My 14 year old grandson was hit by a car while riding his bicycle. He had a broken leg on his non-dominant side, a broken shoulder on his dominant side, and a severe concussion. I was staying with him while his mother ran some errands. He couldn't use his dominant hand to feed himself, so I fed him a little pudding. We laughed because I hadn't fed him since he was a baby. (He started feeding himself finger foods before he was a year old, and using a spoon before he was two. ) He needed someone to feed him that time because he was injured, but within a few days, he had managed to feed himself pretty well in spite of his injuries. He wanted to feed himself because he didn't want to be treated like a baby. It was humiliating to him. Which makes me wonder why people leave the church because they "aren't being fed"? Are they admitting that they are baby Christians who have not moved on to maturity?
Hebrews 5:11-14 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) 11 We have a great deal to say about this, and it’s difficult to explain, since you have become too lazy to understand. 12 Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the basic principles of God’s revelation again. You need milk, not solid food. 13 Now everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced with the message about righteousness, because he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature—for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil.
Let me be clear. I don't claim to have reached maturity, but I want to grow closer to Christ and more like Him. I want spiritual ribeye steak and baked potato. I may not be there yet, but I definitely don't want to have to live on nothing but baby formula and strained peas. When I was a child my daddy read to me from the Bible every night as I went to sleep. He was feeding me spiritual milk. When I accepted Christ as my Savior, my daddy told me that I needed to start reading the Bible for myself. Carrying the analogy a step further, he put some spiritual cereal on the tray of my high chair and let me begin to feed myself. Before long I wanted something besides cereal and started eating spiritual food that had a little more substance to it. It's a process of growth, but it has to involve feeding ourselves.
Philippians 3:10-15 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
10 My goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead. 12 Not that I have already reached the goal or am already fully mature, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, 14 I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore, all who are mature should think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will reveal this also to you.
I get up in the morning and fix myself coffee. After I get to work, I eat either something from the cafeteria or a breakfast cereal bar. When it is lunch time, I eat something, even if it is just a snack. By the time I get home from work, I am famished. I eat every single day, without fail. I get hungry and I eat. If I only ate on Sundays, not only would I be really hungry, I would not be healthy. Even if we expect someone else to feed us on Sunday and Wednesdays, what are we eating the rest of the week? We must feed ourselves from God's Word. The purpose of church services is not to provide you all the nourishment you need for the week. That is a ludicrous assumption. We meet together to worship, to fellowship, to encourage, but we spend time daily studying God's Word and praying for our spiritual nourishment.
I'm not condemning anyone, but it does make me curious. My grandson had the right idea. He is 14 years old, way too old for someone to have to feed him.
Saturday, July 21, 2018
Friday, July 20, 2018
I can't do this!
Like I have mentioned previously, I am taking two post graduate classes this summer term and have been so busy with those that it has been difficult to get anything else done. Last night I read what one of the assignments for this week is. I got this sick feeling in my stomach, and was fighting back the urge to cry, not because the class is academically too difficult, but because this particular assignment is asking me to describe how I will do something, teach something, promote something in the school, with the children, that is unscriptural. I walked around the room all by myself saying "I'm freaking out! I can't do this!" Then I began to pray. "Lord, I'm in this class. I hate this class, but I know you have a purpose. Give me wisdom. Give me the right words to say to show Your love and be true to scripture. I can't do this! Please help me!"
People who work with children have a tremendous opportunity to make a difference. With that opportunity comes tremendous responsibility. Sadly, there are pressures to champion causes that are contrary to scripture. How do we reconcile those outside pressures with our commitment to follow Jesus wholeheartedly.
Matthew 18:14 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
14 In the same way, it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones perish.
Matthew 18:6 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
6 “But whoever causes the downfall of one of these little ones who believe in Me—it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depths of the sea!
(Fast forward to 3 days later. I have finished the assignment and submitted it. That is done. I may or may not make a decent grade, but what I typed was consistent with scripture and I pray that God uses it to touch someone's heart. I know that it caused me to do some soul-searching.)
One of the questions asked how I would make sure that all students were treated equitably. For you who are not in education, there has been a lot of discussion in recent years about the difference between what is fair, what is equal, what is equitable. A key phrase is "level the playing field." It can get pretty confusing. I will try to paraphrase my understanding of the concept. Fair isn't really fair because people come from different perspectives, different lifestyles, different ability levels, different backgrounds...We need to make adjustments so that these differences do not affect their ability to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. (That may not be right, but that's how I understand it.) So, anyway, to answer the question in the assignment about treating all students with equity, I looked up scriptures that addressed that very point.
James 3:13-18 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
13 Who is wise and has understanding among you? He should show his works by good conduct with wisdom’s gentleness. 14 But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t brag and deny the truth. 15 Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where envy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without favoritism and hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace.
No favoritism. No hypocrisy. Gentle. Peace-loving. Full of mercy. If I love as Christ loved me, unconditionally and sacrificially, and live out His love in my daily life without hypocrisy or favoritism, I can treat all students in the way that He would treat them.
Like I said, I submitted the assignment with this scripture and others that I believed guided me in addressing the question I was to answer. Then...this morning when I clicked on the online Bible reading plan I started a few days ago, this was the scripture that was my reading for today! I was taken aback. OBVIOUSLY God has something to teach me from these verses! I have other assignments to work on today, but I will keep that scripture on a tab on my computer to look back at throughout the day to contemplate and meditate on what I need to be learning.
In the first paragraph, I mentioned that I do not like this class. I may need to re-think that. If God is speaking to me so clearly through the struggles I am having in dealing with this class on a spiritual and emotional level, maybe the words I prayed have special significance. God has a purpose for me to be in this class. Certainly, it has caused me to turn to Him for wisdom and He has spoken to me through His Word. Maybe, just maybe, He will also use the scriptures I used to help someone else.
People who work with children have a tremendous opportunity to make a difference. With that opportunity comes tremendous responsibility. Sadly, there are pressures to champion causes that are contrary to scripture. How do we reconcile those outside pressures with our commitment to follow Jesus wholeheartedly.
Matthew 18:14 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
14 In the same way, it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones perish.
Matthew 18:6 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
6 “But whoever causes the downfall of one of these little ones who believe in Me—it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depths of the sea!
(Fast forward to 3 days later. I have finished the assignment and submitted it. That is done. I may or may not make a decent grade, but what I typed was consistent with scripture and I pray that God uses it to touch someone's heart. I know that it caused me to do some soul-searching.)
One of the questions asked how I would make sure that all students were treated equitably. For you who are not in education, there has been a lot of discussion in recent years about the difference between what is fair, what is equal, what is equitable. A key phrase is "level the playing field." It can get pretty confusing. I will try to paraphrase my understanding of the concept. Fair isn't really fair because people come from different perspectives, different lifestyles, different ability levels, different backgrounds...We need to make adjustments so that these differences do not affect their ability to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. (That may not be right, but that's how I understand it.) So, anyway, to answer the question in the assignment about treating all students with equity, I looked up scriptures that addressed that very point.
James 3:13-18 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
13 Who is wise and has understanding among you? He should show his works by good conduct with wisdom’s gentleness. 14 But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t brag and deny the truth. 15 Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where envy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without favoritism and hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace.
No favoritism. No hypocrisy. Gentle. Peace-loving. Full of mercy. If I love as Christ loved me, unconditionally and sacrificially, and live out His love in my daily life without hypocrisy or favoritism, I can treat all students in the way that He would treat them.
Like I said, I submitted the assignment with this scripture and others that I believed guided me in addressing the question I was to answer. Then...this morning when I clicked on the online Bible reading plan I started a few days ago, this was the scripture that was my reading for today! I was taken aback. OBVIOUSLY God has something to teach me from these verses! I have other assignments to work on today, but I will keep that scripture on a tab on my computer to look back at throughout the day to contemplate and meditate on what I need to be learning.
In the first paragraph, I mentioned that I do not like this class. I may need to re-think that. If God is speaking to me so clearly through the struggles I am having in dealing with this class on a spiritual and emotional level, maybe the words I prayed have special significance. God has a purpose for me to be in this class. Certainly, it has caused me to turn to Him for wisdom and He has spoken to me through His Word. Maybe, just maybe, He will also use the scriptures I used to help someone else.
Friday, July 13, 2018
Purpose
We have want and need to feel like we have a purpose. We need a reason to get out of bed in the morning. Have you ever been laying in bed and thought "the only reason I am getting up is because I need to go to the restroom"? Or maybe your first thought when the alarm went off was "Coffee...." But don't we all need a real purpose in life? Do you have an idea what your purpose is? How do you fulfill that purpose? Do you envision what is involved in that purpose? Do you expect some result from that purpose? And this is a BIG question: Is the purpose you have for yourself in line with the purpose that God has for you?
Psalm 20:4 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
4 May He give you what your heart desires
and fulfill your whole purpose.
Psalm 20: 4 helps us understand a lot about purpose. The desire of our hearts should be to fulfill God's purpose for us. When those two things are aligned, God works in us to not only give us a real sense of purpose, but also to fulfill that purpose in us. If someone were to ask me right now what my purpose in life is, I would have a fairly long list. You probably do too. Most of us have the purpose of going to work to pay the bills and have food to eat. I feel that the work I do for that paycheck also has a purpose. My purpose at work is to make a difference in the lives of the children, to love them with Christ's love, to be genuine in my concern for them, and yes, even to help them meet the goals and objectives they have on their Individualized Educational Program (IEP). I also have the purpose of working on another graduate degree so that I can do my job better, and be better able to take care of my family's needs. I have the purpose of loving my family and helping them in daily tasks, and especially when we have a crisis or some out of the ordinary needs. I think that this blog has a purpose too. Not a lot of people read this (Thank you for taking time to read what I have written!) but if God uses me to make a difference in the life of just one person, that purpose has been fulfilled. My greatest purpose is to have a close personal relationship with Jesus Christ that leads me to yield to His will and obey Him in all aspects of my life. This relationship pulls all the individual purposes into one big purpose. All the other "little" purposes are part of the "big" purpose of obeying Him. Let's say this again: My purpose is to have a heart that desires to allow Christ to work in me to fulfill His purpose.
Psalm 57:2 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
2 I call to God Most High,
to God who fulfills His purpose for me.
Just as Psalm 20: 4 talked about the "what", Psalm 57:2 tells us the "how". I call out to God. He fulfills His purpose. Honestly, I am so busy with two classes this summer that I thought I didn't have time to write this blog this morning, but when I was reading some Bible verses a few minutes a go, this topic seemed to stand out to me. I was concerned about (angry with) a family member who seems to have no purpose. I did not have a really good attitude in my heart. This person stays up to the wee hours of the night, and spends all of his waking hours watching television and playing on his iPad. He doesn't go to work. He doesn't do any household chores or any yard work. He just sits. I was angry because he does nothing to help me or to even do the things that are his "job". I was venting to God about it. Then I realized that God's Word speaks to us about having a purpose. This tells us that (1.) He has a purpose for us. (2.) He will fulfill that purpose in us (3.) We need to call out to Him asking Him to fulfill His purpose. ( Let me confess my bad attitude and make a point about calling out to God. I wasn't exactly praying with a humble and contrite heart when I was venting about my family member lacking purpose, but God still honors our prayers when we pour out our hearts to Him. He took my frustration and used it to show me an important concept about my own purpose. Call out to Him. Pour out your heart to Him. He will listen and fulfill His purpose for you.)
Psalm 138:8 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
8 The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me.
Lord, Your love is eternal;
do not abandon the work of Your hands.
God will not abandon the work of His hands. We can be confident that when we call out to Him and yield to Him to fulfill His purpose in our lives, He will do what He says he will do. He doesn't give up on us. One of my students lives with his grandparents. His mother struggles with lots of issues. He was telling me about his family situation. He said "My mother gave up on me, so I live with my grandma." I thought he probably meant to say "gave me up" but his words pierced my heart. At a conference I told his grandmother what he had said. She said he probably meant to say exactly what he had said. She thinks that he really does believe that his mother gave up on him. I can not express the sadness that makes me feel. No words...But listen to this, God NEVER gives up on fulfilling His purpose for us. Parents may abandon their children, but God will never abandon us!
Romans 8:28-29 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.
Some phrases from these verses are sometimes taken out of context. It does not say that everything that happens is good. Nope. It does say that all things work together to fulfill a good purpose in our lives. Even that has a prerequisite, a disclaimer. This only applies to those who love God and are called according to His purpose. If I love Him, call out to Him, desire to fulfill His purpose, everything will work together for my good and His glory. Lots of things have happened in our family recently: my husband's wreck, my daughter in law's cancer and lupus, my grandson's injuries. Not all those things are good, but they work together for good. I trust God to not abandon His purpose for me and to work those things for good. I don't know you, but I am confident that bad things happen in your life too. I am also confident that when your heart's desire is to fulfill God's purpose for you, He will work those things together for good.
Sunday, July 8, 2018
Focus
Lately it seems that so many things have been going on that I have lost focus on the things I really value. I read this week that our behavior reflects our true values. So if I say that my relationship with God is the most important thing to me, but I neglect to spend time reading and studying the Bible, and praying, then my actions reflect that I am untruthful about my values. You might say that I am unfaithful to my faith.
What things cause you to lose focus on your relationship with Jesus?
I have been focused on the assignments for the class I am taking this summer. I have focused on things that aren't getting done because I have assignments that I need to finish. I have focused on painful relationships. I have focused on food (Yes, in times of stress, food takes an important part in my life, which does not help the situation at all.) I have focused on what is not instead of what is.
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
17 For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. 18 So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Not everything that causes me to lose focus is an affliction. The opportunity to study and learn more about my professional duties is not an affliction. It is something that I enjoy. I have no physical suffering (unless you count that my hip hurts when I gain weight from so much stress eating) but we all experience some emotional suffering. That is part of life, and those things are light and momentary compared with the blessings God has for us when we place our focus on Him.
Yesterday was an absolutely beautiful day here. The temperatures were in the 80s with a nice cool breeze. I spent the majority of the day on the back porch. I read a chapter in my textbook. I wrote a short blog post. But most of the day I did nothing. I just sat. The view from my back porch is rejuvenating for me. I can see the pasture, the groves of trees, the pond, the horses, the cows. I watched the hummingbirds. However, I lost focus when the wasps started flying near me. I am not allergic to wasps but they terrify me. Why did wasps take my focus away from all that was good? Such a small thing in such a large picture, yet I was frightened. Isn't it the same with the "afflictions" we have on this earth? Our focus should be on all the blessings God has provided. First and foremost, He provided forgiveness of our sin by His sacrificial death on the cross. He resurrected and blessed us with his indwelling Spirit. We can have a personal relationship with the King of Kings. He provides for our needs. Why do we focus on the "wasps"?
My grandson was riding his bicycle in his neighborhood. We think he was hit by a car, but we don't know. He had a broken leg, a broken shoulder, several cuts and abrasions, and a severe concussion that as left him with some blurred vision. He does not remember what happened. The family was visiting with us this week. Since he can't really do the fun things that his siblings were doing on the farm, he was sitting on the back porch with me. He picked up the binoculars and was trying to see if his mother had caught a fish on the pond. He couldn't focus his eyes and the binoculars so he was seeing double. He couldn't make out what was going on. Why was it difficult for him to focus? He had experienced a trauma. Maybe you have lost your focus because some event has hurt you emotionally. Hopefully, as my grandson recovers from the accident, his vision will return to normal. Honestly, we know that our lives never completely return to normal after an emotional trauma, but we can recover our focus.
My husband has diabetes. He has ongoing issues with his vision because of the effects of diabetes. Even though he is an intelligent, educated man, his oral reading sounds very much like a 2nd grade student because his eyes won't focus on the words on the page. He has lost his focus because of an ongoing problem with his health. Do we sometimes lose our focus on our relationship with Christ because of an ongoing spiritual health issue? Absolutely. Do we harbor bitterness? Are we self-centered? Are we prideful? Do we covet what others have? Are we jealous? And the list goes on. Have you lost your spiritual focus because of an ongoing spiritual health problem? Repent and pray that God will heal you.
Our focus is also affected by where we are looking. With my glasses, I can see far away, but not up close. Without my glasses, I can see up close but not far away. Let's just pretend that we are looking through the lens of our relationship with Jesus. The things up close (earthly things) aren't clear, but the things in the future (heaven) are much clearer to us.
After church we went to visit a church friend who had fallen off the table cleaning a light fixture. She had broken ribs, required surgery to repair broken vertebrae, and will be wearing a neck brace for the next 3 months. Even 4 weeks after her accident, their house is spotless. I should not have gone to visit her. Now my focus is on how filthy our house is. I realize that my husband is not healthy enough to do anything to keep the house clean. (He is healthy enough to make big messes though.) Our son, well, he isn't much help either. Our children who are on their own help us when they can, but they have their own lives. So, that means that all the responsibility for keeping our house clean has fallen to me, and I have failed terribly. Now my focus is not where it should be. But sometimes it's hard to know where our focus should be. Obviously, our relationship with Jesus is first priority. But after that, what is the next area where we need to focus. Providing for our families by going to work? Providing for our families by getting more education to get a better job? Taking care of our families by cooking, cleaning and doing laundry? Taking care of our own health so we can continue to provide for our families. I have no idea! Seeing our friend's house caused me to focus on my failure and to question why things are as they are.
Philippians 2:1-3 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
2 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal. 3 Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.
My focus isn't supposed to be me. I should consider others better than myself. The next verse says that we should look after our own interests, but also the interests of others. I realize that we can not look after, care for, others when we have not cared for our own health and mental well-being. So where should our focus be? We are to focus on one goal. If we continue reading the rest of Philippians 2, we find that one goal is to have the same attitude as Christ. This brings us back to our initial point. We should focus on our relationship with Christ Jesus so that we can be filled with His Spirit and have His attitude.
What things cause you to lose focus on your relationship with Jesus?
I have been focused on the assignments for the class I am taking this summer. I have focused on things that aren't getting done because I have assignments that I need to finish. I have focused on painful relationships. I have focused on food (Yes, in times of stress, food takes an important part in my life, which does not help the situation at all.) I have focused on what is not instead of what is.
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
17 For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. 18 So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Not everything that causes me to lose focus is an affliction. The opportunity to study and learn more about my professional duties is not an affliction. It is something that I enjoy. I have no physical suffering (unless you count that my hip hurts when I gain weight from so much stress eating) but we all experience some emotional suffering. That is part of life, and those things are light and momentary compared with the blessings God has for us when we place our focus on Him.
Yesterday was an absolutely beautiful day here. The temperatures were in the 80s with a nice cool breeze. I spent the majority of the day on the back porch. I read a chapter in my textbook. I wrote a short blog post. But most of the day I did nothing. I just sat. The view from my back porch is rejuvenating for me. I can see the pasture, the groves of trees, the pond, the horses, the cows. I watched the hummingbirds. However, I lost focus when the wasps started flying near me. I am not allergic to wasps but they terrify me. Why did wasps take my focus away from all that was good? Such a small thing in such a large picture, yet I was frightened. Isn't it the same with the "afflictions" we have on this earth? Our focus should be on all the blessings God has provided. First and foremost, He provided forgiveness of our sin by His sacrificial death on the cross. He resurrected and blessed us with his indwelling Spirit. We can have a personal relationship with the King of Kings. He provides for our needs. Why do we focus on the "wasps"?
My grandson was riding his bicycle in his neighborhood. We think he was hit by a car, but we don't know. He had a broken leg, a broken shoulder, several cuts and abrasions, and a severe concussion that as left him with some blurred vision. He does not remember what happened. The family was visiting with us this week. Since he can't really do the fun things that his siblings were doing on the farm, he was sitting on the back porch with me. He picked up the binoculars and was trying to see if his mother had caught a fish on the pond. He couldn't focus his eyes and the binoculars so he was seeing double. He couldn't make out what was going on. Why was it difficult for him to focus? He had experienced a trauma. Maybe you have lost your focus because some event has hurt you emotionally. Hopefully, as my grandson recovers from the accident, his vision will return to normal. Honestly, we know that our lives never completely return to normal after an emotional trauma, but we can recover our focus.
My husband has diabetes. He has ongoing issues with his vision because of the effects of diabetes. Even though he is an intelligent, educated man, his oral reading sounds very much like a 2nd grade student because his eyes won't focus on the words on the page. He has lost his focus because of an ongoing problem with his health. Do we sometimes lose our focus on our relationship with Christ because of an ongoing spiritual health issue? Absolutely. Do we harbor bitterness? Are we self-centered? Are we prideful? Do we covet what others have? Are we jealous? And the list goes on. Have you lost your spiritual focus because of an ongoing spiritual health problem? Repent and pray that God will heal you.
Our focus is also affected by where we are looking. With my glasses, I can see far away, but not up close. Without my glasses, I can see up close but not far away. Let's just pretend that we are looking through the lens of our relationship with Jesus. The things up close (earthly things) aren't clear, but the things in the future (heaven) are much clearer to us.
After church we went to visit a church friend who had fallen off the table cleaning a light fixture. She had broken ribs, required surgery to repair broken vertebrae, and will be wearing a neck brace for the next 3 months. Even 4 weeks after her accident, their house is spotless. I should not have gone to visit her. Now my focus is on how filthy our house is. I realize that my husband is not healthy enough to do anything to keep the house clean. (He is healthy enough to make big messes though.) Our son, well, he isn't much help either. Our children who are on their own help us when they can, but they have their own lives. So, that means that all the responsibility for keeping our house clean has fallen to me, and I have failed terribly. Now my focus is not where it should be. But sometimes it's hard to know where our focus should be. Obviously, our relationship with Jesus is first priority. But after that, what is the next area where we need to focus. Providing for our families by going to work? Providing for our families by getting more education to get a better job? Taking care of our families by cooking, cleaning and doing laundry? Taking care of our own health so we can continue to provide for our families. I have no idea! Seeing our friend's house caused me to focus on my failure and to question why things are as they are.
Philippians 2:1-3 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
2 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal. 3 Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.
My focus isn't supposed to be me. I should consider others better than myself. The next verse says that we should look after our own interests, but also the interests of others. I realize that we can not look after, care for, others when we have not cared for our own health and mental well-being. So where should our focus be? We are to focus on one goal. If we continue reading the rest of Philippians 2, we find that one goal is to have the same attitude as Christ. This brings us back to our initial point. We should focus on our relationship with Christ Jesus so that we can be filled with His Spirit and have His attitude.
Saturday, July 7, 2018
Discouraged by Anger and Bitterness
Have you ever had someone in your life who was so angry and bitter than just being in the room with them made you feel discouraged? They gritted their teeth at your when you were doing everything in your power to be kind to them. They never smiled. It takes every ounce of strength you have not to give in to the temptation to be angry back at them. You are angry with them for being angry. You want to cry or scream, and you aren't sure which. You think you would be better off without them, but you are committed to being strong for them in their struggles. It's difficult, isn't it? I think we may have all experienced this at some point in our lives. Dealing with his type of situation is a test of our own character, and our own commitment to trust God in total dependence on Him.
We must look at what the Bible says to see what God says about our situation, what He is teaching us, and how He will strengthen us.
Ezekiel 2:6-8 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
6 “But you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words, though briers and thorns are beside you and you live among scorpions. Don’t be afraid of their words or be discouraged by the look on their faces, for they are a rebellious house. 7 But speak My words to them whether they listen or refuse to listen, for they are rebellious. 8 “And you, son of man, listen to what I tell you: Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house. Open your mouth and eat what I am giving you.”
We must realize that their anger and bitterness is rebellion against God. Even though we live among them, or even with them, we can not become rebellious also. Our responsibility is to speak God's words to them. But we must speak words with God's Spirit. Our words must not be spoken as falsely being God's words when the words are our own words, spoken with frustration. We must be careful to speak from words chosen prayerfully, and not react with emotional words that come from our human responses. God has allowed you (and me) to be in those circumstances for a purpose. We can either allow Him to use us to speak words of encouragement, or we can join the rebellious with our own rebellion.
Luke 18:1 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
18 He then told them a parable on the need for them to pray always and not become discouraged:
Prayer gives us the strength to avoid discouragement. We pray that God will guide us. Sometimes we may want to pray that this person would not be a part of our lives, but that is wrong. We may not understand the purpose, but that person is with us for a purpose. Perhaps we are the one who can offer them encouragement to overcome their anger or bitterness. Maybe they are suffering from an illness and we can help them find medical treatment that will help them. Whatever our purpose might be, we need to ask God to show us what we need to do to help the person. Perhaps that person's bitterness will teach us something about ourselves that will bring us closer to God. Maybe we will learn something about God that we didn't understand before.
1 Thessalonians 5:14-15 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
14 And we exhort you, brothers: warn those who are irresponsible, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 See to it that no one repays evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all.
Maybe the person who makes you feel discouraged is discouraged. The anger and bitterness that person shows toward you is an expression of their own discouragement. Comfort them. Don't treat them like they treat you. Let God use you to repay evil with good.
Romans 15:4-5 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
4 For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures. 5 Now may the God who gives endurance and encouragement allow you to live in harmony with one another, according to the command of Christ Jesus,
We must turn to the scripture to find encouragement. We can live in harmony with one another because the words of scripture instruct us, give us encouragement, and help us endure whatever the circumstances.
Is any of this easy? Absolutely not, especially when the one who is angry and bitter is part of your immediate family, someone you share a home with. You face the temptation to fall into discouragement multiple times per day. But God is faithful to use us to speak words of encouragement, to help the person obtain treatment, to live together in harmony. Will we give in to temptation or Trust in Him?
Honestly, you may not feel like following the instructions we see in scripture. Sometimes I don't either. Maybe even more times than not, I give in to the temptation. I just want to not to have to deal with the situation any more. I pray that God will help me be strong in that temptation, and that you will also find strength in Him. I pray that God will work in the life of my family member.
Pray that God will strengthen you and encourage your family member.
We must look at what the Bible says to see what God says about our situation, what He is teaching us, and how He will strengthen us.
Ezekiel 2:6-8 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
6 “But you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words, though briers and thorns are beside you and you live among scorpions. Don’t be afraid of their words or be discouraged by the look on their faces, for they are a rebellious house. 7 But speak My words to them whether they listen or refuse to listen, for they are rebellious. 8 “And you, son of man, listen to what I tell you: Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house. Open your mouth and eat what I am giving you.”
We must realize that their anger and bitterness is rebellion against God. Even though we live among them, or even with them, we can not become rebellious also. Our responsibility is to speak God's words to them. But we must speak words with God's Spirit. Our words must not be spoken as falsely being God's words when the words are our own words, spoken with frustration. We must be careful to speak from words chosen prayerfully, and not react with emotional words that come from our human responses. God has allowed you (and me) to be in those circumstances for a purpose. We can either allow Him to use us to speak words of encouragement, or we can join the rebellious with our own rebellion.
Luke 18:1 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
18 He then told them a parable on the need for them to pray always and not become discouraged:
Prayer gives us the strength to avoid discouragement. We pray that God will guide us. Sometimes we may want to pray that this person would not be a part of our lives, but that is wrong. We may not understand the purpose, but that person is with us for a purpose. Perhaps we are the one who can offer them encouragement to overcome their anger or bitterness. Maybe they are suffering from an illness and we can help them find medical treatment that will help them. Whatever our purpose might be, we need to ask God to show us what we need to do to help the person. Perhaps that person's bitterness will teach us something about ourselves that will bring us closer to God. Maybe we will learn something about God that we didn't understand before.
1 Thessalonians 5:14-15 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
14 And we exhort you, brothers: warn those who are irresponsible, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 See to it that no one repays evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all.
Maybe the person who makes you feel discouraged is discouraged. The anger and bitterness that person shows toward you is an expression of their own discouragement. Comfort them. Don't treat them like they treat you. Let God use you to repay evil with good.
Romans 15:4-5 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
4 For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures. 5 Now may the God who gives endurance and encouragement allow you to live in harmony with one another, according to the command of Christ Jesus,
We must turn to the scripture to find encouragement. We can live in harmony with one another because the words of scripture instruct us, give us encouragement, and help us endure whatever the circumstances.
Is any of this easy? Absolutely not, especially when the one who is angry and bitter is part of your immediate family, someone you share a home with. You face the temptation to fall into discouragement multiple times per day. But God is faithful to use us to speak words of encouragement, to help the person obtain treatment, to live together in harmony. Will we give in to temptation or Trust in Him?
Honestly, you may not feel like following the instructions we see in scripture. Sometimes I don't either. Maybe even more times than not, I give in to the temptation. I just want to not to have to deal with the situation any more. I pray that God will help me be strong in that temptation, and that you will also find strength in Him. I pray that God will work in the life of my family member.
Pray that God will strengthen you and encourage your family member.
Friday, July 6, 2018
God Loves the World
This is the first week of the second summer term of classes. I am taking two this time, so just a little stressed. The first one is new material to me, but seems interesting. I think I will like it. The other one, well, let's just say that it is the first of the post graduate classes that I haven't absolutely loved. I enjoy learning and even though the classes have been a lot of work, and taken up most of my time, I have loved it. This one frustrates me, not because I can't understand the material, but because the author of the text condemns bias in others, but is clearly biased against anyone who doesn't share his views. He doesn't seem to have a very high opinion of conservative Christians. The assignments the instructor gives ask questions about our "spirituality" and our attitudes. I am answering those questions as honestly as possible. I have explained that while some would say that I am religious, that is not the way I define myself. I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ because I recognized and acknowledged my sinfulness, repented, and accept His gift of forgiveness and salvation. I have said that I want to serve Him wholeheartedly in everything I do. I have talked about having compassion for the children and the parents. Since the classes are online, I only see pictures of the instructors. I don't have a sense of who they are. I actually wonder if these are trick questions to label me as some sort of extremist. I pray that if they don't know Jesus as their Savior, my answers to the questions will point them to the forgiveness and relationship He offers. Since the title of this class has to do with schooling in a pluralistic society, I have been thinking about a verse that is so familiar that we sometimes just skip over it.
John 3:16 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
16 “For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.
The world: Not one nation over another. Not one culture over another. Not me more than you, or you more than me. He loves the world so much that Jesus died and resurrected so that we can be forgiven. He loved us when we were not lovable. Honestly, there are still times when I'm not very lovable. I'm sure the same applies to you. But God loves us.
Romans 5:8 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
8 But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!
Everyone who believes. That gift of salvation is offered to everyone. When we believe, we have eternal life.
Romans 10:9-10 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
9 If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.
Maybe we overlook this verse because it sounds so simple. Yet it is so profound.
So as I take this class that is intended to change my view of the world, and make me more understanding of different cultures, I ask myself, "Who is more suited to change me to love the whole world than the One who truly loves the whole world?" As you watch the news, read articles, read blogs that talk about problems with prejudice and racism, with bias and lack of understanding, think about this. God so loved the WORLD and HE lives in us when we accept His gift of salvation. When His Spirit lives in us, we can love as He loved. We must yield to Him and let Him live through us. I don't need a graduate class to understand that.
(Please pray for my instructors as they read my assignments that God will speak to their hearts. And pray for me as I take this class. I really don't like it.)
John 3:16 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
16 “For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.
The world: Not one nation over another. Not one culture over another. Not me more than you, or you more than me. He loves the world so much that Jesus died and resurrected so that we can be forgiven. He loved us when we were not lovable. Honestly, there are still times when I'm not very lovable. I'm sure the same applies to you. But God loves us.
Romans 5:8 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
8 But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!
Everyone who believes. That gift of salvation is offered to everyone. When we believe, we have eternal life.
Romans 10:9-10 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
9 If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.
Maybe we overlook this verse because it sounds so simple. Yet it is so profound.
So as I take this class that is intended to change my view of the world, and make me more understanding of different cultures, I ask myself, "Who is more suited to change me to love the whole world than the One who truly loves the whole world?" As you watch the news, read articles, read blogs that talk about problems with prejudice and racism, with bias and lack of understanding, think about this. God so loved the WORLD and HE lives in us when we accept His gift of salvation. When His Spirit lives in us, we can love as He loved. We must yield to Him and let Him live through us. I don't need a graduate class to understand that.
(Please pray for my instructors as they read my assignments that God will speak to their hearts. And pray for me as I take this class. I really don't like it.)
Wednesday, July 4, 2018
I Don't Understand
Last week my husband and I were discussing being angry with God. I told him that I don't remember ever being angry with God, but that I often am confused about what God is doing in my life. I ask God what He is trying to teach me. I ask Him why things are happening. In frustration and through tears, I say "God, I don't understand!" So now, in a moment of relative calm in my life, I am contemplating what it means to understand. How do we understand who God is? How do we understand why He does what He does? How do we understand....The list goes on.
Proverbs 2:3-6 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
3 furthermore, if you call out to insight
and lift your voice to understanding,
4 if you seek it like silver
and search for it like hidden treasure,
5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and discover the knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord gives wisdom;
from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Maybe I am on the right track when I tell God that I don't understand. Maybe it's okay that I cry and am frustrated and confused when I tell Him that I don't understand. Look back at these verses. phrase by phrase.
"...call out to insight..." When our children were 8 years old, 4 years old, and 6 months old, we took a vacation to a major city. The swimming pool of the hotel where we were staying was on the 6th floor. Our room was on the 8th floor. The elevator was right across the hallway from our door. After a long day of doing tourist type things, the kids were ready to cool off in the pool. We all got ready to go and started out the door when my husband remembered he had forgotten something and went back into the room. We instructed the children to wait, but the elevator door opened and the 4 year old walked in. The door closed. He pushed the only button low enough for him to reach, and down he went toward the basement. All the way down we could hear him screaming "Maaaa-maaaa....." All the way down to a place he didn't understand, he was crying out to me. My husband ran down each flight of stairs and checked each floor because we didn't know which button he had pushed. When he finally found him in the basement, a hotel employee was trying to calm him down. When he saw his daddy, he was okay. Even children know to call out when they are afraid or confused. God tells us to cry out to insight. When my son was calling out to me, I felt a tremendous compassion for him, and desire to rescue him and hold him in my arms. (Okay. What I felt was panic, but that doesn't make my point. God does not panic. He knows and understands all things.) When we call out to God to give us insight, He sees our dependence on Him and compassionately answers us.
"...lift your voice..." It's difficult to explain where we live, but our house and barn are on one side of the highway, and our cabin and storage buildings are on the other side of the road. Last summer my daughter, son, and daughter-in-law were here visiting. My husband went across the road to the storage building to look for a bolt of some sort. My daughter and I were sitting on the front porch. I heard what sounded like someone hollering (in case you don't speak Southern, that means loudly lifting your voice). We figured out it was my husband and I ran across the road toward the storage building. He had tripped and fallen into an antique cross-cut saw and cut his arm. The cut was long and deep. We ALL sprang into action. My daughter-in-law is a nurse. She began caring for him. My daughter's car was closest. She tossed her brother the keys. He is career Army so he has been trained to be calm in crisis situations, so he drove his dad to the emergency room. Even though my husband was quite a distance from the help he needed, he knew that if he lifted his voice, we would be there to help him. When we are hurt, and need God to give us understanding, and we lift our voices to Him, He will respond to our needs.
"...seek it like silver..." Around our house we spend a lot of time seeking for things. My glasses, my keys, an important document...Whatever we are looking for at the time seems to be of utmost importance, probably more valuable than silver at that particular moment. We search with a purpose, looking wherever we think the item might be. We ask "Have you seen my keys?" or whatever we can't find. When we are seeking understanding, we know that if we ask God, He will guide us. (On a side note: I admit that sometimes I blame one of the other family members for losing whatever it is, and am angry with them (not my glasses-I lose those all my myself). When things happen in our lives that we don't understand, we shouldn't be angry with God. He is blameless and works in all situations for our good. He is the only one who can give us understanding, so we should seek Him like silver.)
"...search for it like hidden treasure..." A few years ago we went to unique state park that allows people to search for diamonds and keep what they find. It wasn't at all what I expected. It looks very much like a field that has been plowed for crops to be planted. The soil is tilled up then people sift through the dirt looking for diamonds. Then it gets even more confusing to me. The diamonds don't look anything like the ones in the jewelry store. They look like rocks. You have to know what you are looking for, and I didn't. I may have overlooked valuable stones. We don't want to miss the understanding that God gives us because we don't recognize His treasure.
"...will understand the fear of the Lord..." Fear of the Lord means that we have a reverence for who He is. Some might mistakenly equate fear of the Lord with being scared by monsters, and other movie characters. That couldn't be further from the truth. Fear of the Lord results in worship, not fright. An understanding of the events in our lives that confuse us does not come to independently of understanding the nature of God. I certainly don't fully understand who God is, but there are important things about Him that I do know, even if I don't understand. I know He loves me. I know He is all powerful. I know He is all knowing. I know He wants what is best for me. I know He sees the bigger picture when I am focused on what is right in front of my face. I know I can trust Him completely. I know He is righteous. I know His judgements are right. I know He forgives when I confess my sins and repent. I know He is full of grace and mercy. Recognizing these facts gives me reverence for Him.
"...and discover the knowledge of God..." Trying to order hamburgers for my family in a drive thru is a nightmare. One wants mustard and catsup only, another wants only onions, lettuce, and mustard, another wants no mayo but everything else, one wants no tomatoes...To be honest when it comes to ordering hamburgers, I don't know my family very well. I have a difficult time remembering everyone's preferences. To really know someone involves minute details, not just general information. I can know they like hamburgers, but that isn't enough to say that I really know them. When we discover the knowledge of God, we know him personally and grasp the finer details of who He is. But look at the phrase again. We discover the knowledge of God. Making a discovery is a life changing event. When an explorer discovers a new landform, it changes millions of maps and gives greater understanding about geography. When a researcher discovers the cure for a disease, lives are saved. When someone rummages through the attic and finds information about his or her ancestors, that changes his or her perspective of identity. Discoveries change something. Discoveries also take effort. Lewis and Clark didn't discover all the things they did while sitting in St. Louis drinking tea. To discover the valuable knowledge of God, we call out, we lift our voices (we pray). We seek and search (we read and study the scriptures, seek godly counsel, listen to sound teaching.)
"For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding."
We pray, read and study, we listen, but none of that means anything unless God reveals. Only He has true wisdom, knowledge and understanding, and He is willing to give those to us.
Let me give a brief synopsis of this past year. My husband cut his arm, had diabetic ulcers that took long term treatment, was in a wreck that resulted in injuries that required surgery and kept him confined to the bed or recliner for 4 months. My daughter in law had cancer then developed lupus. My grandson was apparently hit by a car while riding his bicycle and had significant injuries. I have been working full time and taking post graduate classes. You get the picture. There have been times when I didn't understand why things happened like they have. But God does, and He wants to tell me. He wants me to seek for understanding because He will answer me. He is the only one who can give true understanding.
Proverbs 2:3-6 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
3 furthermore, if you call out to insight
and lift your voice to understanding,
4 if you seek it like silver
and search for it like hidden treasure,
5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and discover the knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord gives wisdom;
from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Maybe I am on the right track when I tell God that I don't understand. Maybe it's okay that I cry and am frustrated and confused when I tell Him that I don't understand. Look back at these verses. phrase by phrase.
"...call out to insight..." When our children were 8 years old, 4 years old, and 6 months old, we took a vacation to a major city. The swimming pool of the hotel where we were staying was on the 6th floor. Our room was on the 8th floor. The elevator was right across the hallway from our door. After a long day of doing tourist type things, the kids were ready to cool off in the pool. We all got ready to go and started out the door when my husband remembered he had forgotten something and went back into the room. We instructed the children to wait, but the elevator door opened and the 4 year old walked in. The door closed. He pushed the only button low enough for him to reach, and down he went toward the basement. All the way down we could hear him screaming "Maaaa-maaaa....." All the way down to a place he didn't understand, he was crying out to me. My husband ran down each flight of stairs and checked each floor because we didn't know which button he had pushed. When he finally found him in the basement, a hotel employee was trying to calm him down. When he saw his daddy, he was okay. Even children know to call out when they are afraid or confused. God tells us to cry out to insight. When my son was calling out to me, I felt a tremendous compassion for him, and desire to rescue him and hold him in my arms. (Okay. What I felt was panic, but that doesn't make my point. God does not panic. He knows and understands all things.) When we call out to God to give us insight, He sees our dependence on Him and compassionately answers us.
"...lift your voice..." It's difficult to explain where we live, but our house and barn are on one side of the highway, and our cabin and storage buildings are on the other side of the road. Last summer my daughter, son, and daughter-in-law were here visiting. My husband went across the road to the storage building to look for a bolt of some sort. My daughter and I were sitting on the front porch. I heard what sounded like someone hollering (in case you don't speak Southern, that means loudly lifting your voice). We figured out it was my husband and I ran across the road toward the storage building. He had tripped and fallen into an antique cross-cut saw and cut his arm. The cut was long and deep. We ALL sprang into action. My daughter-in-law is a nurse. She began caring for him. My daughter's car was closest. She tossed her brother the keys. He is career Army so he has been trained to be calm in crisis situations, so he drove his dad to the emergency room. Even though my husband was quite a distance from the help he needed, he knew that if he lifted his voice, we would be there to help him. When we are hurt, and need God to give us understanding, and we lift our voices to Him, He will respond to our needs.
"...seek it like silver..." Around our house we spend a lot of time seeking for things. My glasses, my keys, an important document...Whatever we are looking for at the time seems to be of utmost importance, probably more valuable than silver at that particular moment. We search with a purpose, looking wherever we think the item might be. We ask "Have you seen my keys?" or whatever we can't find. When we are seeking understanding, we know that if we ask God, He will guide us. (On a side note: I admit that sometimes I blame one of the other family members for losing whatever it is, and am angry with them (not my glasses-I lose those all my myself). When things happen in our lives that we don't understand, we shouldn't be angry with God. He is blameless and works in all situations for our good. He is the only one who can give us understanding, so we should seek Him like silver.)
"...search for it like hidden treasure..." A few years ago we went to unique state park that allows people to search for diamonds and keep what they find. It wasn't at all what I expected. It looks very much like a field that has been plowed for crops to be planted. The soil is tilled up then people sift through the dirt looking for diamonds. Then it gets even more confusing to me. The diamonds don't look anything like the ones in the jewelry store. They look like rocks. You have to know what you are looking for, and I didn't. I may have overlooked valuable stones. We don't want to miss the understanding that God gives us because we don't recognize His treasure.
"...will understand the fear of the Lord..." Fear of the Lord means that we have a reverence for who He is. Some might mistakenly equate fear of the Lord with being scared by monsters, and other movie characters. That couldn't be further from the truth. Fear of the Lord results in worship, not fright. An understanding of the events in our lives that confuse us does not come to independently of understanding the nature of God. I certainly don't fully understand who God is, but there are important things about Him that I do know, even if I don't understand. I know He loves me. I know He is all powerful. I know He is all knowing. I know He wants what is best for me. I know He sees the bigger picture when I am focused on what is right in front of my face. I know I can trust Him completely. I know He is righteous. I know His judgements are right. I know He forgives when I confess my sins and repent. I know He is full of grace and mercy. Recognizing these facts gives me reverence for Him.
"...and discover the knowledge of God..." Trying to order hamburgers for my family in a drive thru is a nightmare. One wants mustard and catsup only, another wants only onions, lettuce, and mustard, another wants no mayo but everything else, one wants no tomatoes...To be honest when it comes to ordering hamburgers, I don't know my family very well. I have a difficult time remembering everyone's preferences. To really know someone involves minute details, not just general information. I can know they like hamburgers, but that isn't enough to say that I really know them. When we discover the knowledge of God, we know him personally and grasp the finer details of who He is. But look at the phrase again. We discover the knowledge of God. Making a discovery is a life changing event. When an explorer discovers a new landform, it changes millions of maps and gives greater understanding about geography. When a researcher discovers the cure for a disease, lives are saved. When someone rummages through the attic and finds information about his or her ancestors, that changes his or her perspective of identity. Discoveries change something. Discoveries also take effort. Lewis and Clark didn't discover all the things they did while sitting in St. Louis drinking tea. To discover the valuable knowledge of God, we call out, we lift our voices (we pray). We seek and search (we read and study the scriptures, seek godly counsel, listen to sound teaching.)
"For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding."
We pray, read and study, we listen, but none of that means anything unless God reveals. Only He has true wisdom, knowledge and understanding, and He is willing to give those to us.
Let me give a brief synopsis of this past year. My husband cut his arm, had diabetic ulcers that took long term treatment, was in a wreck that resulted in injuries that required surgery and kept him confined to the bed or recliner for 4 months. My daughter in law had cancer then developed lupus. My grandson was apparently hit by a car while riding his bicycle and had significant injuries. I have been working full time and taking post graduate classes. You get the picture. There have been times when I didn't understand why things happened like they have. But God does, and He wants to tell me. He wants me to seek for understanding because He will answer me. He is the only one who can give true understanding.
Friday, April 22, 2016
Overwhelmed or balanced?
From the very beginning I have told you that my thoughts are often random. This particular time will be particularly disjointed. So, please be patient with me.
I’ve been overwhelmed at work for about three weeks. No time to blog anything. No time to stop and smell the roses. I told my husband, “I don’t want to stop the train and get off. I just want to stop the train long enough to smell the roses then get back on.” Mostly I have worked, prayed, and stress eaten lots of peanuts. Trying to stress eat low carb doesn’t leave many choices that you can grab with one hand and while you type with the other. And when I haven’t been concentrating on deadlines, timelines, and regulations, my mind has run amuck with random deep thoughts or just plain ramblings. I’m not really sure which. Mostly I thought about what is important to me. And that may be drastically different than what is really important.
One of those random thoughts was how I would like to be remembered by my family, friends and co-workers. ( I must have been thinking that the stress level would be the death of me. :-) )
Obviously different priorities are associated with each of those. I would like for my family to remember that I loved them with all my heart, that I worked hard to do things for them and provide for them, and that I had time for them. I fear that the times I was working hard to provide for them, they will remember that I didn’t have time for them. When I take the time to be with them when things need to be done, I fear that they will remember me as being lazy and unproductive. The times I showed my love for them by correcting or instructing, I fear that they will remember that as harshness.
I want my friends to remember me as compassionate and available to listen. But as an introvert, even though I love being with my friends, but I also need to be by myself to regroup. I fear that they will see that as avoiding them.
For my co-workers, I want them to remember me as knowledgeable, committed, accurate and efficient, caring, and professional. But as I strive for the balance between accuracy and efficiency, I fear I accomplish neither and my co-workers see me as incompetent. There is so much to learn that I will never be knowledgeable enough. Then, the whole caring and professional balance is like walking a tightrope.
Then it gets even more complicated when the perceptions I want family, friends and co-workers to have of me works in opposition. How do I have time for my family when I am working 16 hours a day 7 days a week to try to obtain both efficiency and accuracy in my work. How can I go to every one of my son’s baseball games so that he realizes how important he to me, and still complete nearly 50 conferences with the accompanying paperwork. How can I...How can I...How can I…?
Life is fleeting.
---------
1 Peter 1:23-25 New International Version (NIV)
23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
24 For, “All people are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall.
25 but the word of the Lord endures forever.”
And this is the word that was preached to you.
Psalm 78:39 New International Version (NIV) 39 He remembered that they were but flesh,
a passing breeze that does not return.
So what should be our priorities?
Proverbs 4:23 New International Version (NIV) 23 Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.
So, the truth is, as much as I desire that others will perceive and even remember me as having the characteristics that I want to have, all that really matters is if my heart is right with God. Nothing else has eternal significance. The relationship I have with God is what will ultimately matter to my family, my friends, and co-workers. This is true even when they do not have a relationship with Him. If my heart is right, He can influence them, touch them, draw them to Himself. If my heart is not right, if I cherish sin in my heart, then the opposite can be true. (And I thought the pressure to hold conferences and do paperwork was overwhelming!) How terribly overwhelming is the thought that my lack of commitment to God can negatively impact someone else’s relationship with God.
So how does a heart right with God look in a family.
1 Timothy 5:4 New International Version (NIV) 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.
We are supposed to take care of our families.
What about friendships? How do we love our friends? How do we show that love?
1 John 4:7-8 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) 7 Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
We are to love each other with the love of God. True friendship and love cannot exist without God loving through us. If we are not abiding in Christ, our love for family and friends is an imitation but not the genuine thing.
So, what is the purpose of our friendships?
2 Corinthians 12:19 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) 19 You have thought all along that we were defending ourselves to you. No, in the sight of God we are speaking in Christ, and everything, dear friends, is for building you up.
Our friendships are to build others up in Christ. We are to encourage, and help each other keep our focus on our relationships with God.
And what about professionally? What does God expect of us in our work relationships.
Ephesians 6:6-8 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) 6 Don’t work only while being watched, in order to please men, but as slaves of Christ, do God’s will from your heart.[a] 7 Serve with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to men, 8 knowing that whatever good each one does, slave or free, he will receive this back from the Lord.
If God wants us to function in all these situations, and He does, then He will give us the strength to do His will. We can not do it by ourselves. We will wear ourselves out. We will not do any of these things well. The only answer is to let Christ reign as Lord in our lives. We can do all things only when He empowers us.
Philippians 4:13 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) 13 I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.
I’m still not finished with the paperwork and conferences. We still have baseball games 3 and 4 nights per week. I still need to prepare Sunday School lessons. My husband still has health issues. My adult children and grandchildren still have victories and hurts to share. I still have students who need therapy that gets pushed aside because the paperwork has to be done. But, when I realize what is really important, and Who can balance it all in perfect balance, I can let go of the stress and rest in the security and assurance that Jesus is Lord.
Saturday, March 19, 2016
Amazing: No Serious Injuries
Last night my husband and I went out to eat. On the way back home, we passed a portion of our farm that is about a mile from our house. We noticed a couple of pick up trucks there so we stopped to see who was on our property. On closer observation we realized it was our son and some friends attempting to fix a flat tire on our truck. We pulled into the driveway to see if we could help. Just a few minutes after we arrived, our son and his friend had loosened the lug nuts and he was taking the tire off the truck. The jack must have tilted in the soft soil because the truck came crashing down and trapped our son’s hands between the tire and the fender/tire well. (I am not really knowledgeable about car/truck body parts, so I’m not sure what this is actually called.) He was obviously in pain and although he was keeping outwardly calm, it was clear he was near panic. I’m not sure how, but the six of us who were there were able to lift the truck just enough to lessen the pressure so that he could get his hands out. He wrapped his bloody hand in his dirty white tee shirt and I drove him to the emergency room.
(My husband and the teenagers there, with the help of one his friends whose family owns a tire store and have professional grade jacks, were able to get the spare on the truck.)
Meanwhile, at the emergency room: I drove up to the emergency room door and let my son out with instructions for him to tell them what had happened, and that I was parking the car and would be right there. I parked the car and walked in just in time to see him collapsing onto the floor, with the nurse telling him not to do that because the floor was dirty. She took one side and I the other and held him up until someone else arrived with a wheel chair. Several x-rays later, it was determined that no bones were broken and the injuries were not serious. The injuries were cleaned and bandaged, and he was able to come home.
When we went outside in the daylight today, we could see that the fender/tire well was bent pretty badly. I am AMAZED and THANKFUL that our son was not seriously injured. How did the truck fall so hard that it bent the metal but did not break his bones? There is not a logical explanation that I can understand.
There are lots of things that I don’t understand, but may have a logical explanation. Then there are things that defy the logic of even the most intelligent. God is beyond my comprehension. He is all loving, all knowing, all powerful, ever present, majestic, full of glory, and the list goes on. His unconditional, sacrificial love for us is beyond my comprehension. He is the most AMAZING God, and for His Love I am completely THANKFUL.
So, my son having only minor injuries is a wonderful thing. It is one of the ways that God has shown His grace, mercy, and love toward us. Just one of so many!
Crazy, Annoying Cat
Just to make this clear: I have never really liked cats. In fact, I am quite frankly afraid of their claws. But, the strange thing is that cats seem to like me, seriously like me. We have a kitten, approximately 5 months old, who loves me. She sleeps right next to me in the bed, and every morning (sometimes at 1:30 and other times just before the alarm goes off at 4:50) she wakes me up by walking across my face several times, then putting her nose to my nose and touching my face with her paws. Totally annoying! (And when I tell my husband how annoying it is, he says “She never does that to me.” Really? Seriously! He is the one who actually likes cats.) So, today being Saturday, when I don’t have to get up and go to work, I wanted to sleep a little later. I tried to ignore her. Then, she stands on my chest with her nose in my face and jumps up and down, literally shaking me like a parent would shake a child. How she did that, I do not know. But, I was up at 5:00 a.m. on Saturday morning.
All this to say, there must be some sort of lesson to be learned or truth to be understood. Maybe it is to love those who do not love us. Maybe it is that perseverance pays off. Maybe it is that we learn patience through the annoyances of life.
Matthew 5:43-44 (HCSB)
43 “You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
43 “You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Truth is, it is much easier to feel affection toward an annoying cat than to people who are mean or hateful to you or your family.
Ephesians 6:17-19 (HCSB)
18 Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert in this with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.
18 Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert in this with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.
I don’t know from where a cat gets perseverance, but scripture tells us that our perseverance comes from the Spirit of God dwelling in us. Through prayer, He strengthens our ability to persevere.
Colossians 3:12-13 (HCSB)
12 Therefore, God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 13 accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive.
12 Therefore, God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 13 accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive.
When we have a complaint against someone, we are to be patient and forgive. God set us an example in this. Our sin is much more grievous to Him than anything another human (or cat) can do to us, yet He loved us enough to die for us. He took our sinfulness away. He cleansed us from the guilt of our sin. His love is unfailing.
The cat shows me unfailing love, no matter how many times I put her down on the floor, she continues to jump back up and put her nose in my face again. We need to love others with that some tenacity.
For all you cat lovers who didn’t hear anything after “I don’t really like cats”, I have grown to be quite fond of this annoying little rascal. When no one is listening, you MIGHT hear me calling her sweet names and telling her how much I love her. Right now, she is sitting in my lap as I type. :-)
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