couldn't see it. I wanted proof of His goodness...of His love towards me. To make a long story short...He gave me the proof I needed. He showed me that He was good, regardless.
But don't just take it from me, take it from someone who seemingly had every right to believe in the "notgoodness" of God - Job. He lost everything. He lost his family, his possessions, his health, his friends, AND YET, when God finally spoke with Job in chapter 42, Job testified of - guess what - God's goodness:
I know that You can do everything and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. You asked, 'Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore, I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know."
You would think that after everything he went through, Job would shake his fist at God and proclaim Him to be cruel. Yet, he testified that God's plans for his life were too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
Now, let me just go ahead and add here that I'm not saying God DID all of those things to Job just to make him suffer. The suffering came from Satan. You see, Satan told God that the only reason Job loved Him was because he was blessed. He was confident Job's faith would falter, if God would let him make Job's life miserable. God, being confident in His servant, allowed Satan to test Job. So, Satan made Job suffer - ultimately for our benefit. If Job's life had been one of ease and comfort, I doubt we would have ever heard much from him. And yet, his life of overcoming suffering speaks hope to our hearts, assuring us of the goodness of God.
But how do we make that real for us? How do we believe in the goodness of God in the midst of our own suffering? It's so simple, but so hard to do: trust Him. We've got to trust that God is good, no matter what our circumstances tell us. We've got to stay in His Word and on our faces before Him. We've got to speak those words back to Him in prayer - God, You are good, despite what my circumstances say, You are good. We've got to speak it out loud to ourselves. Walk around the house or the office or the grocery story - anywhere and everywhere the threat of doubt hits us, we've got to immediately replace those negative thoughts and say out loud (or whisper, if need be!!!), God, You are good, regardless.
Dear Lord, Satan would love to do nothing more than make us think that You are a liar and that we cannot trust Your Word. But the exact opposite is true. He is the liar, Lord. Deal with him and his lies to us. Thank You that You are good. We are living testimonies to that fact. Give us strength as we work it out in the midst of life, Lord. We thank You and praise You for the things You are doing that seem hard for us, for we know that You are working them altogether for our good. We praise You for Your goodness, Lord. We praise You.
You are good. Lord, You are good. And I am in wonder how could it be? Lord, You are good. You are so good. In so many ways You've been good to me. If suddenly it all were ended and the blessings disappeared. Looking back over a lifetime, the evidence is clear. It's so clear. You have been good.
God is indeed, good. Scripture says it repeatedly. The Psalmist says in Ps. 145:7-9, They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness,and shall sing of Your righteousness. The Lord is gracious and full of compassion. Slow to anger and great in mercy. The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are overall His works. And in Jeremiah 31:14, God testifies of His own goodness: "I will satiate the soul of the priests with abundance, and My people shall be satisfied with My goodness," says the Lord.
So, the question is - what happens to God's goodness when circumstances in our lives seem to point in a different direction? What happens to His goodness when loved ones die unexpectedly, when children suffer, when depression just won't go away? What happens to God's goodness then?
Nothing, absolutely nothing. He is good, regardless.
How do I know? How can I testify of His goodness? He's proven it to me. I remember a specific time in my life when everything around me seemed to scream, "God is not good! He is cruel!" During that time, I remember putting my kids down for their naps in the afternoon and burying my face in the carpet, begging God to show me His goodness, because I couldn't see it. I wanted proof of His goodness...of His love towards me. To make a long story short...He gave me the proof I needed. He showed me that He was good, regardless.
But don't just take it from me, take it from someone who seemingly had every right to believe in the "notgoodness" of God - Job. He lost everything. He lost his family, his possessions, his health, his friends, AND YET, when God finally spoke with Job in chapter 42, Job testified of - guess what - God's goodness:
I know that You can do everything and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. You asked, 'Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore, I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know."
You would think that after everything he went through, Job would shake his fist at God and proclaim Him to be cruel. Yet, he testified that God's plans for his life were too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
Now, let me just go ahead and add here that I'm not saying God DID all of those things to Job just to make him suffer. The suffering came from Satan. You see, Satan told God that the only reason Job loved Him was because he was blessed. He was confident Job's faith would falter, if God would let him make Job's life miserable. God, being confident in His servant, allowed Satan to test Job. So, Satan made Job suffer - ultimately for our benefit. If Job's life had been one of ease and comfort, I doubt we would have ever heard much from him. And yet, his life of overcoming suffering speaks hope to our hearts, assuring us of the goodness of God.
But how do we make that real for us? How do we believe in the goodness of God in the midst of our own suffering? It's so simple, but so hard to do: trust Him. We've got to trust that God is good, no matter what our circumstances tell us. We've got to stay in His Word and on our faces before Him. We've got to speak those words back to Him in prayer - God, You are good, despite what my circumstances say, You are good. We've got to speak it out loud to ourselves. Walk around the house or the office or the grocery story - anywhere and everywhere the threat of doubt hits us, we've got to immediately replace those negative thoughts and say out loud (or whisper, if need be!!!), God, You are good, regardless.
Dear Lord, Satan would love to do nothing more than make us think that You are a liar and that we cannot trust Your Word. But the exact opposite is true. He is the liar, Lord. Deal with him and his lies to us. Thank You that You are good. We are living testimonies to that fact. Give us strength as we work it out in the midst of life, Lord. We thank You and praise You for the things You are doing that seem hard for us, for we know that You are working them altogether for our good. We praise You for Your goodness, Lord. We praise You.
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