I Have a Vision. Now Where Do I Begin?

Taking Ownership

2012-02-12T07:53:00.002-05:00

It seems that fewer and fewer people are “owners” these days. In some residential areas, there are more apartment renters than homeowners. In the luxury car industry, some have speculated there are more leasers than car owners. It has even been reported recently that the DVD industry is failing because more people are opting streaming services such as Netflix vs. buying DVDs of blockbuster movies. We’re losing ownership. Fast.

There was a time when you purchased something, and that was the end of it. After 5, 10, or even 15 years, you would consider replacing it. And that was usually a very deliberate decision made after weeks of pouring through reviews, making comparisons, and having lengthy conversations with salespeople about product features. Today, the average appliance may be changed every 3 to 5 years. And technology becomes old after just 2 years of use. Even most cell phone carriers offer a “New Every 2” incentive, so that you can have the latest devices every other year.

My parents came from a generation of “1 and done.” That meant, you bought something and you were pretty much done paying for it. Back then, if you purchased a television, you may have put out a lot of money upfront for the best model you could afford. And that was the end of it. Today, after spending hundreds, or even thousands of dollars for a great television, you still have to pay a monthly fee for service (even for local access!). When my parents bought me a toy, that was pretty much it until it fell apart. Today, the toys we purchase our kids come with separate attachments, cartridges, and even monthly service fees that force us to keep making payments over time.

Aren’t you glad that at least there’s one thing that’s paid for that you never have to worry about again? As Christians, we know that the price has been paid for our sin debt. Jesus sacrificed Himself and paid for our souls in full. If we believe this, there’s no monthly fee, no payment plan, no service agreement that will keep us apart from Him. God’s love is a constant, as Psalm 100:5 tells us, “For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.”

From now until the end of time, we are His and He is ours. That’s the kind of ownership that matters.

Super Bowl of the Soul

2012-02-05T07:58:00.003-05:00

Today is Super Bowl Sunday. I’m not going to take sides or make any armchair quarterback calls today, but I’d like to make a Biblical sports analogy and talk about how to win the Super Bowl of the soul.

In any kind of sports contest, you may notice that athletes have intense focus. They never seem to lose sight of the goal. They are trained to drive toward what’s ahead. They sweat, they push, and they work as hard as they can to reach the end goal. And for those who press forward to the end, they enjoy the sweet taste of victory. Our Christian journey is much like that. We are all striving to reach the end goal—eternal life. In order for us to reach it, we have to make the right moves to get there.

It begins with training. Studying the Word of God and going before the Lord in prayer helps to strengthen our spiritual muscle. We are better able to endure when we are well prepared for the struggle ahead. Just as worldly athletes need a healthy diet to keep themselves in shape, as Christians, we should be careful about what we ingest. Do we allow ourselves to overindulge in spiritual “junk food,” or do we have a steady diet of good counsel, positive conversation, uplifting music, and pure thoughts?

On the field—that is our daily life—we have to keep our focus. Of course there are obstacles to face. Some opponents are easy to maneuver around. But sometimes we come across more fierce competition. We need to be careful not to get sidelined by the sins that may easily beset us. And by no means should we ever let them push us back! There are times we may get caught up and fall flat, but we need to get up and keep going. There may be scars, and there may be bruises, but they serve as a testimony of how God has brought us through even the most difficult plays.

To reach the end goal, we have to stay focused on what’s ahead. In Philippians 3:12-14, Paul says, “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Are you running in such a way to get the prize? Are you headed toward the goal line? Press forward, never give up, and keep the faith!

Whatever Happened to Sin?

2012-01-29T07:37:00.002-05:00

Some things are too old fashioned to even bother worrying about today. Remember rotary telephones, typewriters, and record players? Those are things of the past, belonging to another era of years ago. However, it seems that among some Christians, the idea of “sin” goes right up there with drive-in theaters—we’ve heard of it, or remember it, but that was something from a long time ago.

Back in the day, “fire and brimstone” preachers would warn their congregations about the consequences of sin. To be a Christian meant being mindful of avoiding sinful practices and being repentant for falling into the snares of sin. Today, many good, church-going people are told about prosperity and the blessings of the Lord. But how often are we being reminded that He hates sin? The word doesn’t even seem to be part of most people’s vocabulary these days. Often, we hear about “right and wrong” but the word “sin” is conspicuously absent.

When people don’t understand the very premise of sin, the idea of Christianity itself can seem trivial or old-fashioned. Perhaps this is why some people think of going to church as something to be done out of “tradition.” Perhaps this is why even within the church there are so many people suffering and struggling with sin. Maybe this is why our society is rapidly moving away from the Christian principles many of us grew up with, and now focuses on “doing what you feel is best for you.”

So then, what is sin? Sin is anything that displeases the Lord. Adam and Eve committed the first sin. After being told explicitly not to eat the fruit of a certain tree, they decided to do so. It was blatant disobedience toward God. And for that sin, they were punished and brought condemnation into the entire world. We, as human beings, are born into sin. Originally, God gave His chosen people a Law to follow which would save them from the penalty of sin, which is death. But the Law was too much for people to live by, and all their sacrifices were for naught. So God had to send His own Son into the world as the perfect and ultimate sacrifice for mankind. Through Jesus Christ’s life, crucifixion and resurrection, we are saved from the penalty of sin. To become a Christian, we need only to believe and confess that this is true.

If we continue to look at sin as a thing of the past and buy into the present-day idea of “just living the best you can,” we lose the promise of an eternal future.

What are your thoughts on sin? Leave a comment here, on Facebook, or Twitter.

After the Fast

2012-01-22T07:51:00.002-05:00

During a period of fasting, I turn away from the snacks and goodies that I enjoy so much. No sleeve of chocolate chip cookies for me, no greasy French fries, and certainly no sugary sweet muffins, cookies, or cupcakes. But after the fast has ended, eventually the cookies, cakes, and fries make their way back into my diet. Considering how easy it is to fall back into poor food choices, how much easier is it to fall back into sinful choices each day?

Those who fast understand how spiritually great we can feel during that period of self-denial. Our focus is on God and we are consciously avoiding sinful behaviors. We may even feel a sense of “extra righteousness” when we turn away from carnal things to focus on the holy: “No, no, I will not watch that new episode of Law & Order tonight—I’m going to spend the evening studying the Word.”

Yet fasting is usually for only a predetermined amount of time. After the fast, we return to our regular lifestyle. Some like myself may want to linger in the fasting mode a little longer, to hold on to that spiritual closeness we feel towards the Lord. But eventually, our routine kicks in, and we realize that we’re falling back into our regular lifestyle.

But when we return to our “regular” life we should be careful that we don’t fall into our “regular” sin. Hebrews 12:1 warns of “the sin that so easily entangles.” It is my belief that this type of sin varies between individuals. What easily entangles me may not easily entangle you. But whatever it may be, we should be on the lookout to avoid the snare of any sin that might trip us up.

After the fast, we are usually spiritually squeaky clean. But let us be reminded of the warning in Matthew 12:43- 45. Those sins—or demons, even—from which we have been cleansed, are always lurking for a way to come back and drag us down even more. After the fast, we need to be even more vigilant about avoiding sinful behaviors. We need to make definite decisions to avoid being caught up in our “favorite” sins.

Living a holy life is more than periodic fasting—it’s a series of conscious choices that have everlasting results. Maybe there are some issues you are struggling with right now—sins that you find yourself repeating and regretting time and again. It’s time to have a conversation with Jesus and ask Him for help in overcoming these problem areas of your life.

Offer Him repentance, and He’ll give you abundance!

It's Not Just for You

2012-01-15T07:40:00.001-05:00

There are times when God shows us extraordinary favor. In situations where we should have been counted out, might have been overlooked, or otherwise could have found ourselves left behind, God has shown His glory and pulled us through. But perhaps we should look at favor as more than a testimony and consider the responsibility.

Last week in Sunday School, we discussed the topic of favor. We looked at the life of Joseph and how the Lord covered him throughout his life. Joseph was thrown into a pit by his own brothers, sold into slavery in a foreign land, and then received a position of honor in servitude. He was later thrown in jail for a crime he didn’t commit, only to be freed and given the second most powerful position in the land. Each time it looked like all was lost—in situations where others certainly perished or had given up—Joseph rose to the top because of divine favor.

But Joseph understood that this favor was for a purpose. Joseph forgave his brothers for what they had done, telling them, “But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God.” (Gen. 45:7-8) Joseph understood that the favor he was shown was not just for a glorious testimony or for personal gain—it was ordained so that he may be used as a vessel for God’s purpose.

The Word tells us, “…From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” (Luke 12:48) When God shows us favor, He blesses us with the power to bless others. Favor comes with a responsibility and with it, we are equipped to do the work ahead.

May God show you singular favor in your life so that you may be a blessing to the multitudes!

Fools and Babies

2012-01-08T07:50:00.002-05:00

I’ve often heard people say, “God protects fools and babies.” Well, I’m no baby and I thank God for His hand of protection! What I love about Him is that He realizes that we can all be a little foolish every now and then.

The phrase about fools and babies is most often applied in situations where the person is in some kind of physical danger. Like the person who sits in a car with the engine running in an enclosed garage—and lives to tell about it. But for me, it’s most apropos in situations where I’m on the verge of a spiritual catastrophe.

In my life, I’ve found that usually, when I’m about to enter a sinful situation, God provides an escape hatch. For example, once when I was a teenager, I wanted to go to a party that was happening a few blocks away. My mom was working the night shift and I was forbidden to leave the house because I had to take care of my little sister. I got a call from one of my friends who urged me to go to the party. Man, I really wanted to go! And I would be back before my mother came home from work—she would never know! Most importantly (in my teenage mind) I didn’t want to punk out on my friend. But just as I was about to say, “Yes,” defying my mother’s direct orders—my friend acknowledged, “Oh, but you have to watch your sister, right?” That was my “Get Out of Sin Free” card!

As I’ve become older, I have learned to look for the way out of sin in obvious situations. But then there are the situations that are created in my own mind. The ones where I make up my mind about something and that’s just what it is! Well, let’s start with Proverb 12:15, which says, “The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.” The danger in “making ones mind up” is that there is little room to receive correction. That’s when the Lord snatches me by the neck and shows me the error of my thinking, head-on.

When I’ve made up my foolish mind, without fail, I’ll come across a Scripture that might as well have my name emblazoned in the text. For example, some years ago, I was mad at my neighbor and I had some information for her that she had requested prior to our disagreement. When I realized that I had the info for her, I decided in my own mind that because I was mad at her, I would wait until the following week to get it to her. That very day, during my Scripture reading I came across Proverbs 3:27-28, “Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, ‘Come back later; I’ll give it tomorrow’—when you now have it with you.” I’ll never forget how ironic and frightening it was to see those words before me in the Bible. Needless to say, I acted on that swiftly!

This is why it’s important to pray daily and read your Bible regularly. You never know when God will reveal something to you or you’ll come across a Scripture that has your name and situation written all over it. Also, attend a Bible study group—you may be surprised to find that the next session was prepared just for you!

We can all be a little foolish at times—but let’s all thank God for His great hand of protection!

A New Attitude

2012-01-01T07:30:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year! Over the next week or so, advertisers will place a lot of emphasis on the word “new.” Gyms will encourage you to discover a “new you.” Clothing retailers will ask you to try a “new look.” There may even be a health food company out there promoting “new-trition”!

Prayerfully, as we enter 2012, we’ll also take the opportunity this season to adopt a new attitude toward our Christian walk. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” When we became saved, we died to our old way of life. Part of the benefit of our salvation is to enjoy walking in the newness of life.

Since you have been saved, how has your life changed? What new habits and attitudes have you adopted? Whether you were saved yesterday or 40 years ago, you should be able to answer this question. And if you’re having difficulty coming up with an answer, maybe it’s time to turn to the Lord in prayer. Ask Him how you can live life in Him to the fullest with new thoughts and actions that mirror those of Christ Jesus.

Maybe you need a new approach to your prayer life or your Bible reading. Ask for God’s help and guidance and trust Him to lead you. And make a deliberate effort to stick with this new way of doing things. You may be amazed by the blessings that await you!

We look forward to all that the Lord will do in our lives in 2012. May God bless you and yours in abundance.

Best. Gift. Ever.

2011-12-25T07:30:00.000-05:00

This Christmas morning, many will awaken to find boxes of various sizes wrapped with shiny paper, ribbons, and bows under the tree. But any kid can tell you, just as you can’t judge a book by its cover, you can never really tell how great a gift will be by its trimmings. They say the best gifts come in the smallest packages. That just may be very true…

Many years ago, people were awaiting a great gift from God. He promised them a Messiah, a deliverer who would save them from their suffering. Over the course of a few centuries, speculation abounded and many were hopeful that the gift would arrive soon. Many may have anticipated that the Messiah would ride in on a great white horse, draped in gold linens. He would dismount his steed and throw back his perfect hair, declaring that he would lead the people to victory.

When God’s gift arrived in the world, the anticipation and excitement were great. A chorus of angels heralded His presence. A star burned above, greater than the spotlight of a Hollywood premiere, signaling the location of the Messiah. And three travelers from the East made their way to find Him. Yet when they finally arrived, there were no gold linens. No white steed. No great warrior with rippling muscles and glistening teeth. They found a child.

In the meekest of conditions, they found God’s gift to all people. Jesus Christ, the very Son of God. Some would have scoffed at the presentation of this gift. In fact, even later in His life many did. Some wondered how this Jesus, the son of a carpenter from a nondescript town called Nazareth, could possibly be the Messiah that had been prophesized.

1 Corinthians 1:25 says, “For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.” God knew exactly what He was doing when He sent that precious gift. The gift of Jesus Christ, and the salvation offered through Him, is not for those who seek the shiny, fleeting pleasures that are the trifles of this world. It is for those who want greater substance in their lives, and those who desire the joy of His presence for eternity.

When I became saved, I received the best gift ever. I was 8 years old at a Christian sleep-away camp. And although I was raised Christian and knew of Jesus from the time I could walk and talk, that night at camp was the first time I could recall making a decision for myself that I wanted to accept the Gift that God had offered. And throughout the years, that Gift has never stopped giving.

Offer the gift of salvation to someone you know. It doesn’t come in a box, and it has no cash value. But it’s the best gift a person can ever receive. Share the joy.

Peace and blessings to you, and Merry Christmas!

What Tomorrow Holds

2011-12-11T07:42:00.002-05:00

My aunt and uncle have made it a consistent practice to end every discussion of future plans with, “Lord willing.” For example, “We’ll be at your house at 8, Lord willing.” Or “Can’t wait to see you on Christmas, Lord willing.” As a child, I thought this was pretty peculiar, but I have grown to appreciate the wisdom contained in those two closing words.

The wisdom of my aunt and uncle’s perspective actually comes straight from Scripture. James 4:13-17 tells us that we should acknowledge that the plans we make are only according to God’s will. It reinforces that we have no idea of what the future holds.

This week, people I know and care about have lost loved ones, undergone surgery, and dealt with major illness. The week prior, they may not have even imagined themselves facing these trials. Any plans they had previously made were put on hold to deal with the unexpected turn of events. And all this reminds us that for as much as we plan and prepare, we never know what awaits us.

As society emphasizes being in “control of your future” and “deciding your own destiny,” we sometimes lose perspective of what we can realistically control. This is why many become devastated when things don’t go as planned. They complain that things are “spiraling out of control.” Often, the only thing that is truly up to us to control is how we approach and react to the situations we face each day. Do we respond with faith or fear?

Our lives are in God’s hands. As Christians, we should be even more acutely aware of this truth. And we should rejoice in the fact that no matter what happens, our Lord and Savior will never leave us or forsake us. Things may not always go according to our plans, but can turn our situations over to the Lord, for His will to be done.

Looking forward to sharing with you again next week, Lord willing!

Would You Be Your Friend?

2011-12-04T07:41:00.001-05:00

A radio station recently posed a question to people passing on the street: “Would you be your own friend?” One of the first responses was, “No way, I’m a jerk! I wouldn’t even answer the phone if I called.” Another person, exuding self-confidence said, “I’m kind and loving and a great listener. I would be my best friend.” The range of questions prompted me to poll those around me.

I’m delighted to say that most of the people I know and love would be friends with themselves, as well. They cited their attractive qualities, such as thoughtfulness, pleasant disposition, and ability to have a good time with other people. And they gave examples of why they thought they are great friends to others.

Now each of these people happen to be Christian, and it made me further wonder if their faith had anything to do with their “friendability.” I thought of Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control….” It was interesting to me that many of the qualities they citied were right from that scripture.

Of course, this is not to say that a non-Christian cannot be friendly! However, the point is that as Christians, we have been called by Christ to walk a certain way, and that walk can help us in our interactions with those around us. We have the greatest friend of all in Jesus. And all He asks of us is that we demonstrate the same love to those around us as He has shown us.

Let’s be friends!

Now you can find me on twitter @aliciarharris.

Faith vs. Desperation

2011-11-27T07:45:00.002-05:00

Many of us know that God can be a lawyer in the courtroom. He is a doctor in the sickroom. He is a deliverer in the time of trouble. In times of great desperation, tried and true Christians know to turn to God. Yet, does that faith extend to our everyday, seemingly insignificant, issues as well?

In “Does God Care About Scrabble?” we explored the privilege we have in carrying even our smallest concerns to God in prayer. This seems to be a greatly overlooked benefit of our relationship with Christ. And it goes hand in hand with why many of us fail to realize that faith isn’t just for the tribulations—it’s part of our everyday walk with God.

Often, when people give testimonies, they reflect on how God has healed them from catastrophic diseases or helped them get through devastating crises. These witnesses are important, because they help us to know that God is still a deliverer and He’s still in the miracle business. But how often are they balanced with the testimonies of joy? What about the accounts of those who are simply grateful that they get to work on time each day, have a comfortable roof over their heads, and enjoyed a wonderful vacation with the family recently?

When we become accustomed to applying our faith in the Lord only during our struggles, we tend to lose sight of the faith we need to make it each and every day. Hebrews 11 tells us quite plainly, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” There is no prerequisite that “what we hope for” must be seemingly impossible. The simplest thing, such as “I hope this sweet potato pie comes out right,” is an opportunity to put our faith in action.

When we practice faith daily, it becomes all the stronger when we are really put to the test.

Merry Christmas

2011-11-13T07:31:00.001-05:00

Yes, it’s a little early for season’s greetings, don’t you agree? However, it seems that many of the retail establishments we walk into these days already have their Christmas holiday decorations up. And the sales have already begun, as shoppers are urged to “remember everyone on your Christmas list.” How about we remember what the season is really about?

As the year comes to a close, we look forward to the Christmas holiday. Many folks think about the gifts to buy and wrap, the decorations to hang, and the meal that the family will come together to enjoy. But for Christians, the holiday is about so much more than that! It’s a reminder of the birth of our Lord and Savior. And it’s an opportunity to share our faith with others, as we sing hymns and praises of the joy that accompanied Jesus' birth: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11)

The Christmas holiday is also a traditional time of giving. We not only give gifts to our friends and loved ones, but many make it a point to give to those in need. We make clothing donations, shop for the disadvantaged, and make monetary donations to charitable organizations. Imagine if these activities took place on a regular basis!

I’ve often thought about wishing people season’s greetings at some random point in the year. Let’s say you gave me a call on March 23rd and I answered the phone, “Merry Christmas.” Although you might think I was suffering from an early form of dementia, perhaps you might be reminded of all the good will and glad tidings that accompany the holiday?

November may be a little too early to begin the commercial holiday season—but it’s never too early to walk in the spirit of Christmas. Sharing the good news of Christ’s birth, giving to others, being cheerful…those are things we can do all year long!

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

Under Construction

2011-11-06T07:30:00.000-05:00

Maybe you’ve passed by an area under construction with this sign: “We apologize for any temporary inconvenience while we make permanent improvements.” Do you ever feel like you should be wearing that sign around your neck? I do! No matter how old we get, there are so many improvements we can make in our lives.

One of the most unpleasant experiences I can think of is for someone to “tell you about yourself.” This is usually the result of someone being fed up with another person’s idiosyncrasies and finally deciding to rant about it. Perhaps you’ve held one of these sessions, where you’ve taken all you can stand from someone and finally reached your breaking point. It probably felt great to finally get it all off your chest.

However, if you’ve ever been on the receiving end of one of these conversations, it probably wasn’t so great for you. To sit there and have a person run through all the little things that are annoying about you isn’t so great. And if it’s someone you care about, you may even feel worse because of how you’ve made that person feel.

When someone presents you with a running list of “Things I Hate About You,” how do you react? Denial? Anger? Depression? We can try a better approach. When it comes to disagreements, especially in the church, I’ve always turned to Matthew 18:15-35. It begins with advising us to have a one-on-one with the other person to talk it out.

In your time alone with God, pray on the situation. Ask for guidance on dealing with the person in love and with more care in the future. And ask God for ways you can improve yourself that will glorify Him in the end. We should seek forgiveness for the temporary inconvenience we cause others, and we should strive for permanent improvements that will lead us to eternal glory.

Please be patient with me, God is not through with me yet!

Who Doesn’t Like You?

2011-10-30T07:30:00.002-04:00

At this very moment, someone may be talking about you behind your back. Someone could be making plans to hurt you emotionally or physically. There may be people out there right now who are working against you to tear down what you are trying to build up. But God has given a promise that you can stand on—even when the world stands against you.

It’s upsetting to realize that not everyone is going to like you. There are people who are simply not going to be on your side. No matter how hard you try to be nice, or friendly, or helpful toward them, some people will just find a reason to dislike you. Even in ministry, personalities sometimes clash and we are left feeling devastated.

But before we lose heart, we have to remember God’s promise to His people, stated in Isaiah 54:16-17, “ ‘See, it is I who created the blacksmith and who fans the coals into the flame and forges a weapon fit for its work. And it is I who have created the destroyer to wreak havoc; no weapon formed against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,’ declares the Lord.”

The Lord is not unaware of those in the world who come against us. He gives us the strength and support to stand strong against them. He also gives us a strategy in dealing with people who just seem to hate us for no reason. Proverbs 25:21-22 says, “If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.”

When someone doesn’t like you and goes out of their way to let you know, take it to the Lord in prayer—and as the popular saying goes, “kill ‘em with kindness.” It will make your Father proud.

Before You Hit SNOOZE…

2011-10-23T07:45:00.002-04:00

Ahhh, wouldn’t it be great if we could always go to bed at a decent hour, sleep soundly through the night, and when the alarm clock rings at the appointed time in the morning, we would hop out of bed well rested and ready to tackle the day? The reality is that, for many of us, when that alarm rings in the morning, our usual response is to hit SNOOZE. Are we hitting the spiritual snooze button as well?

Whoever invented the snooze feature revolutionized the way we approach the day. We don’t consider ourselves being completely disobedient to the alarm clock’s demand for us to rise and shine—we just reserve the right to delay it a little bit. Of course we will eventually get up, but we want to ease ourselves into it.

In our Christian walk, the snooze feature can be detrimental. When God requires us to do something, it’s not with the option of hitting SNOOZE. He wants us to act immediately!

A great example was when Jesus called the first disciples to walk with him. Peter and his brother Andrew were hard at work when Jesus commanded them to follow Him. The Bible reports that, “At once they left their nets and followed him.” (Matthew 4:21-22) This was no small action on their part, by the way. These men were leaving behind their livelihood, their families, and their way of life, to step by faith into something unimaginable. Yet their immediate action changed their lives and brought a magnitude of glory to the kingdom of God.

So why don’t we take immediate action when God commands us to move?
• We don’t feel prepared. Self-doubt can keep us from taking the first step forward. Yet we should feel confident that if God has led us to do something, He will provide us with what we need to get it done. Remember Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
• We are afraid. Fear and faith cannot coexist. Trust in Him to overcome the fear and accomplish what you have already been empowered to do. Remember 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
• We are tired. We are human, and our flesh is prone to feeling run down. There may be times where we are even ready to give up. But don’t lose heart! Remember Galatians 6:9, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

When God calls, we should never hit snooze, but be ready to MOVE!

What’s for You Is for You

2011-10-16T08:19:00.000-04:00

Sometimes our dreams, hopes, and aspirations are so clear, we can almost reach out and touch them. When doors open up easily for us, we take it as confirmation that we are on the right track. But when we come across obstacles and barriers, do we give up hope? Was it really meant to be, after all?

I’m reminded of the testimony of someone in the financial services field who was going for the job interview of a lifetime. They made their best presentation, felt they answered all of the questions like a pro, and left the meeting with all the confidence in the world. But soon, they found out that the impressive New York City job was not theirs. They were heartbroken, and soon turned to self-pity. They thought maybe this industry wasn’t for them after all, maybe they weren’t as talented as they thought they were, and maybe they were just a failure. It was just a couple of weeks later that they turned on the news and saw the World Trade Center—the very location where they had interviewed—completely decimated. The company they had hoped so desperately to work at was destroyed and many employees had lost their lives. Today, they are gainfully employed at a financial services company in New Jersey, but still sometimes think back and recall, “That would have been me.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 tells us to “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” God has a plan for each of our lives. Sometimes, what we need in order to accomplish that plan doesn’t always coincide with what we want in life. And the truth is, sometimes we have to go through struggles and hard times just to simply achieve the greatness that lies before us.

Think about it, David paid his dues as a scrawny shepherd boy, sleeping outdoors with dirty sheep. He came across frightening and dangerous situations, even fighting off a bear and a lion to save his father’s sheep. He was also initially overlooked when the prophet came and asked his father, Jesse, to present his sons so that he might anoint one. But not one of those obstacles that David faced prevented him from becoming one of the greatest kings of Israel. And while he had his doubts at times—as reflected in his poetry in the book of Psalms—he trusted in the Lord and turned all of his worries and insecurities over to God.

What God has for you is simply just for you. But you have to trust that God knows and cares about the things that are important to you. Whether it’s landing a great job or winning a baseball game, we are always welcome to bring our concerns to Him in prayer. There is no request too small or too silly—He listens and He cares. God created us and knows the gifts He has given us. Each one of us was born for a reason. Every one of us is significant. When we trust in the Lord to lead us in our daily walk, we begin to see Him at work in our lives.

There is greatness in you—don’t let a setback or obstacle prevent you from attaining your rightful place. Trust in the Lord and stay connected to Him in prayer—in due time, you will achieve exactly what was meant for your life.

The Devil Made Me (Not) Do It

2011-10-02T07:30:00.000-04:00

Many people are familiar with the expression, “The Devil made me do it,” which was coined by Flip Wilson (as the character Geraldine) in the1970s. This comic relief became wildly popular—as it relieved folks of personal responsibility for their actions. These days, it seems like it would make a convenient excuse for people to justify their inaction.

Years ago, I learned there were 2 types of sin. The first is the one we’re most familiar with—the sin of commission. These are the things that we do, even though we know we’re not supposed to do them. But there second type of sin—the sin of omission. This is when we do not do the things that we know we should do.

For example, if we saw an older neighbor heading home on a rainy day from the grocery store with arms full of bags, everyone would agree that it would be a sin to intentionally push that person over. Yet, I wonder how many of us realize that if we were also headed home, and happened to notice our neighbor from a distance while we were in the comfort of our car (with plenty of space to accommodate another passenger), and we ignored the thought to pull over and give the neighbor a ride, that would also be a sin. Can we commit sin and non-commit sin? Unfortunately, yes.

Let’s just think for a moment about what sin is—it’s anything that is not pleasing to God. So it’s not always just the things we do. Sometimes, it’s the things we do not do. When we fail to show love and kindness to one another, we sin. When we choose to close our eyes and not speak out against an injustice, we sin. Even when we withhold information that could help someone else, we are committing a sin. Proverbs 3:27 tells us clearly, “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.”

Our goal is to please God in any way we can, so we should strive to do the things He wants us to do—even when we don’t feel like it. And even when we’re unsure of how to go about it. We must trust that if it is His will for us, He will equip us with whatever we need to get it done. And great is our reward for our efforts.

Let’s ask for forgiveness for our sins of commission and those of omission—and strive to do everything we can do to the glory of God.

Does God Care About Scrabble?

2011-09-25T07:40:00.002-04:00

We know we can ask for God’s help in any situation. If a loved one has fallen ill, if our job is in jeopardy, or if we’re faced with a dangerous situation, most of us trust that sending up a prayer will bring down a multitude of blessings. But what about when the situation is a lot less dramatic? Does God have our back when the results seem to be of little consequence?

Once, I was playing the board game Scrabble with some family members. We were having a great time and I was enjoying a pretty good lead. That’s until my closest rival scored big by using all her tiles and getting a few bonus points, as well. With only a few turns left in the game and the score close to tied, I said a little prayer out loud, “Lord help me to win this game!” Immediately, I heard someone say, “God doesn’t care about Scrabble!” Without a beat, I responded, “If it’s important to me, it’s important to Him!”

My faith includes the trust that I can ask God for His help in anything in my life—even the minutia. 1 John 5:14-15 confirms this faith: “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.”

How do we know that what we ask is within His will? I think we can be pretty sure that as long as it’s not against his commands, we are not asking amiss. For example, I don’t think God would honor a request to kill someone who we don’t get along with. But I believe He would hear a prayer to improve the relationship with that person—and bless us accordingly.

So how does a prayer for a Scrabble game fit within God’s will? Maybe it was a demonstration of faith that helped someone else in their spiritual walk. Maybe it was a self-affirmation of my own trust in Him. Maybe it was an event in my life that occurred solely for the purposes of this blog! In the end I won the game—but more importantly, it was a teaching moment. Our cares are God’s cares, and He won’t let us down. Because even if I had lost, I would have still been able to praise Him for an enjoyable time with my family.

What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!

Keeping it Real?

2011-09-18T07:30:00.000-04:00

A DJ of a popular radio station played a joke on a woman. He called with an invented story of a crisis situation. Her temper flared, and the woman ranted and raved, sprinkling in a few choice expletives. After allowing her to go on for a while, the DJ announced that the call was only a prank and the situation was completely made up. Realizing the call was being played live on-air for the listening audience, the woman gasped, “Oh, no! What will the people at church think?!”

We always want to put our best foot forward—especially in social situations such as at church or in the workplace. Yet, when that leads to a giant step away from our personality in other situations, we come across as being “phony.” But how do we actually become the personality we want to project to others?

Our sinful nature makes it very difficult to live by spiritual laws. We have a daily struggle with balancing our desires that are unholy with the ways in which God wants us to go. Even Paul acknowledged this dilemma in Romans 7:19, “For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.” But Paul went on to say that this does not allow a convenient excuse to keep sinning—we should strive to live according to the Holy Spirit.

If we were to keep it really real, we would realize that the very reason we were created is to worship God. That worship should permeate every essence of our being. It should be part of our actions, our speech, and our attitude. This means that our actions should not be dictated by what people might think (hypocritical), but fueled by what is pleasing to God (aspirational).

Let’s keep it real and give God the glory in all that we do everyday.

The Lord Will Provide

2011-09-11T07:27:00.002-04:00

I’ve heard it said that our culture is fueled by worry. We worry about paying our bills, we worry about what people will think of us—we even worry about what we’re going to do next. Our underlying worry causes us to make certain decisions and suffer certain consequences. Think about it…what are you worried about right now?

All of this worry leads to a ton of stress. It has been scientifically proven that stress worsens our overall mental and physical health. In fact, people with chronic diseases tend to have much poorer outcomes when they are stressed out about their condition.

In all of this worrying we do, where does our faith in God kick in? If we trust Him as the Word directs us to, we really wouldn’t have too much to worry about at all. In fact, the Word tells us that all of this worrying is for nothing. In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus is pretty straightforward about the futility of worrying—and lets us know that it does not please God in the least.

We should strive to have the faith of Abraham, who at the thought of having to sacrifice his only son—the one he had waited almost a lifetime to conceive—found the strength to say, “The Lord will provide.” (Genesis 22:1-19) All it takes is a belief that God is a good Father who only wants the best for us. If we know that God has our back and will work out any situation that concerns us, we are on the right path to living worry-free.

Don’t be stressed—give it to God and He’ll do the rest!

Hard Head = Soft Butt

2011-09-04T07:30:00.001-04:00

I have to admit, I was a pretty stubborn kid. So I used to hear the following phrase a lot: “A hard head makes a soft butt.” However, I always thought the phrase should have been, “A hard head makes a sore butt.” That’s because I realized that hardheadedness usually leads to painful results. So even as an adult, I have to ask myself, “Why do we continue to be so stubborn?

The truth is, people want to do what they want to do. And when we are emotionally or selfishly driven, we seek to do what is right in our own minds at the time. This type of stubbornness, or hardheadedness, is unbecoming to a Christian. Proverbs 3:5 tells us plainly, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” God wants us to do what He wants us to do.

How do we know what God wants us to do? When we stay prayerful and continually read the Scriptures, we strengthen our connection with Him. That makes it easier for us to hear His voice and receive His guidance. I’ve recently heard it said that we don’t listen for an audible voice, but as Christians, we know the calling of the Lord when we hear it. As Jesus said in John 10:27, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”

And the truth is…life is just so much easier when we follow the leading of the Lord. He is the author and finisher of our faith, so why wouldn’t we seek His guidance in our daily lives? He is the Creator—he has all the instructions! With that in mind, we should consider the Bible our instruction manual.

Let’s put aside our hardheadedness and learn to follow the direction of the Lord. Even when we don’t feel like it. Even when it’s uncomfortable. We know that in the end, stubbornness leads to destruction, while those who follow the Lord will enjoy great reward.

Storm Warning

2011-08-28T07:30:00.000-04:00

As Hurricane Irene threatened to touch down, the East Coast prepared for the deluge. Shore communities were evacuated, and in many inland communities, windows were boarded and outdoor possessions were tied down. One local business owner, who had recently invested in an impressive LED billboard display outside his store, reprogrammed it to read, “Irene, please don’t knock down my sign!”

As public officials preemptively declared states of emergency and grounded airplanes and mass transit, the public response ranged from cautious to panicked. Just gauging the emotions of my own friends and neighbors, I noted that the more prepared folks felt, the less worried they seemed to be about the storm. Isn’t that much like our spiritual state of being?

Whether faced with a personal situation or emotional tragedy, our spiritual preparedness usually determines how we will deal with it. We may be less likely to freak out or completely “lose it” when we are tied down with the Word and boarded up with faith. And with a good spiritual grounding, we know that whatever the outcome, God is in control and our trust is in Him.

Before the hurricane, many of us ensured our inventory of water, flashlights, batteries, and other essentials were accessible. Right now, it’s time to take inventory of our lives. Proverbs 10:25 assures us, “When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever.”

Let’s make sure our spiritual resources are readily available in the event we’re faced with the storms of life!

Somebody’s Watching Me

2011-08-21T07:38:00.002-04:00

In this day and age, you never know who’s watching you and where. There are cameras mounted in traffic lights, strategically placed along city streets, and even embedded in our personal computers. It’s amazing to see what these hidden cameras have caught on film. And while many of us are concerned about how people see us in the natural world, are we as conscious about how we are seen spiritually?

There was a song back in the ‘80s in which the singer declared, “I always feel like somebody’s watching me.” Truth be told, someone is always watching. Our Heavenly Father is always with us, watching out for us, and watching over us. Above all, our daily goal should be to walk in a way that is pleasing to Him.

Yet we are also being watched by the people around us. When we tell others that we are Christians, we declare our faith in Christ—but our actions provide the evidence. In speaking of his followers, Jesus said, “They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.” (John 17:16) Our spiritual walk separates us from the natural realm. So in times of despair, temptation, and confusion, our behavior should reflect a Godly response.

We should live each day as though we expect someone to play back our spiritual tape. Let’s strive to be caught in the act of Christ-like behavior!

Testimony or Example?

2011-08-07T07:30:00.001-04:00

Every action has a consequence. The choices we make each day put in motion a chain of events that have a direct affect on our lives and the lives of others. When we listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, that choice can lead to a powerful testimony. But when we decide to do things our own way…we can become a terrible example.

Imagine a child who is confronted by a parent for eating cookies before dinner. The child can choose to tell the truth, “Mommy they smelled so good, I took one!” or the child can choose to lie, “I didn’t eat any cookies!” The first choice might result in a light scolding and a small lecture about self-control—and maybe even leave the parent with a funny anecdote about how cute the child was, holding up a chocolate-covered finger with the confession of one stolen cookie. But the second choice—the lie—might lead to more dire consequences, including punishment and restriction from eating any more cookies from the batch. The parent may feel the need to make an example out of the situation to help the child make the right decision in the future.

The Bible gives many accounts of folks who are testimonies (those who encourage us) and others who are examples (those who warn us about how to live). Some exist side-by-side, and give us great contrast, such as Able, who loved the Lord and chose to make a good sacrifice to Him, and Cain, who simply went through the motions and had his offering rejected by God. Some were at odds with one another, such as David, who chose to trust in God throughout his life, and Saul, who (although called by God), often decided to do things according to his own judgment and lived miserably.

In the ministry of Jesus, we clearly see the difference between a testimony and an example in those who chose to follow Him. No greater invitation was there than when Jesus Himself said, “Follow Me.” We applaud the disciples who immediately chose to walk away from their lives as they knew them and decided to follow Christ (Matthew 4:18-22). Yet we are warned by the example of the rich young ruler who decided to hold on to his earthly possessions when Jesus invited him to discipleship (Luke 18:18-23).

Let’s make Spirit-led choices to become testimonies—not examples.

NY—A Dangerous State of Mind

2011-07-24T08:10:00.001-04:00

A few weeks ago, the state of New York passed legislature that legalized gay marriage. In essence, the men and women who craft the law have redefined the very nature of what “marriage” is. And the dancing in the streets and celebrations that broke out nationwide would seem to indicate that many people in the country are in agreement. But as Proverbs 14:12 reminds us, “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.”

To put things in perspective, New York is not the first state to allow same-sex marriages. It’s actually the 6th. What makes New York so significant is the sheer size of its population, making it the largest state to allow it. (It is worth noting that that California would have held that distinction had it not been for proposition 8, which specifically defined marriage as between one man and one woman.) The United States is also not the first country to legalize gay marriage. There are 10 nations that allow same-sex marriage, including our neighbor, Canada. Those who support gay marriage point to those countries as “proof” that these types of unions don’t necessarily destroy a nation.

But that brings us to the key underlying issue—the destruction of our moral fabric. As a Christian, I define my morality by the principles of God’s Holy Word. My Bible is my gauge against which I measure my morals, my ethics, and my behavior. Jealousy, gossip, and hatred are some of the things that I know are wrong because of what I’ve learned from the Bible. This is not to say that I am perfect and have never given in to any of those feelings—but I strive to overcome them to lead a life that pleases God.

Without the Bible, on what would any of the laws of this nation even be based? I wrote a piece some time ago about the Christian foundation of America’s founding fathers. Although one reader vehemently disagreed with me, I believe just as strongly that the Biblical principles of those leaders are evident in almost every aspect of the founding of this country. It is by no mere coincidence that our original government buildings, our currency, and many of our oldest historic monuments are laced with scripture and religious imagery. And why in many courts, defendants have been traditionally asked to swear on the Bible. It has been the basis of this country’s moral barometer.

But with the legalization of gay marriage and other ideas that fly against Christian morality, against what do we measure our morals? Do we all focus only on the constitutional words “pursuit of happiness” and reject the responsibility and discipline that were intended to go with it?

Proverbs 12:15 says, “The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.” For Christians, that advice should come from the Word of God.

Disconnected

2011-07-10T07:47:00.002-04:00

Sometimes the way that God gets you to make a greater connection with Him is to temporarily disconnect you from the rest of the world. Over the past couple of weeks, I found myself in a state of technological disconnection. But what I gained from the Lord was totally worth it.

There are times when we are so “plugged in” to the world around us that we are completely out of touch with the spiritual side of things. A few years ago, there was an MTV music program called “Unplugged.” The intent of the show was to allow musicians to perform their #1 hit songs without all of the glitz and glimmer of studio work. It was just the singer with an acoustic guitar or piano (or some other non-electric instrument). The audience was treated to the raw beauty of the song without distraction.

To truly appreciate the beauty of life in Him, sometimes God needs us to disconnect us from the distractions of everyday life. I’ve even heard someone say that being incarcerated was one of the best things that every happened to him, because it isolated him from his terrible lifestyle and forced him to pay attention to God.

There is also a tremendous amount of freedom that comes with being disconnected. After getting over the initial shock of being outside of your comfort zone, you begin to realize just how restrictive some of your “important” worldly connections really are. True freedom is in the Spirit of the Lord and living according to the way God commands.

James 4:8 begins with the words, “Come near to God and He will come near to you.” It should always be our priority to draw closer to Him. Let’s not wait until we’re so inundated with the busy-ness of the things around us that we are forced to disconnect from them.

Let’s stay connected with the cross.

Do You Look Like Your Father?

2011-06-19T08:01:00.002-04:00

Quite a few of my Facebook friends updated their profile photo today with pictures of their fathers. For many, the similarities are striking. You can see strong family traits such as a common facial structure, similar eyes, or the same smile. And although many of us look a lot our earthly fathers, how much do we resemble our Heavenly Father, in whose image we were created?

If you look closely enough at me, you will see some of my dad’s features. But I believe you can really see my dad in my personality. My mother used to always tell me, “You’re just like your father!” Most of the time, it was a compliment. ☺ I share my dad’s temperament, his work ethic, and even many of his political views and opinions. It doesn’t matter that we are a generation apart. It doesn’t matter that he was raised in the West Indies and I was raised here in America. It doesn’t even matter that we didn’t always live under the same roof. You can see my dad in me because I am his child.

Jesus, the Son of God, resembled His Father in every way. In John 14:8-11, he tells Philip, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” Jesus is the perfect reflection of God. As Christians, people should see our Father in us, too. When Jesus prayed to God on our behalf in John 17:20-26, He said, “I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity.” It is a Divine desire for us to be the spitting image of our Father. We should love the way God loves, care for others the way He does, and live in a way that reflects Him.

People should know that we are the children of God because we walk just like Him!

Happy Father's Day!

What Are You Doing With Yours?

2011-06-12T07:30:00.001-04:00

As Christians, we look forward to the day when we take our rest from this earth and enter eternal life with Jesus. And we long to hear God say to us, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” But how many of us will enter heaven and only hear, “Well? You’re done.”

In Matthew 25:14-30, we read the parable of the bags of gold. Before leaving for a journey, a master entrusts various amounts of gold to 3 servants. Upon his return, the servants who have wisely handled the riches are rewarded with more. But the one who wasted the gold is punished.

Jesus told this parable to help us understand what the kingdom of heaven is like. The bags of gold (called “talents” in the King James Version) represent the gifts that we are given on this earth (for example: teaching, preaching, leading, or writing). Just as the bags were of different amounts, our gifts may be of different values. But it is what we do with them that matters. What good is it if God gave you the voice of an angel—but you only choose to sing in the shower? Or even worse, only use it to sing songs that do not glorify God?

So what does God want from us? Romans 12:1-8 gives us some pretty clear instruction. It begins by telling us to offer our bodies as a “living sacrifice.” That simply means we should turn our lives over to the service of the Lord. It also means going against the “norms” of society, which often tend to be in contention with the ways of God. The rest of the passage gives us wise direction on how to use our gifts well, in a way that is pleasing to God.

What are you doing with your gifts? Are your talents being used to glorify God? Make it your business to enter His presence with a job well done!

A Matter of Time

2011-06-05T07:05:00.001-04:00

I’ve always believed the perception of time is purely mathematic. Think about it…for a 5-year-old, one year is 1/5th of that child’s entire lifetime. So one year seems like a very long time. However, for a 35-year-old, a year is only 1/35th of that person’s life experience—a much smaller segment. No wonder time seems to fly as you get older! But, as I was recently reminded, it’s not about how much time you have in life, but what you choose to do with it.

Aren’t you always amazed by people who seem to get so much done in the course of a day? We’re all given the same 24 hours, but some folks just seem to know how to make every 60 minutes count. Much of it has to do with goal-setting and discipline. Remember the old Army commercials? After a montage of scenes featuring very task-oriented young men going about their daily routine, the voice-over said, “We get more done before 6 a.m. than most people do all day.” Now, that’s a model for productivity!

Making the most of your time isn’t just a nice thing to do—it’s a spiritual principle. Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” In light of that scripture, when it’s time to eat, a person shouldn’t be out running and playing. Just as when it’s time to work, someone shouldn’t be sleeping. There is a time for everything. Every activity has a season.

Perhaps this is why the old have greater wisdom. After 60 and 70 years, they have witnessed quite a few seasons. And because life is cyclical, these older folks have had a chance to see for themselves the pattern of life over the years. They know by experience that “every action has a consequence.” They understand that “weeping endures for a night but joy comes in the morning.” They realize that “this too shall pass.”

People often say that young people have their whole lives ahead of them. But that holds true at any age. Remember the saying, “Today is the first day of the rest of your life?” Whether you’re 16 or 46, you have the rest of your life ahead of you. And life is so unpredictable, no one at any age can be certain of how much more time that is. But everyone can make the choice to make the most of the time we have right now. We can talk about what we’d “like to do” OR we can choose to go ahead and make it happen.

It’s all just a matter of time. What are you doing with yours?

The Word of the Day

2011-05-29T08:07:00.001-04:00

As a writer, I love words. So I look forward to my daily podcast of the Merriam-Webster “Word of the Day,” where I’ll be introduced to words that may be added to my personal lexicon. But as a Christian, I look to a different resource for an even more important “Word of the Day.”

Taking the time out to read even few verses from the Bible each morning makes such a difference. It is no coincidence that there have been times when a certain passage seemed to apply to everything I experienced throughout the day. Those are the times, by the way, when I know for sure that there is a serious lesson God wants me to learn.

Then there are those days when I’m just so “busy.” I may not have time to listen to my podcast, but being in a rush is no excuse to miss the Word. In fact—those are the days when I seem to need it most! And nothing beats the comfort of having God’s Word to lean on at any point during the day.

Some of my favorite verses:
• “This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it!” (Psalm 118:24)
• “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
• “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)
• “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
• “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4)

Now, as a native English speaker, I love the nuances of the language—the way different words mean different things, depending on the context. When I listen to my daily “Word of the Day” podcast, I not only learn new words, I learn new meanings to some familiar words as well. I believe the same holds true for God’s Word—different verses have different nuances, depending on what point you are in your life and spiritual journey.

Are you getting your Word of the day? To borrow from an old commercial, “Don’t leave home without it!”

The Day After

2011-05-22T07:30:00.001-04:00

Yesterday, the news media, the Internet, and event the barbershops and beauty parlors were abuzz with the news: The world was coming to an end. According to the prediction of a widely known religious leader, May 21, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. (ET) would be the end of times. Yet, the hour passed and the world survived…now what?

People have been predicting the end of the world since the times of Christ. In fact, when John the Baptist cried out, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near,” some may have mistaken his warning as a doomsday message instead of a proclamation of the good news of Jesus Christ. Since the beginning of time, people have been fascinated with wondering how it will all end.

One of the reasons people get so worked up about the “end of days” predictions is that they are really fearful of what they believe is the “unknown.” For too many people, life ends with a giant question mark. But as Christians, we are not like those without hope. We take joy in knowing that whether in this world or beyond, we have the presence of Christ with us.

Someone may argue that this most recent “end of days” prediction was made by a Christian—who encouraged other Christians to work themselves into a frenzy of emptying their bank accounts, quitting their jobs, and making their final peace with anticipation of the end of the world. However, this is in direct contradiction with the Word of God, which tells us that yes, one day the world will end, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” In fact, it suggests that when the end does come, it will be so swift and sudden, there will be no time to make any preparations (Matthew 24:36-44). One would think this so-called “religious leader” would have come across this information at least once in his reading of the Bible. Beware of false prophets!!!

However, what the enemy meant for bad, God uses for good. Despite the fact that the prediction was a farce, it may have caused some people to take a good look at their lives. Because the truth is, one day life as we know it will be over. It may not be the result of a cataclysmic event that ends the world. It may simply be the body’s time to expire. And when that day does come—what happens next? If the answer to that question is anything other than peace and joy—it’s time to know Jesus. As Christians, whether our world ends tomorrow, next week, or a thousand years from now, we know that we have the promise of life with Jesus afterward.

For Christians, there are no worries about the end of the world—because what comes next is even better!

Motherly Wisdom

2011-05-08T07:24:00.002-04:00

My husband’s mother used to have a sign in her kitchen that read, “Attention kids with stupid parents—get out while you still know everything!” Even recently in my own home, one of my teenagers complained about the rules my husband and I have laid down over the years. “Some of it just doesn’t make any sense!” he objected.

There are circumstances in which mothers make decisions that really don’t seem to make sense at the time. But never underestimate the power of motherly wisdom and divine guidance! One of the greatest mothers in the Bible made an unusual decision that ended with great reward.

Imagine a woman putting her newborn child in a basket and sending it up a river! When Egypt’s Pharaoh declared that all newborn males would be put to death, a mother decided it would be better to attempt to float him to safety than to keep him herself. As a result, the woman’s son was discovered by the daughter of Pharaoh himself. She took him in as her own and named him Moses. (Exodus 2:1-9) And, as we know, Moses turned out to be one of the greatest leaders Israel had ever known.

Although in 21st century America there is no official decree to murder our children, there is no denying that there are dangers in every community that can harm them. And moms are often the first line of defense. Despite social pressures, Christian moms cannot be afraid to make tough decisions—even the ones that on the surface seem “stupid” or “make no sense.” Spiritually wise choices may not be popular or conform to societal norms, but the results speak for themselves. The direction, advice, and actions of God-fearing mothers are essential to helping young people survive—and go on to later achieve great things.

Happy Mother's Day!

Good News!

2011-04-24T07:30:00.001-04:00

Usually when presented with a good news/bad news scenario, people prefer to hear the bad news first. Well, here it is: the bad news is that we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). But rest assured—there is good news! It goes like this: For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16).

Today we celebrate the good news of the resurrection of Christ. See, because there was a time when mankind fell from the grace of God. That was way back when Adam sinned by disobeying God. A single man’s transgression brought sin to everyone. And we know that there is a price to pay for sin—death (Romans 5:12-14). However, through a precious gift from a single source, our debt has been paid in full. Jesus Christ sacrificed himself so that we could all achieve salvation (Romans 5:15-17).

And the good news keeps getting better and better, because the gift of salvation is free to all! All you have to do is receive it freely, no strings attached. How do you claim your gift? According to Romans 10:9, it’s as simple as this: “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Easter is a celebration of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Let those who hear it and accept it today enjoy it for the rest of their lives!

Crossing the Line

2011-04-17T07:48:00.000-04:00

A father had two young kids in the pool. There was a rope that separated the shallow end from the deep end. The father warned, “Now kids, make sure you don’t swim past the rope. The water beyond it is deeper and you might drown.” The first child stayed as far from the rope as possible. The second child decided to swim right to the edge of the rope. When the father called out, she replied, “Don’t worry, Dad! I haven’t crossed the line yet!” Which child best represents your spiritual walk?

There are many Christians out there who flirt with danger. They read the Word, but look for loopholes to justify their actions. They pray every now and again—usually in times o trouble or when they feel like they’re in a jam. And they listen to the Holy Spirit when they feel like it. Yet in their Christian walk, they feel comfortable telling the Lord, “Don’t worry, Father, I haven’t crossed the line yet!” Unfortunately, it won’t be long before a simple slip puts them in dangerous territory.

Just as the child in the story knew that her dad would be there to save her if she drowned, as Christians, we know that we can always count on the grace of the Lord to deliver us in times of trouble. Even trouble that we’ve caused ourselves. But just as it says in Romans 6:1-2, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?”

God has called us away from the sin we used to swim in. So why even chance going near it again? If you want to play it safe in your Christian walk, be sure to read the Word and allow it to pierce your heart. Pray consistently. And listen to the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit to guide you each day.

Don’t cross the line. Stay near the cross.

Hurt People Hurt People

2011-04-10T07:30:00.000-04:00

“Some people are just angry for no reason,” my mother used to say. “Just mean and hateful.” You’ve probably seen these people in action. They walk around with an attitude. They always seem to have a big chip on their shoulders. They never have anything good to say to anyone. What is wrong with them?

Let’s start by agreeing to one thing: When people are hurting on the inside, it shows on the outside—but sometimes only in their actions. Even the woman who seems to have it all together can be falling apart inside. And the man who appears to have everything under control may be suffering, too. You never know what someone else is going through. Does this give anyone a valid reason to be mean and hateful? Absolutely not—but as Christians, it’s only our response that matters.

There’s no denying that a snide remark or hurtful comment can make us angry. Immediately, the “man spirit” rises and wants to react out of pride or hurt feelings. But because the Holy Spirit dwells within us, we have to learn to rise above our own hurt feelings and respond with love. (Notice what just happened there—“love” was separated from “emotions.” That’s because love is an action.)

When hurt people try to hurt us, we have to put love into action. When we demonstrate love, as described in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 we are patient and kind. We are not jealous, we don’t brag, and we’re not proud. We don’t set out to embarrass anyone or look for self-glory. We are not so sensitive that we get angry easily and we don’t “take notes” on how we’ve been hurt. We don’t enjoy evil and misfortune—we find joy in truth. We protect, we trust, we hope—and we always keep going.

Whenever we're dealing with hurt people, we must take special care not to hurt them back. Instead, let’s cover them with love. For example, be sure to tell the next person who snaps at you to have a blessed day—and really mean it!

Love beats hurt every time, because love never fails.

Send Me

2011-04-03T07:30:00.000-04:00

One of the greatest responses in the Bible can be found in Isaiah 6:8. When the Lord asked who would go out and deliver the prophesy to the people, Isaiah answered, “Here am I. Send me!” Wow. What if every one of us responded to God in such a way?

Each of us has been given some kind of ability. We have skills that can be used for the glory of God. But how many of us go out and put them into practice? For example, there are people with the natural ability to go up and speak to anyone anywhere. You may run into them in the mall, as they try to sell you perfume or a cell phone. How amazing would it be if, filled with the Holy Spirit, these people boldly went out with the Good News of Jesus Christ?

Or are we using our talents for our own glory? Think about the singers with truly exceptional voices—but who are out there singing for the world. They get accolades and awards and even great monetary reward from the world. But the things of the world will eventually pass away. How awesome would it be if these singers used their gift to proclaim the glory of God? Their reward would be eternal.

You have something in you that God has given for such a time as this. There are people who are in need of what you have to offer. But you aren’t doing anyone any favors by shying away or choosing to do nothing at all. Listen to what the Lord is telling you and when you hear His voice, be ready to answer, “Here am I. Send me!”

With joy in your heart and enthusiastically,
Say to the Lord, “Here am I. Send me!”

Hard Pressed but Not Crushed

2011-03-27T07:45:00.001-04:00

Murphy’s Law states, “What ever can go wrong, will go wrong.” Have you ever had a time in your life where Murphy’s Law was in full effect? Where everything seems to be going wrong? Maybe you’re going through that time right now. If so read on…

Sometimes it seems that we cannot do anything right. Every decision we make seems to be the wrong one. Every thing we say seems to be taken the wrong way or said at the wrong time. We start to question every choice we make and every thing we do—down to picking the right shoes to wear when we leave the house in the morning!

We may find ourselves in this rough patch in our lives suddenly, and without warning. “Just when everything was going so well!” Or, “Just when I was finally starting to get ahead, here this comes to knock me back down!” And the worst part about it is that it makes us feel so bad. Sometimes, the pressures of life weigh so heavily on us, they feel like they’re going to crush us.

Recently, while going through a rough patch of my own, a good friend of mine passed along a scripture to help me put things in perspective, 2 Corinthians 4:8-9. “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” What hope we find in those verses!

As Christians, we are not promised a life without disappointment and hard times. Unpleasant experiences are par for the course in living on earth. However, the difference between Christians and unbelievers is a simple matter of faith: When everything goes wrong, Christians are not left without hope. We can talk to God about our problems; we can read His Word for strength and encouragement; we are comforted by the Holy Spirit. And we bounce back!

The most important thing we can do is recognize that when everything is going wrong, there is only one thing to do—take our problems before the Lord. He hears our prayer and He is faithful to respond to us.

In the end, you win!

The Choice Is Yours

2011-03-20T07:30:00.001-04:00

You’ve no doubt heard someone in authority say at least once in your life, “You can do this one of two ways…my way—or the hard way.” You may have even said it yourself. No matter what we do in this life, it usually boils down to a simple choice.

In almost every aspect of our lives, there is usually some sort of authority over us. If we are employed, we have a boss/manager/employer. If we play a sport, there is a coach/referee/official that keeps us in line. Even when we volunteer our time, there is an organizer/chairperson/leader with certain requirements for the task at hand.

Of course, as Christians we know that there is an even greater authority we must answer to in life—God. He has given us a set of basic rules and principles to live by in life.* For those of us who accept His Son, Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are free from the penalty of sin (death). However, we are still responsible for living in a way that is pleasing to Him. If we don’t there are consequences.

Rest assured, God is not “out to get us” nor does He take pleasure in seeing us suffer. In fact, He has given us the opportunity to enjoy the fullness of life. The direction God gives us is not for His benefit, but ours. When we live in a way that is pleasing to Him, it only benefits us in the end.

For example, if we live a life that is sexually moral, we have a better opportunity of protecting ourselves from STDs or unwanted consequences. If we refuse to allow ourselves to be greedy for the wealth of the world, we stand a better chance of making wise financial decisions and living a life that is even more prosperous. If we focus our thoughts on God and allow Him to direct our daily walk, we are less likely to be consumed by things that bring us guilt and shame.

One of the tricks of the enemy is to suggest that God’s way is undesirable and that the wrong way is better. If you remember in Genesis 3, the serpent made the sin of eating from the forbidden tree look very appealing to Eve. Although she readily admitted that God directed her and Adam not to eat from it, she “saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye.” That wrong choice led to dismissal from a perfect environment and a spiritual separation from God.

In the end, the choice is pretty clear. We can live our lives in a way that is pleasing to God—or we can do it the hard way. Which way do you choose?

*Please read your Bible for more information.

My Favorite Person of the Week

2011-03-13T08:00:00.000-04:00

This week, one of my parents ended up in the hospital. What could have been an even more stressful or upsetting situation was made more bearable, thanks to a stranger. By demonstrating the love and compassion of Jesus Christ, she helped my family more than she could know.

Let me tell you, the emergency room can be a miserable place. Many people there are in pain and the level of anxiety is high. No doubt hospital staff is accustomed to dealing with angry and frustrated people all day long. I was the last of my siblings to arrive and I was relieved to find that my family was still in relatively good spirits—but my siblings had experienced some confusion with the woman who handled the paperwork. Later, after helping to answer questions and complete the paperwork, the woman turned to me and asked if we wanted to go with her down to the hospital cafeteria since she was going on break.

I had the feeling we would have a long night ahead of us, so I grabbed my nephew—a growing boy who loves to eat—and followed her. She was a very lovely person and full of conversation. When we reached the cafeteria, she wouldn’t even let me pay for my nephew’s meal and treated him to dinner! I was humbled and impressed. Admittedly, back when she processed the paperwork, I had figured her to be jaded to the feelings of ER visitors, and thought we were just numbers and data to her. I couldn’t thank her enough for her kindness.

This woman, who I’ll call Sister F, really touched my heart. I mean, she had no reason whatsoever to be so nice. Based on the confusion upstairs earlier, she could have written off my family or ignored us altogether. But through her conversation I learned—not surprisingly—that she is a Christian. Through her actions, Sister F proved she not only knows Jesus, she shows Him in her daily walk.

When we returned to the ER waiting area after her break, Sister F checked on us a few times to provide updates on the progress in getting us to the next step—and gave us a some tips about what to expect. Our experience with Sister F helped to relieve a lot of collective stress—and set the stage for a pleasant experience the rest of the way. Dealing with my parent’s medical emergency was still a little scary, but God is still in the healing business and all is well!

My experience with Sister F reminded me of Matthew 25:35, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.” As a Christian, I know I’m always on call to do these things for others—but I was humbled to be among the “least of these” who was a recipient of such kindness.

Thanks be to God for Sister F for her spirit of love and compassion!

Whatever Happened to Patience?

2011-03-06T07:30:00.001-05:00

I remember a time when people would say, “Patience is a virtue.” Not so much today. With everything running at warp speed, it’s no wonder people refuse to wait for anything—even in the name of common courtesy or spiritual growth.

Technology has afforded us nearly instant access to anything. There are few things that we still feel the need to wait for. Our food is prepared in seconds. We have medicine that can make us feel better in minutes. Even our entertainment is available “on demand.” Our culture has gotten us to the point where waiting is seen as a personal affront.

In some ways, a long line is a great spiritual gauge. When was the last time you waited patiently in a long line? Were you content to simply wait your turn, or were you constantly looking for a shorter line to jump into? Did you take your time in line to allow yourself to meditate on your Word for the day, or did you stand there the whole time worried about rushing off to the next thing? If a new line opened up, did you rush past someone who was not as strong or fast as you so that you could be first?

Some time ago, when a person demonstrated “the patience of Job,” they were to be commended. Now they are mocked and ridiculed. The scorn usually begins with, “If that was me….” And, by the way, this is coming from Christians. How in the world can we ever wait for the Lord, as is written in Psalm 27:14, when we aren’t disciplined enough to wait for anything else in our lives?

Without patience, we are prone to making rash decisions. We allow ourselves to be pushed by outside pressures instead of waiting for guidance from the Lord. There are folks who have jumped into marriages, jobs, major purchases, and other long-term commitments without taking the time to pray—or wait for God’s response to their prayer. And they ended up with dire consequences because of their impatience.

Patience takes practice. Look for areas in your life where you can apply it. Make a conscious effort to take your time with certain things. And ask God to give you the strength to make patient, deliberate moves even when it seems that everything else in life is rushing around you.

Have patience and wait for the Lord. He’s always worth the wait!

What CAN'T God Do?

2011-02-27T07:30:00.002-05:00

I never cease to be amazed by the limitations people assign to God. I often hear people say what He wouldn’t do—and some go so far as to say what He couldn’t do. Since when is God restricted by the extent of our imagination?

Walking on water, healing the sick, driving out demons, and raising the dead were just a few of the miracles performed by Jesus. It was hard for some of those who were alive during the time of Christ to accept these signs and miracles. So I can understand how this may be just as difficult to accept for some of those living 2,000 years later.

Those who see Jesus only as a “good man” or simply a “prophet” would no doubt find it hard to fathom how this “guy” could turn water into wine or feed thousands with a couple of fish and a few loaves of bread. There would have to be a logical explanation. But those of us who accept the deity of Jesus should recognize that God defies logic. Our belief in Jesus’ resurrection hinges on the understanding that God can do the things that we know to be impossible.

When we think of the Almighty, our brain cannot fully comprehend all that He encompasses. Our God is the Lord of all. Psalm 24:1 tells us “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” There are no exceptions. There is nothing outside of His jurisdiction. (Someone once even questioned if God could stop time. A quick look at Joshua 10:1-15 answered that!)

But at the end of the day, it’s all about faith. I would be a little disappointed to serve a God that is only as great as I could imagine. The fact that God surpasses all human understanding fortifies my faith. I know without a doubt that I can rely on Him for anything and everything. And I am encouraged to know that with God, nothing is impossible!

I believe God can do anything—except fail. ☺

God’s Time

2011-02-20T07:30:00.001-05:00

We often give ourselves ultimatums: “I want to have this thing done by this time.” But when we make up timelines without first consulting with God, we set ourselves up for tremendous disappointment.

The truth is, people want what they want when they want it. We become impatient with delays and setbacks. And many of us are easily ruffled when things don’t run according to our schedule.

But the moment we decide to do things “our way” we fall into Satan’s trap. And sometimes we do it with all the best intentions—“Lord, I’m going to raise $6,000 by July and I’m going to be on a plane to Haiti by September to do some mission work!” But when a wrench is thrown into our plans and we don’t meet our own self-imposed deadlines, we become angry and frustrated.

Imagine how frustrating it was for Moses to lead the Israelites to the Promised Land. When he originally set out on the journey, he couldn’t have planned for it to take 40 years! But imagine if he had said, “Okay, if we’re not in the Promised Land by the end of February, I’m just going to quit!” All would have been lost. Thankfully, Moses was a man of great faith and was willing to follow God’s timing—and not his own—until the end.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” There’s no plan that we should make without first consulting with the Lord. And once we get the green light to move forward, we must accept that His plans are perfect and His timing is right.

Allow God to do the planning and watch how it all unfolds—right on time!

Love

2011-02-13T07:30:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day and many hearts and minds will turn to all things romantic. There will be plenty of flowers, candy, and big red hearts to be seen. But looking aside from the overly commercialized, Hallmark version of love, how many people really know true love? And do we only get to experience it once a year?

Despite the hype centered on “love” this time of year, in our daily lives, we generally experience 4 types of love—they go by the Greek names of storge, philia, eros, and agape. Here’s a breakdown:

• Storge is what you would call “family love.” It’s the kind of love you often see at weddings, birthday parties, and family reunions. Good times!
• Philia is also known as “brotherly love.” Yes, it’s the word at the root of the name Philadelphia—the City of Brotherly Love. This is the kind of love that allows people to stand up for one another and have compassion for others.
• Eros is “romantic love.” This word is the root of “erotic.” It’s the kind of love shared between a husband and wife, which binds them for a lifetime.
• Agape is “unconditional love.” This is the love that God has for us and shows us each and every day.

The Bible offers the perfect definition of love in 1 Corinthians 13. Be sure to give it a read—especially if you haven’t in a while. Some of the highlights: Love is patient, love is kind, and love never fails!

Do you know the Love of Jesus?

Jesus Christ displayed the greatest Love of all, by laying down His life so that we may receive salvation. And it didn’t end there—as Christians, we experience the perfect Love of the Living God each and every day in our lives.

If you want to experience the Love of Christ in your life, it’s easy. Just say the following prayer, “Lord, I know that I have sinned. But I believe that Jesus Christ is Your Son and that He died for my salvation. And I believe that He rose from the dead so that I may enjoy eternal life with You. Jesus, I accept your gift of Love, please come into my life as my personal savior and help me to live in a way that is pleasing to You. Amen.”

If you have said this prayer for the first time, you are saved from the penalty of sin! Let the Holy Spirit guide you to a place of worship where you can fellowship with and be encouraged by other Christians—and enjoy the Love of Christ!

Market Correction

2011-02-06T07:30:00.000-05:00

Due to the current economy, many people have adjusted their financial habits. Reckless spending is much lower and financial discipline is growing significantly. People are keeping a closer eye on their debt (especially the credit cards!) and trying to save more. This newfound financial discipline has spiritual implications as well.

Now, I’m no financial expert, so when the analysts are discussing the Dow Jones and the gross national product, I pretty much glaze over. But the idea of “market correction” caught my attention. According to analysts, a series of poor financial practices, such as overlending by banks, overspending by consumers (mostly on credit), and overambitious interest rates have led to current market conditions. And the resulting foreclosures, unemployment rates, and national debt are the price we now have to pay—literally.

Undisciplined financial behavior leads to serious financial consequences. Now take the word “financial” out of that previous sentence. It’s a basic spiritual principle that a lack of discipline leads to poor outcomes. So as Christians, taking stock of our financial habits is closely tied into taking a closer look at our overall lifestyle. During this period of market correction, maybe there are areas in which we will achieve spiritual correction as well. There are a few examples:

• More people are using coupons now when shopping. I heard someone once say, “Retail price is for suckers.” Getting the best price for purchases just makes sense. But of course, this type of discipline involves planning your shopping trip to the grocery store or mall to ensure you have the coupons you need—which means fewer wasteful impulse purchases.

• Many have cut down on non-essential spending, such as dining out. I can only begin to tell you how many benefits this offers. The first is the ability to spend more family time at home. In addition, by preparing your own food, you control the ingredients—which has tremendous nutritional benefits for your family.

• Most of us are also keeping a watchful eye on the credit card bills and our accumulated debt. Paying down and controlling debt has always been essential. Many lost sight of that during more prosperous times. But now, outrageous spending is down, allowing more people to appreciate what they currently have and save for the future.

Have you been more responsible with your finances lately? Or are you in the market for some correction? I’m reminded of the parable of the bags of gold in Matthew 25:14-30. Take a read—and ask yourself if you are like the servant who was pleasing to his master. Then ask God for ways in which you can be an even better steward of the finances He has entrusted you with.

What are some ways in which you have been led to be more financially responsible? Leave a message!

On Vacation?

2011-01-30T07:30:00.002-05:00

I went away on vacation recently. But don’t you know, dear reader, that you can’t take a vacation from God? What I mean is, you can temporarily change your location and you can take a break from your daily routine…but when God has something for you to do—you just can’t get away.

In times of trouble and when faced with certain danger, it is so encouraging to know that God is there. And when we are walking in His way and serving Him the best way we can, we are so welcoming of His presence. But what about those times when we aren’t quite living up to our call? Are we as anxious to stand before Him?

I am reminded of Psalm 139, where David so eloquently states, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there.” Of course, this is not a frustration with the omnipresence of God, but an overwhelming awe of the fulfillment of His promise to never leave or forsake us. Yet, when we are out of His will, this may take on a new meaning for us.

For example, when Jonah was called to preach against the city of Nineveh, he decided to decline God’s assignment. So he packed his bags and went on vacation! Well, sort of. He ran away toward the city of Tarshish. He never made it, though, as he was swallowed by a big fish while en route. So much for getting away, huh?

And if you remember way back in the beginning, after Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit, they tried to hide from His presence. But in the Garden of Eden, there was no place to hide their faces from Him. And even when they received their just punishment—banishment from the garden—God still watched over them.

Whether you work in ministry or serve from the pews, there may come a time where you feel like “taking a break.” It may come in the form of falling off from your responsibilities, or just getting lax in your prayer and Bible reading. The truth is, we can’t take “time off” from being Christians. Nor can we “get away” from the call on our lives.

Paul, who was a great worker in ministry, understood our human limitations. He encouraged the churches and warned them often to “faint not.” In 2 Corinthians 4:16, he offers the following words of encouragement, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” The irony is that our daily renewal, our very strength, comes from doing the very things that our bodies and minds are telling us that we’re too tired to do!

Next time you feel the urge to “get away” from the Lord’s will, try a staycation: Stay in prayer, stay in the Word, and stay in His presence. He will fill you with joy—and the joy of the Lord is your strength!

The End of Days

2011-01-09T07:30:00.001-05:00

Birds fall from the sky. Dead fish wash up on the shores. Sickness and diseases strike in epidemic proportions. Wars and rumors of wars spread worldwide. For those who are Bible readers, these events sound pretty Apocalyptic. Could this very well be the end of days?

Depending on which news source you read, there’s a very good explanation for the recent sudden death of thousands of birds and fish worldwide. It’s either a natural phenomenon that humans have just happened to witness recently due to greater urbanization—or it’s an unexplained mystery that may be a sign of the upcoming end of the world. In recent years, there have been quite a few events that have caused folks to take a pause:

• Weather phenomena, such as El Niño, Hurricane Katrina, and the Indian Ocean tsunami
• The outbreak of the AIDS and SARS epidemics
• The rise and scope of terrorism, such as the September 11th attacks

But are these signs of the end of the world? The danger is that there tends to be 2 basic reactions: Too worried or completely apathetic.

Besides losing sleep and literally worrying themselves to death, those who are too worried run the risk of taking on a destructive outlook on life. Why bother to pursue one’s goals when the world is going to end anyway? Worry is a crippling state of mind. That’s why Matthew 6:25-34 warns us not to be consumed by such anxiety.

However, those who are completely apathetic may be overlooking an opportunity for salvation. With a “we’re all going to die, one way or the other” attitude, they may rarely stop to think about what happens afterward. But being “ready to die” is not quite the same as being prepared for eternal life. In Luke 17:26-29, Jesus mentions how people were obliviously going about everyday life in the days of Noah and Sodom and Gomorrah, before great destruction overcame them all.

So what is the right balance? As Christians, we are certainly to look forward to the day of Christ’s return. And we know that destruction of the sinful world soon follows. But instead of getting caught up in things over which we have no control, we should focus on getting our lives right. And reach out to help others find salvation. Because when the end of days does come, we want to ensure that we’re on the right side of eternity!

$86,400

2011-01-02T07:30:00.001-05:00

I recently came across a very interesting proposition in my church bulletin. The question was, “What if someone deposited $86,400 into your bank account daily? What would you do with it?” Of course the mind begins to race and one begins to imagine all that could be accomplished with this amount.

As I read on, I found that whatever you don’t use at the end of the day gets deleted from your account. The next day, you begin with $86,400 all over again. You can’t save from the day before or borrow against tomorrow’s deposit. So, to make the most of your daily allotment, you would have to spend wisely.

Oh, and by the way, I read that the deposits can end at any time, without any warning. Well, that made the proposition a little more interesting!

How would you handle your daily deposit? Would you spend it on the things you need? Would you give some away to worthy causes? Would you invest it in long-term initiatives? Would you waste it on nonsense?

They say “time is money” and this helps bring that analogy to life. The $86,400 represents the number of seconds we have in a day. Each day, you get a new deposit and you have to decide what to do with it. In reality, each of us gets the same amount. How do you choose to spend yours?

This year, let’s make the most of our daily deposits. Some of us have made resolutions for the things we want to accomplish in 2011. Well, we have 86,400 seconds each day to make it happen.

A great start would be tithing some of it back to God. Remember to set aside time daily to go before the Lord in prayer, spend time reading His Word, and listen to His guidance. When you turn it over to the Lord, you will be amazed at what you can accomplish with your 86,400!

Happy New Year, readers!

The Bible in One Year

2010-12-26T07:30:00.001-05:00

Have you read the Bible? Okay, this is a trick question. Many Christians will say, “Yes.” But the question really is, “Have you actually read each and every book of the Bible in a concentrated effort to know and understand the Word of God we are to live by every day?” Hmmm…

As we enter 2011, people look to the New Year as an opportunity for a new start and a new commitment. I encourage you, my brothers and sisters and Christ, to make this your year of reading the complete Word of God. As we become more spiritually mature, we begin to realize that it’s not enough to know how to get to the books of the Bible and where to find popular verses that are often quoted. We need to really go deeper and read through all the pages of the Word we hold close to our hearts.

We live in a day and age—and most of us live in countries—where we have easy access to the Bible on a daily basis. And there are multiple translations available in our native tongue to help make it easy to read the Bible. But reading the Word of God in a year is not like picking up a coffee table book for a casual perusal. It takes a commitment. And it requires daily prayer for understanding. It means staying faithful even on the most difficult days of the year. And I for one can tell you that it’s not easy. But if you’re persistent, your reward will be immeasurable.

Thanks be to God that we live in a day and age where there are countless resources available to us. A simple online search will yield numerous programs that provide daily Bible readings that will help you accomplish your goal. My favorite can be found at www.ewordtoday.com/year.

There are a few things I enjoy about this daily reading program:
-- You can begin on the 1st or 15th of any month (but January 1st would be a great time to start, dear reader)
-- You can choose the type of reading program you want, such as cover to cover or a chronological series of events (tip: the chronological series really brings the events of the Bible to life!)
-- You can choose the translation you want to read throughout the year (I’m a big fan of the NIV for modern English speakers)
-- The readings take about a half hour or so, on average (before you begin your first reading, establish a dedicated hour of each day that you will turn over completely to God for the purposes of reading His Word and spending time meditating on it)

If you are truly considering reading the Bible in one year, turn your desire and intent over to God. He will guide you through it. While the task may seem overwhelming, keep in mind that through God nothing is impossible!

I thank God for each day in 2011 that I can draw closer to Him through His Word!

Merry CHRISTmas!

2010-12-19T07:30:00.000-05:00

This is the time of year where pleasantries are exchanged on a regular basis. “Happy holidays” is said with a smile. “Season's greetings!” is proclaimed with a nod. But for me, there's nothing sweeter or more refreshing to hear than “Merry Christmas.” I’ve always found it ironic that there are so many efforts to be "all inclusive" during the holiday season—the result is the exclusion of Jesus.

Attempts to X out Christ begin with the terrible "Xmas" label and go as far as removing any mention of Jesus from the holiday celebration. Without Jesus—the Christ—the entire meaning of the Christmas holiday is lost. What is the song Silent Night without the refrain “Christ the savior is born”? Why have a tree without topping it with either the star or angel in remembrance of the arrival of the Messiah? No wonder so many people are left feeling as empty as their unwrapped gift boxes after the holiday is done.

Luke 2:11 declares, “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord.” Christmas, or “Christ’s Mass” is a celebration of His birth. Now what sense does it make to have a birthday party and ignore the guest of honor? A simple “Merry Christmas” goes a long way in showing you know Who the party is for.

When I hear and say “Merry Christmas” these days, I consider it a purposeful and direct acknowledgement of Jesus Christ. It may not be politically correct—but I’d rather not be spiritually incorrect!

Merry Christmas, dear readers!

Spiritual Multitasking

2010-12-05T08:00:00.000-05:00

This may be a familiar scenario: You are busily working on your computer. The television is on. Your cell phone buzzes, letting you know that a text message has just arrived. Someone walks into the room and asks you a question. Your first response: “Huh?” While we like to pride ourselves these days on our ability to multitask, there are still things in life that require us to focus.

The human brain is exceptional. It can process millions of bits of information in an instant. And, yes, the brain does have the ability to handle a number of different tasks simultaneously. However, studies have shown that certain tasks should be given our complete attention. For example, it’s no urban legend that talking on one’s cell phone while driving can be deadly. And let’s not even get started with texting while driving! Without a complete focus on what’s happening on the road, you are vulnerable to every unexpected hazard.

The same line of thinking can be applied to our spiritual focus. With so much going on in our lives, seemingly at all times, we may often find ourselves spiritually multitasking: Sitting in church service, thinking about what to put on the table for dinner. Doing the daily Bible reading while listening to the traffic news or weather report for our morning commute. If at any point God were to say something to us, our spirit’s response would be “Huh?”

God makes it clear in His Word that He doesn’t want us to put anything before Him—or even alongside Him. Our focus should be on Him completely, especially at times when we are in worship, in study, or in prayer. When God made His covenant with the Israelites, He instructed, “Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to the right or to the left, following other gods and serving them.” (Deuteronomy 28:14) While the “other gods” back then were graven images carved out of wood and stone, today’s “other gods” may be our gadgets or other interests.

God demands and deserves our undivided attention. I’m going to make sure He gets mine!

Broccoli Church

2010-11-28T07:30:00.000-05:00

There are many different types of churches out there. I’m not talking denominations here, such as Baptist, Methodist, AME, or COGIC. I mean different church flavors. You have your Cotton Candy Church, where everything is always sweet and sugarcoated. Then there’s your Popcorn Church, where everyone settles in each week for the big show. But my favorite happens to be the one that’s losing popularity these days—Broccoli Church. You know, the one where you might not always like the way it’s prepared, but it’s always good for you.

What’s wrong with Cotton Candy Church? Doesn’t Psalm 119:103 say, “How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth”? True, the Word of God is sweet to us—but it is so much more than that. A look at 2 Timothy 3:16 shows us that other characteristics of the Word are “teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.” And there are many more.

The truth is that the Word in and of itself is a full spiritual meal. Not just dessert. If you leave Cotton Candy Church every single Sunday with a “feel-good” spirit and never once with conviction or re-evaluation of your spiritual walk, you may not be getting your nutrients.

What about Popcorn Church? Why can’t we just sit back and enjoy the Sunday Show? We start with the musicians and a hot praise and worship set to get our soul all stirred up with praise dancers performing as spiritual cheerleaders, then on to the excitement of the service with more falling out than an old Michael Jackson concert—and that’s before the preacher even preaches. When the spiritual head of the House does arrive to take the podium, we’re hanging on to every word he utters, every phrase he turns, because his performance is just captivating. After service, you can hear folks leaving with words of, “Girl, that was some sermon” and “Oh, my spirit is so filled!” But come Monday morning, who knows what the sermon was about…oh, and who cares? We’ll be back on Sunday for the next show—and maybe even Wednesday night for the matinee!

There are plenty of defenses for Popcorn Church. There are those who will tell you that people don’t want to go to church and be bored to death. Or they argue that thanks to technology, we can take the church experience “to a new level.” Some may even say that because of the animated and likeable personalities of these preachers, more people are at least coming to church. But God is not looking for a church with quantity—He wants quality Christians.

And that brings me to Broccoli Church. I love Broccoli Church because it’s so beneficial to spiritual growth. It is full of healthy nutrients and always fresh. So it may be served up with praise and worship music that ministers to your soul—not just gets your heart racing. On the side you may get a presentation from the dance or drama ministry—not to distract you from the service, but to support it. And when the pastor comes to deliver the Word—it’s always so good, your spirit just eats it up. And even when the message is a little bitter in that it corrects or rebukes your spirit, it always goes down the right way.

I thank God for Broccoli Church, a place where I can grow spiritually healthy and strong!

What are other church flavors you’ve experienced? Are you also hungry for Broccoli Church? Leave a message!

Oh, Give Thanks

2010-11-21T07:30:00.001-05:00

Roasted turkey with stuffing. Mashed potatoes with gravy. Roasted corn. Sweet potato pies. As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, I begin to salivate! But like any holiday, we can easily lose sight of the real meaning. When we think of those who will go without the holiday roast and the prepared meal, it starts to bring us back to the real reason for giving thanks.

As Christians, our Thanksgiving holiday isn’t about stuffing ourselves more than the bird on the table. We believe in truly giving thanks to the Lord for His provision over the year. Psalm 118 tells us to “Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever.” And this appears in the chapter not once, but twice (verses 1 and 29).

We understand that we must give thanks—regardless of what our current situation looks like. Due to the current economy, there are families whose tables will not be full this Thanksgiving. And even those who will eat on the actual holiday—thanks to food banks, soup kitchens, and the help of people who care—those families may still be faced with the challenge of putting food on the table the rest of the winter. In Psalm 118:5-14, the psalmist speaks of some of the troubles and hardships the Lord has brought him through. It reminds us that it may be frightening and upsetting when we don’t know what tomorrow holds, but through it all, we must continue to be faithful to our thanksgiving to the Lord.

Let’s remember that Thanksgiving isn’t just a holiday—it’s a way of life. Through the good times and the bad, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good and His love endures forever!

“In a Relationship”

2010-11-14T07:30:00.003-05:00

A friend of mine recently changed her Facebook status from “Single” to “In a Relationship.” I started to think about how as Christians, our daily status is “In a Relationship…With Jesus.” And I thought about how important it is for us to realize how precious our spiritual relationship with Him really is.

The one we love is sometimes called our “significant other.” The term implies that no matter how many others we have coming and going in our lives, there is “one” who has a significant impact on us. This is the one we care about most and the one we think about most often. A famous pickup line goes, “Wow, you must be tired, because you’ve been running around my mind all day.” While I’m not sure this line has led to any life-long relationships, the sentiment is correct. In our relationship with Jesus, He is on our mind all day—we’re thinking about Him and how to please Him, and thinking about what He’s thinking of us. He is the most significant “One” in our lives.

Being in a relationship also means taking time out to ensure the one you love knows you’re in love. This includes carving out time to spend with your loved one. When I wake up in the morning, I realize how important and special it is to start my day in conversation with Jesus. In fact, sometimes my prayers begin with, “Good morning, Lord.” It’s my way of letting Him know that I’m not coming before Him out of habit or compulsion, but a true desire to start my day with Him. And I dedicate one day a week, Sunday, to visit His house, talk with others about Him, and enjoy being surrounded by His presence. Giving my time is an important part of showing Him my love.

A relationship should not be taken for granted—it requires a lot of work. We often call it “give and take.” In our relationship with Jesus, we may sometimes feel like we take too much. After all, He gave His very life in order to have an eternal relationship with us. What can we possibly give Him in return? Well, the love we show others is our way of giving back to Him. And when we honor and praise Him with our thoughts and actions, He blesses us in return.

What I love most about being in a relationship with Jesus is that it never ends. In the physical world, He surrounds us with His love, and we know that when we pass on to a spiritual place, we will rest with Him in glory. It’s a relationship that goes on and on. With none other can your status be “In a Relationship” forever!

Throughout the book of Psalms, David declares his relationship status with the Lord. As I read his songs of praise, such as Psalm 145, I thank God that I am, and will forever be, “In a Relationship…With Jesus.”

The Lesson in the Maze

2010-11-07T07:30:00.001-05:00

Recently a group from my church paid a visit to a local farm. As a city girl, it was a treat for me to take a hayride, pick fresh pumpkins, and enjoy nature for a few hours on a brisk, fall day. As part of the fun, I decided to take a walk through the corn maze—which God used as a great teaching moment.

I made sure everyone who wanted to explore the maze went in first. Some of the teens, parents with small children, and even my husband and 2-year old nephew went in ahead of me. Then I took a deep breath and said a quick prayer as I entered the maze myself, with its neat walls of corn stalks that stood about 7 feet tall. In the beginning, I loddy-doddied my way through, figuring I’d simply let my instincts and a little help from the Holy Spirit guide me through.

The Lord gave me a few minutes of “me time.” I wandered alone, with the dirt path under my feet, checking out the dried ears of corn that were still on some of the stalks. I had a map of the maze in my hand—but as I said earlier, I’m a city girl, so it wasn’t of any worth to me. After about 15 minutes, I realized it was probably time to get serious about getting out. So, I started to make a concentrated effort to get to the end.

Just then, I ran into my husband. He had our nephew by one hand and the maze map in the other. “Are you really trying to read the map?” I asked. “Of course—you have to follow the instructions,” he replied. “Yeah right,” I said, taking a right while he took a left. And my right led me straight into a dead end. I suddenly recalled that Proverbs 12:15 says, “The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.” So, I decided to go with my husband!

We made it to the center of the maze, where there was a platform. We walked up the stairs of the platform which provided great view that overlooked the farm. I paused to take in the colors of fall—brown, gold, green, orange, and red—which were just gorgeous. My husband told me it was time to move on and he continued to lead us by the map.

I was starting to wonder if this map thing was really working out. We hadn’t really hit any dead ends while following it—but we still weren’t out of the maze, either. My nephew, who had grown tired of walking, was now in my husband’s arms, along with the map. As I was beginning to doubt my husband’s map-reading skills, we were joined by a young lady from another group. “You look like you know what you’re doing. I’m following you!” she said. Well, there was no way some one else was going to have more faith in my husband than me! “Yep, he’s a smart guy and he’s going to lead us out of here,” I told her.

Soon after, we were out of the maze! The young lady was the first of her group to make it out, and she triumphantly sat at the exit to wait for the others. I told my husband I was really proud of him for getting us out with the map. He replied, “It’s easy when you follow the instructions.”

That’s when the Lord laid on my heart the full scope of his words. When I followed my own way without the map, my “right” took me to the wrong place. Isn’t that a lot like life? When we try to follow our own mind, we end up in a dead end. In my home, we try each day to “follow the instructions” that God gave us for daily living—in other words, our Bible. And my husband is the one we depend on most to lead the charge and keep us on the right track—just as he had done in the maze. Even more so, his conviction and our example were an encouragement for someone else to follow the right path!

Lord, You have mapped out the best way to navigate through this life—I’m going to trust and follow Your way!

Masquerading Christians

2010-10-31T07:30:00.002-04:00

Today, the streets will be filled with costumed trick-or-treaters collecting candy by the bagful. There will be vampires, zombies, ghosts, and demons—and oh my, actual Christians! Why are there so many Christians this year pretending to be something they are not?

I find that my position on Halloween is not one that wins a lot of support. Both the unbelievers and the Christians I know often disagree with me on this topic. I don’t celebrate Halloween in my home because there is nothing about it that celebrates what I believe in. As Christians, we are the light of the world. I’m not a fan of a holiday that is consumed by darkness.

If you’re still reading this ☺, here are some things to consider…

One of the things that I can appreciate about the holiday is the creativity that goes into it. The elaborate design of some of the handmade costumes and intricate makeup is just breathtaking. And as a kid, I loved wearing costumes and pretending to be someone or something else for a day. Currently, I even admire the work that goes into the house in the middle of town which—taking full advantage of its location—puts out a display that looks like a Hollywood set. Yet, it still doesn’t sit right with me that some of the images (for example, a guy hanging himself) are part of the “fun” of the holiday.

I also have a serious sweet tooth. So the idea of FREE CANDY is seductive enough to get me sucked in. Yet, isn’t that how the enemy works? Temptation begins with, “Aw, that doesn’t look so bad,” and ends in death. I love candy. But not enough to rot in hell for it. I’m just saying.

And trust me, I’m not caught up in the fact that it was based on a pagan holiday, because I understand that my lovely Christmas tree and those really fun Easter egg hunts also have pagan roots.* It’s more than that. Think about it—this year Halloween falls on a Sunday. I’ve heard quite a few Christians say, “It just doesn’t seem right to go to church, then go home and go trick-or-treating.” A town in Alabama decided to celebrate Halloween on Saturday this year because the officials even felt that it was a conflict to do it on Sunday. If something in your spirit is telling you it’s not right…don’t you think you should listen?

Romans 12 tells us, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.” Unfortunately, there are so many Christians who make compromises—such as masquerading as those who follow the patterns of this world—that they are unable to see what God’s perfect will is for their daily lives.

I refuse to hide myself behind masks and costumes today—I’d prefer to hide behind the cross every day of my life!

* By the way, the reason pagan traditions found their way into Catholic celebrations (such as Christ’s mass, or Christmas) is because there was at least some parallel that could be drawn between the native culture’s celebration and the Christian observance. But there is nothing about Halloween that is even remotely familiar to Christianity. For more information about other Christian perspectives on Halloween, please visit en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween#Christianity.

What Are You Thinking???

2010-10-24T08:00:00.000-04:00

I was recently reminded that what we think about could have a direct impact on what we do and how we respond to situations in life. Remember The Little Engine That Could? Even when all seemed lost, he said, “I think I can, I think I can,” until he reached success. What are you thinking these days?

When we are faced with a challenge, we are often confronted with the negatives: Why something can’t be done. Who’s fault it is—or will be. What went wrong in the first place. We may forget that the battle starts from within. We have a spiritual enemy that can’t wait to present us with the reasons we cannot overcome a situation. And he will flood our mind with the negatives.

Effective problem-solvers will tell you that you have to look at all sides of a problem in order to overcome it. You have to understand where the limitations are in order to get past them. However, too often we get stuck focusing on the limitations only. We have to remember that when you dwell ON the negative, you have a great chance of ending up dwelling IN negativity.

In Philippians 4:8, while giving encouragement to believers, Paul wrote, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” His advice could be summed up by something we used to say in my neighborhood back in the day: “Get your mind right!”

Think about a challenge you’re facing right now. Maybe it’s a family issue. Maybe it’s unemployment. Maybe it’s poor health or depression. Now think about how you have been thinking about the situation. Stop and say a prayer. Turn it over to the Lord and ask Him—who is and has been with you all along—to help you think about anything that is excellent and praiseworthy surrounding that challenge. Think about those things and watch what happens!

I’m thinking that it’s time for a change in my life—and with the help of the Lord, I know it’s going to happen!

Victory Celebration!

2010-10-17T07:30:00.002-04:00

Imagine going though—or think about the last time you went through—a terrible situation in your life. Think about spending hours on your knees praying over the situation, asking God for guidance and deliverance. Think about humbly reaching out to loved ones, prayer partners, and others to ask for support during our trying times…. Now think about overcoming the situation. Think about the joy that comes with deliverance! What comes next? My brothers and sisters in Christ, we need more Victory Celebrations!

I recently attended a wonderful affair hosted by a lovely married couple, friends of the family. It was a Victory Celebration—a thanksgiving for God’s goodness and awesome saving power. The attendees were friends and family members who have been witnesses to the couple’s testimony. It was an event unlike any other I’ve ever attended under circumstances that few of us would ever imagine. Let me explain…

Over the last several years, this family has been plagued by financial problems, job loss, even threat of criminal prosecution. They have faced devastation that many of us would shudder just thinking about. Yet through it all, they held to their faith in God and continued to weather each terrible storm together, with nothing but trust in the Lord to get them through. Family members and friends also prayed and lent any support they could through the trying times. And about a month ago, they received relief from their most recent trial. It was a major win for the family and an event definitely worth celebrating.

Psalm 34:19 tells us, “a righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all.” Often, we hear about the troubles of those around us. We have prayer lists in our church bulletins and prayer requests from people we know. But how often do we hear how the Lord “delivers him from them all”? Not that we need confirmation for every prayer we send up, because we trust that the Lord is always faithful to answer our prayers. But sometimes it is nice to see that He is still in the miracle business!

During the Victory Celebration, the couple offered words of wisdom about the lessons learned during their trying times. I got a lot out of it, but one of the most important things I learned wasn’t just from what they said but what they demonstrated: When times are dark and the future is uncertain, we can reach out to loved ones, prayer partners, and even professional help—but when the clouds clear away and you are able to enjoy the light again, have them all join in as you GIVE GOD THE GLORY!

Matthew 6:6 tells me that when I pray in secret, the Lord will bless me openly—I’m inviting all those who prayed with me to join my Victory Celebration and share in the blessing!

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More Than a Feeling

2010-10-10T07:30:00.000-04:00

Did you ever wake up and just feel like not doing anything? Maybe you were under the weather. Maybe you were tired from “overdoing it” the day before. Or maybe, you were just feeling a little down and out. The truth is, sometimes the way we feel dictates our actions. Thank goodness our salvation isn’t based on feelings!

As Christians, we may not always “feel” like doing things we know we should. We might not feel like reading our Bible on a daily basis. We may sit out a few Sundays from church because we don’t feel like going. We may even find ourselves entrenched in sin, because we simply don’t feel like doing the right thing. If it were left up to us, our feelings would eventually lead us into some very dark and dangerous places.

During His time on earth, Jesus had feelings. He became weary. He felt hunger and thirst. He even demonstrated feelings at the hearing of the death of a friend (“Jesus wept.”). However, His divine nature would not allow feelings to get in the way of His purpose. In the garden of Gethsemane, just prior to His crucifixion, Jesus prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39) Jesus demonstrated perfect submission—overcoming any personal feelings He may have had so that He could completely serve the will of God.

We should always follow Christ’s example and yield to the will of God. That’s because God’s grace saves us from the chaotic nature of our feelings. He cares for us even when we are careless with own lives. He watches over us, even when we take our eyes off of Him. He loves us even when we are unlovable.

I’m going to do my best to do His will—even when I don’t really “feel” like it!

Get Some Rest

2010-09-26T08:30:00.000-04:00

“The city never sleeps.”
“We’re here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”
“If you snooze, you lose.”
With so much business to attend to, personal interests to pursue, and the buzz of so much social energy, there seems to be hardly any time for rest. But taking time out is part of the natural order of things. Without rest, we find ourselves in an ongoing cycle that leads to becoming burnt out, sick, and just plain exhausted.

God created the world in six days. After putting forth all the energy and detail into creating the earth we live in, He took a seventh day to rest (Genesis 2:2-3). When leading the Israelites into the Promised Land, God directed His people to follow His example and set aside a Sabbath day for rest and worship (Exodus 20:8-11).

Today, the pressure is on. For many people, in order to be the best at what they do and get the things they want—or even just to keep up—means putting in extra hours and putting personal needs aside. This leads to a cycle of people working late, working weekends, and working themselves to death. Literally.

The saying, “I’m sick and tired,” is actually very revealing. Studies have proven that a lack of sleep can wear down the body’s immune system. The more tired you are, the more vulnerable you become to getting sick. Rest is essential to good health.

On another note…”the city that never sleeps” is also the city that has one of the highest crime rates. Ever wonder why residential neighborhoods with hardly any illicit activity are called, “sleepy towns”? Because when almost all of the residents are in bed at 9 p.m., there’s not a lot of criminal activity going on!

Rest is also important to our spiritual health. A weary mind gives way to low impulse control, leading us more susceptible to sin. And when we neglect to set aside time for worship, we not only disobey God’s ordinance to keep the Sabbath holy, but we don’t get the rejuvenation we need to stay spiritually refreshed.

I’m taking another look at the importance of rest in my life—and adjusting my schedule accordingly!

What Would YOU Do?

2010-09-19T07:30:00.001-04:00

You are walking down the street and you hear the sound of a baby’s cries coming from inside a locked car on a hot day…. You are shopping at a local store and you hear the cashier making derogatory comments to someone who is disabled…. You see someone who appears to be stealing a bike from the local park…. What would you do? A television show—armed with hidden cameras—seeks to answer that question.

It is so interesting to see human psychology at play while watching this program. What Would You Do, which airs on ABC, exposes the absolute worst and the very best of our natural response to various situations. And week after week, the program brings to life the parable of the Good Samaritan, found in Luke 10:25-37.

While almost all of us celebrate the humility of the man who would help someone in need—even going so far as to do it at his own personal expense—the fact is that many people have a hard time putting this into practice. And there are plenty of reasons, too. Sometimes, we are too caught up in our own lives and oblivious to the needs of others. Sometimes we are afraid for our own personal safety. And sometimes we just don’t know what to do.

A couple of years ago, the popular phrase, “What Would Jesus Do?” was everywhere. As Christians, the Spirit of Christ is in us. So what WE do should actually be a reflection of what HE would do. If the hidden cameras caught our response to any of the situations proposed by the program, would the Christ in us shine through?

What would you do?

“Bring Another Race to Church Sunday”

2010-09-12T07:30:00.002-04:00

Okay, so the idea was a bit heavy handed, but the pastor wasn’t completely off his rocker. Ministering to a large inner-city congregation, he wondered aloud why he didn’t see more diverse faces in the pews. Certainly the members had coworkers, neighbors, friends, and acquaintances of different backgrounds and nationalities. Why weren’t members of the congregation extending the invitation to their house of worship?

Truth be told, many of us attend racially and culturally segregated churches. Of course, there is a difference between de jure segregation (which is mandated by law) and de facto segregation (which happens by coincidence)—and I would believe that there are very few churches left in this country that would openly denounce the mixing of races in the pews. But in this day and age, having just one or two families in the church who don’t fit the congregation’s racial or cultural majority isn’t enough. A true multicultural worship experience still lacks in many churches.

One may cite language barriers, denominational differences, or simple fear of the unknown as factors that prevent more interracial worship. But as Christians, we need to simply get over it. It is concerning that there are more churches that are willing to travel abroad to reach people of different races than go into a local community to do the same. As the saying goes, “Charity begins at home.” Charity, by the way, is another word for Love.

The Great Commission is found in Matthew 28:19-20, where Jesus says, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

In Christ, there should be no cultural fear, no racial hatred, and no ethnic discrimination. As the song goes, “When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be!” I tend to believe that the rejoicing will take place among people of all nationalities, cultural backgrounds, languages and traditions. Why can’t we start here on earth?

I believe it’s important to fellowship with all Christians—including those who don’t look like me!

Put to the Test

2010-09-05T07:30:00.000-04:00

“Oh no!” I screamed, staring at the computer screen. I had just fully completed that week’s blog and as I tried to save it, Microsoft Word “quit unexpectedly.” I broke out into a sweat. “Oh, please don’t tell me it’s lost,” I mumbled. When I tried to reopen the doc, it “recovered” a previous version that had most of the good stuff missing. All that work! It was all lost! And not to mention the fact that my deadline was quickly approaching! When we’re faced with these types of unfortunate circumstances, what do we do? What would you do?

I let out a deep, disappointed sigh. And I said, “Well Lord, help me prepare the blog You want me to publish this week.” I acknowledged that He gave me the strength and inspiration to prepare the first draft, so I was going to trust Him to help me prepare the new one. I quit the “recovered” document and reopened Word. And through some miracle, every single word of the blog that I lost was right there on the screen! (Okay, it’s not quite a “fishes and loaves” type of miracle, but at that moment, it was just as impressive to me!)

I actually felt relieved—and rewarded—for passing the test with my spiritual maturity. I had put Philippians 4:6 into action. I turned over my problem to Him and He worked it out! But there’s more…

Not even a week later, I upgraded my electronic calendar system to new software. Now, due to my frail memory, I rely heavily on my calendar. I write down everything and set lots of reminders. However, somewhere in the transfer process, I completely wiped out my entire calendar history! Years of appointments, birthdays, special occasions, and upcoming events were instantly obliterated. And in almost the same blink of an eye, I freaked out!

I spewed a few choice words at the computer, let everyone in the house know how angry I was about the situation, and sat there trying to remember every calendar entry that had been deleted. And I spent hours in a state of complete agitation. Eventually, I was able to recover some of my calendar—but not all of it. And that’s when I realized…I had failed the test!

All of that spiritual maturity I had demonstrated just a few days before completely evaporated when presented with this new, and arguably, slightly greater challenge. I mean, really—I’ve been through some things over the last couple of years, and I’ve faced some situations that were a lot more difficult than a lost document or a deleted calendar. And because of those trials, I thought I had learned to trust God for ALL things—even computer glitches. But this little incident served as a reminder that there’s still some room for improvement.

In the end, I had much more to recover than a lost calendar: I had to regain my spiritual footing. I apologized to everyone in the house for the histrionics. And it took me a while, but I eventually brought it before the Lord and asked for forgiveness from Him. How awesome is it that we serve a God who never runs out of second chances?

When put to the test again, I’ll remember to look to the Lord for the answers!

Comfortable Christians

2010-08-29T07:30:00.000-04:00

Many of us get dressed on Sunday morning to attend worship services, sit in our “regular” seat in the sanctuary, say hello to our church friends, and participate in all of the activities outlined in the bulletin. After exchanging a few pleasantries after service, we go home and put away our Bibles until the following week, when we do it all again. Ahh, the life of a “Comfortable Christian.”

A good job, a nice car, and a decent home are what many prosperity preachers tell us to aspire to. “Name it and claim it” and “believe it and receive it” are the mantra of these motivational leaders. From the pews, it would seem that salvation is linked to how much you can get from God. And once this prosperity has been achieved…then what?

Recently, I spoke with a pastor from Liberia, a country still recovering from a devastating civil war. As we talked, it occurred to me how “comfortable” we are as Christians. If it wasn’t enough that America allowed for some of the physical comforts that many countries lack…I realized that as a nation, our spirituality is in a comfortable state as well.

Like many of our other selfish pursuits (a good job for “me”, a nice car to take “me” where “I” want to go, and a big home for “my” family), our spirituality is all about ourselves. “I” need to be saved so that “I” can have eternal life. And while it is true that we only have ourselves to answer for on Judgment Day, one of the things that God requires of us as Christians is to spread the Good News. Not only through our actual word-of-mouth testimony, but through our actions and the love we show to others.

Paul recognized that as a Christian, it was spiritually dangerous to fall into a state of comfort. When he found himself with a thorn in his side (whether it was figurative or literal is up to the theologists to debate), Paul considered it to be a device from God to keep him from boasting about the great spiritual things that had been revealed to him. Paul went on to say that it was the hardships and challenges that were spiritually profitable, and revealed, “For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:7-10) When we operate outside of our comfort zone, we have the best opportunity to be used by God.

Are you willing to step outside of your comfortable Christianity to be of help to others? Ask yourself: what more can I do? How can I be of help to people in other parts of the world—or my neighbors down the street? Allow God to speak to your spirit and He’ll give you the strength to do the rest!

The Last Day

2010-08-22T07:48:00.001-04:00

If this were your last day on earth, what would you do? Who would you say goodbye to and where would you go? Are there debts you would want to settle? Are there any last words you would want to say? We don’t often think about “the end,” but every now and then, perhaps we should to give ourselves a better perspective of where we are today.

Most of us will not know the time or place of our demise. Yet we do know that one day, we will experience death—it’s a part of life. It’s not something that most of us think about too often, in fact, many of us try our best not to think about it. As a result, we sometimes lose perspective of what this life is really all about. When we live day-to-day, we can sometimes lose sight of eternity.

When Jesus was on earth, He lived life keenly aware of His mortality. He knew that there would come a time when He would die (Matthew 20:17-19). But He did not live in a depressed state, or with the attitude of, “Well, it’s all just going to end, anyway.” Instead, He went about His daily work of ministering to people, healing them, and teaching His disciples, preparing them for ministry after He was gone. When He was eventually crucified, Jesus was able to die knowing that He accomplished His mission on earth—and that He would be resurrected from the grave with eternal power.

I have heard it said that all of us are simply “spiritual beings having a human experience” and that the Bible can be considered an acronym for: Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. If we live life with our eternity in perspective, perhaps we would have fewer fears or concerns about “the last day.”

If you are not sure about your eternity, please don’t leave this life, or even this blog today, without praying this prayer:

“Dear Lord, I know that I am a sinner, but I am asking for Your forgiveness. I believe in Your son, Jesus Christ. I believe that He lived a life on earth without sin and that He died on the cross to pay the price for my sins. I believe that He rose from the grave so that I may have eternal life with You. I invite Jesus to come into my life and guide me each day with Your Holy Spirit so that I may live a life that is pleasing to You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”

If you have said this prayer, then you don’t have to worry about “the last day,” because after that will come the beginning of your eternity!

This Is the Day

2010-08-15T07:30:00.000-04:00

“This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24) This is an affirmation I’ve heard and have repeated myself many, many times. It’s an acknowledgement that no matter what we anticipate or experience during the course of the day, we can still find contentment in the Lord.

There are days that we just don’t look forward to: the day of the big test, the day of the dentist’s appointment, or even Monday. However, no matter what we think the day has in store for us, the Lord has already worked it out. Acknowledging that the Lord has handcrafted our day could result in it going in a direction we never could have expected. For example, in the dentist’s waiting room, you might meet the love of your life sitting in the chair across from you!

And then there are the days when it seems that nothing can go right. You know Murphy’s Law, “Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.” And as each hour passes, it seems things are getting progressively worse. Sometimes it may be an attack of the enemy, sometimes it can be a test, and sometimes it’s just the way things go. Before you throw up your hands or throw in the towel, remember to acknowledge that the Lord is in control—and rejoice in the fact that all your problems are in His hands.

When we acknowledge the Lord’s authorship of our days and look to Him during the course of each one, we have the best opportunity of finding joy in our lives. There’s little room for anxiety, depression, or anguish when we turn everything over to Him. And this is where we find our blessing.

I remember to acknowledge the Lord each and every day, and I’m so glad He is in control!

Pass It On

2010-08-08T07:36:00.002-04:00

Has God helped you recover from an illness? Given you a financial blessing? Provided you with comfort in the time of mourning? One of the best ways to show thanks for what God has done for you is to share your testimony with someone else. You never know when sharing your experience of God’s awesome power can bless the person next to you.

Back in the day, many churches had a testimony service. As part of the regular program, time would be set aside for people to stand up and testify. The witness would begin with something like, “Giving honor to God who is the head of my life…,” and then the praise would begin. Even as a kid, I remember listening to the powerful accounts and realizing how awesome God is.

Some have speculated as to why the testimony service has dwindled away. Perhaps it took too much time away from the other aspects of service, like altar call. Maybe it created too much pressure for members of the congregation and made them feel “put on the spot.” Maybe people simply lost perspective of what testifying is all about.

Throughout the Bible, God instructs people to pass on the testimony of their deliverance to others. Moses recounted the exodus from Egypt over and over to the children of Israel, and they passed it on to their children. Jesus also encouraged people to declare their testimony. In Mark 5:1-20, after healing the man who had been possessed by demons, Jesus told him to share his story with others. He did, and as the Word tells us, “all the people were amazed.”

Sharing a testimony is not bragging. It is an opportunity to give God praise. It is also not a story about what someone is “going through.” A testimony allows people to look back and declare what God has done in their lives to encourage others. And finally, a testimony is not long-winded or verbose. The purpose of testifying is not to spin a tale of intrigue and suspense, but to acknowledge the ongoing power of God at work in the world today.

I’m going to pass on the good news of what God has done for me!

The Wisdom of Solomon

2010-08-01T07:30:00.002-04:00

Solomon is known for having an extraordinary gift of wisdom. His legendary court ruling involving two women and a baby serves as testament to his great discernment. (1 Kings 3:16-28) However, a closer look may reveal the key to Solomon's wisdom and how it may be applied to our own lives.

Solomon came from a somewhat dysfunctional family. Although he had a privileged upbringing as the son of King David, that didn't preclude him from a wealth of family drama. One of his brothers led a failed campaign to overthrow his father as king. Another brother tried to usurp Solomon's succession to the throne just before his father's death. Solomon's life as a prince was far less than charming.

Upon receiving the crown as king of Israel, Solomon made an extraordinary request of the Lord. He prayed that he would be granted the wisdom to effectively lead the people. Not long life, not great wealth, not fantastic strength or military prowess--Solomon simply asked the Lord to guide him in leading His people. (2 Chronicles 1:7-10)

How many of us today would make such a pure, selfless request? It seems that even many religious leaders today would be hard pressed to make such a humble petition. Not a congregation of thousands, not financial security, not even an outstanding reputation, but the wisdom to lead God's people in spirit and in truth.

Because of his purity of heart and the sheer innocence of his request, God blessed Solomon with much more than wisdom. (2 Chronicles 1:11-12) He bestowed many other blessings on him as well--great wealth, a peaceful reign, and a great name that is known to this very day.

When given the opportunity, will we be able to look past our personal needs to ask God for the wisdom to do His will? Could we make such a simple request with such purity of heart? This was the key that unlocked Solomon's greatness, in spite of some of his personal shortcomings.

Lord, my desire is to do Your will, because the fear of You is the beginning of wisdom.

Talking to Myself

2010-07-25T07:30:00.001-04:00

I’ve been doing this blog for some time now, and there are weeks where the Holy Spirit will lead me to write something that I really don’t want to write! The truth is, I’ve had to write through pain, through disappointment, and through some pretty tough trials in my life. But you know what? I know that you have been reading through the difficult times in your own life, too. And I thank God that there have been weeks that the blog as been as encouraging to you has it has been to me!

Sometimes, there will be a topic that God gives me to write about and it doesn’t appear in the blog for weeks. That’s because God has to deal with me about some things first. Before I can write about loving your enemies, for example, God throws a couple my way, so I can experience it firsthand.

Then there are the weeks when I will have heard the topic loud and clear and jumped on it right away. But when I sit down to actually write about it, it’s not what I want to say at all. In fact, my very well organized and well-crafted sentences get obliterated by the delete key. And what’s left is not what I sat down and intended to write. But each time, whenever I publish the blog and say, “That’s not what I wanted to say,” that someone leaves a comment of “Amen!” Or just when I feel like that day’s blog entry was out of whack, I’ll run into someone who says, “Wow, the blog today really touched me.” And my reply is always, “To God be the glory!” Because truthfully, it is not about me, it is the working of the Holy Spirit.

Personally, I have grown spiritually through working on this blog and I hope you have too! My prayer is that God will continue to use me, even in this very small way, to encourage the people of God. Each week, I call those who read this blog “Valued Readers,” in honor of those who take the time out of their busy schedules to read and reflect on the topics covered. It’s like when Paul said to the members of the church of Corinth, “Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” (2 Corinthians 3:1-3)

I thank God for the opportunity to talk to myself—and I pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to minister to others through these words as well!

Gray Areas

2010-07-18T07:27:00.002-04:00

Is stealing a CD from the music store a crime? Most of us would say yes, no question about it. But what about downloading “free” music online? Is talking to an ex on Facebook wrong if you’re married? Should Christians watch violent movies? Many believe there are plenty of “gray areas” that are not covered in the Bible. So how do we apply ancient teaching to today’s high-tech modern era?

It was Jesus himself who, when asked which was the greatest commandment of the Law*, replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” He clarified that this is the basis for all the Law, saying, “All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:34-40)

Hmm. Well, that makes it easier for us to apply God’s Will to our daily lives. If we look at our actions in the context of, “Does this behavior demonstrate a love for God? Does it show love for others?” Some of those “gray areas” become more black and white. Using the previously mentioned examples:

• One may argue that downloading music is no big deal, that no one is getting hurt. However, you’d pretty much have to be living under a rock not to know that it is considered illegal—no matter how easy it is to do, or how unlikely you are to be arrested for it. Does it please God for you to break the law of the land?

• When talking to an ex on Facebook, is the conversation Godly, in the sense that it is open and nonthreatening? If the tables were turned and your spouse was having the same conversation, would you be okay with the content of the transcript? If not, you may not be loving your spouse as you love yourself.

• Murderous movies with graphic representation of body parts blown off and blood everywhere glorifies violence. Is this something that pleases God?

Deciding whether or not to do these things is making a conscious choice to sin or not to sin. But we should not try to absolve ourselves of the consequences of our choice by claiming they are “gray areas.” As a general rule of thumb, if you have to ask if it’s a sin…it just might be.

When we live in the light of the Son, there are no gray areas.

* A note about the Law: In Exodus 20, the original rules and regulations of living were given to God’s chosen people, the Israelites. These Ten Commandments outlined the way in which they should live. The book of Leviticus expands on those ten commandments and offers even more detailed instructions. But it was difficult for God’s people to live under the Law. The millions of doves, goats, bulls, and other animals that were sacrificed in atonement for their sins (their inability to follow the Law) could hardly suffice. So God offered the ultimate sacrifice. He sent his Son, Jesus, to live a life without sin and to be killed for our sins. Jesus paid the price of our sin (the cost is death). The power of His resurrection is that we were all saved from the penalty of death through Jesus.

Fear vs. Faith

2010-07-11T07:30:00.001-04:00

Fear and faith cannot coexist. They are opposites. Fear is paralyzing; in faith, there is freedom. Think about it—you cannot walk freely if you are afraid of everything that lies ahead. There are times in our lives where we have to make the conscious decision to step out on faith or let fear hold us captive. So, what’s it going to be?

One of my favorite scenes in the movie, “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” is when Jones has succeeded in overcoming a series of dangerous obstacles in trying to reach his treasure. Just when it seemed he had overcome the very last one, he reaches what looks like a dead end at the edge of a cliff. His treasure map tells him that he must press forward—or in other words, he has to basically step out on faith. With nothing but an abyss beneath him, Jones puts forth the first foot and…lands on an invisible bridge! (Not so much invisible, but to the naked eye, you can hardly tell that the bridge is there because it is so well camouflaged to blend in with the surroundings.) It makes my heart leap every time I think about it!

Indiana Jones demonstrated the principle that so many Biblical figures put into practice. Without any evidence of even the slightest possibility of the desired end result, they stepped out on faith. By trusting in God, they received the reward they had hoped for. In Hebrews 11, we see the great Hall of Faith, with a listing of many of those who pleased God by living by faith. It’s also important to note that a couple of them didn’t see the promise completely fulfilled in their lifetimes (for example, Moses never actually entered the Promised Land himself), but God held true to His promises and generations prospered.

What happens to those who allow fear to control their lives? Well, in the Indiana Jones movie, fear would have prevented him from reaching the Holy Grail. In real life, it prevents many people from achieving their goals. Fear of failing keeps some from pursuing higher education or starting a business. Fear of not being good enough prevents some from trying out for a team or applying for a promotion. Those who live in fear don’t end up in a “hall of greats.” It is faith that can help you achieve reward beyond what you can even imagine.

Although some things may frighten me, I refuse to live in fear—I will trust in the Holy Spirit to guide me and lead me to success!

In God We Trust

2010-07-04T07:30:00.000-04:00

I spent my elementary school years in a private, Christian school. So if you ask me why this nation was established, I would tell you that the original settlers came here for the freedom to worship. I was taught from the beginning that this country was founded on Christian principles. Today, as we celebrate the 234th anniversary of our independence, I challenge anyone to refute that premise.

My textbooks from grammar school were written from a Christian perspective. Prayer, worship, and thanksgiving to God were told to be a part of our founding fathers’ daily lives. These men were persecuted for their religious beliefs in Great Britain and found refuge in the land that would later be known as the United States of America.

At the founding of our country, there was no “separation of church and state.” Ironically, many of those today with a public school education (where prayer is “banned”) may not know about the prayer sessions that were held before those original meetings of Congress. The founding fathers, in spite of their human flaws and failings, turned to God for guidance.

A strong Christian influence helped shape the documents and decisions that affect us to this very day. From the first lines of the Declaration of Independence—which acknowledge the Creator—to the inscription on the Liberty Bell, which is cited from Leviticus 25:10, Christian imagery and references can be found embedded in almost everything from the first days of our nations’ founding. Including our currency, which is imprinted with the covenant, “In God We Trust.”

Christian principles were a significant part of the belief system that established this nation. Today, as we celebrate our nation’s independence, let’s especially celebrate our freedom to worship. And please, remember to pray for our political leaders at all times, so that they may make wise decisions and forward the beliefs that established our nation and helped make it great.

America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

Giving Dad His Due

2010-06-20T07:30:00.001-04:00

This week’s blog is dedicated to all the fathers who are doing the best they can to provide for their families. It’s for the fathers who understand their role in the household and tirelessly handle their responsibilities. It’s in appreciation for the men who put God first in their lives and trust the Holy Spirit to guide their decision-making. Believe me, these men are out there.

A growing trend is to use Father’s Day as a platform to point out all that is wrong with families in our society. In particular, it’s often used as a sounding board to air grievances against fathers. This week, I’ve heard quite a few statistics about absentee dads, deadbeat dads, and how the declining presence of men in families is corrupting the young people in homes across America. In fact, it’s all made to sound very hopeless.

Yet, when I look around, I see so many men who are striving to do the best they can for their families. Men who have been put out of work in this economy, but have taken on jobs for which they are overqualified, just to support their families. Men who are raising their sons and daughters on their own, but are unrecognized in the “single parent” conversation. Men who have married women with children and have become fathers, not by seed, but by selection. All of these are men who are often overlooked and undervalued in favor of sensational headlines that reinforce the downfall of the modern family.

Today, in some churches, the pastor may ask for all the fathers to stand in recognition of Father’s Day. And there will actually be some women who stand as well. “I’m both a mother AND a father to my kids,” they will contend. While there are certainly plenty of women who are raising kids all alone, and doing a commendable job by themselves, there is a time to recognize their efforts. It’s called Mother’s Day.

Exodus 20:12 tells us to honor our father and our mother. On Father’s Day, let’s give dad his due. Let’s really take the time to recognize the men in our communities who are trying to do the right thing.

I thank my Heavenly Father for the fathers on earth who put Him first!

40

2010-06-13T07:30:00.000-04:00

I’ve been thinking a lot about the significance of the number 40 lately. It certainly appears very prominently in certain events in the Bible. Think about it: Noah’s ark was afloat for 40 days and 40 nights. The Israelites wandered the desert for 40 years. Jesus fasted 40 days and 40 nights in the wilderness. Hmm…maybe there’s something to this number.

According to Biblical references, “40” can refer to a long trial, or a probation of some kind. Noah spent 40 days and nights in the ark while the world was under water. The Israelites spent 40 years wandering the land without a home. Jesus spent 40 days and nights without food in the wilderness. In each instance, they had to completely trust and rely on the Lord. These were periods of testing…and preparation.

It’s amazing when you stop to think about what happens after the trial has ended. After 40 days, the waters stopped—and when they receded, Noah stepped off the ark onto a new earth (Genesis 7-8). After 40 years, the Israelites entered the promised land, a place flowing with milk and honey (Deuteronomy 8). After Jesus’ 40-day fast, He began the greatest ministry known to man (Matthew 4).

There used to be a saying among sassy older women that went, “Life begins after 40.” From a Biblical perspective, perhaps those earlier years were just trial and error for the fabulous 40-somethings they were to become.

Thank God that after the trial of 40 we can enjoy His countless blessings!

Poison Ivy and Milkweed

2010-06-06T07:46:00.004-04:00

As a child I adopted a great love for the outdoors. Leaving Newark for rural West Virginia, where I lived for 8 years, I was intrigued by nature and quickly adapted to the outdoor life. Unfortunately, in my woodland adventures I soon discovered the perils of this green environment. Poison ivy came to be a frequent interruption to my enjoyment.

However, rising through and towering above the contagious vine-covered field of poison ivy was another notable plant—milkweed. An old-timer dropped an invaluable bit of wisdom on me to ease my suffering. He taught me how to extract the thick white sap (hence the name milkweed) from the plant and apply it to my rash. I must admit—at first it stings like alcohol and later creates an intense itch as it dries, but it dries out the blisters and commences healing.

As Christians, we’re occasionally tempted to take walk on the wild side. We take the chance and turn away from where God’s been leading and keeping us safe, thus, ending up poisoned from the experience. The Lord wants us to steer clear of these known dangers set by the enemy, understanding what looks so enticing at first can leave us with a tremendous itch. Trust and believe that there are serious consequences for flirting with a sinful world—and who knows just what may rub off on us.

I still wondered why the remedy is found amidst the poison ivy itself. I then realized that sometimes the only way we can discover the cure from our ailment is from within the center of our pain. I won’t say that God’s way of getting our attention is by inflicting pain, discomfort, or distress (we often do that ourselves), but He uses these trials to our advantage by remaining present in our times of suffering. In compassion, He stands above the creeping ivy teaching us to look to the hills from which cometh our help. He helps us to stand fast among a sea of evildoers and rise above our negative and wretched circumstances. And we learn the cure can only be found in Christ—His blood and His love, which covers a multitude of sins—and all that’s needed is its application.

So, if by chance, you’ve found your way into a hurtful situation and are left blistered by the experience, look for the One who stands above it all and is ready to nurse us back to health with His milk of understanding, guidance, patience, and love. Sure, it’s going to sting at first, but let go of your pride and admit you’re in a bad way, and be soothed by His balm and relieved by His healing.

This week’s blog is brought to you by Min. Reginald Harris, Youth Leader of Christian Love Baptist Church in Irvington, NJ.

Does He Have Your Attention?

2010-05-30T07:30:00.000-04:00

I once heard a preacher say that people often form very a close relationship with God when they are in the hospital or in jail. He said that these are two occasions in which God has their full attention. He went on to declare, “God, you have my full attention right now—so if it’s okay with You, I’d like to skip the hospital and the jailbed!” In the spirit of levity, he still makes a good point.

When we are going through a trial or a rough patch in our lives, we often call out to God in prayer. Then we actively look for His hand of deliverance. Financial problem? We seek a miraculous blessing to solve it. Family problem? We ask God to make it right. Many of us have gotten very good at reaching out to God in times of need.

But what about when all is well? Those times when there are no burning issues to petition God about. Are we listening for His voice to us? Still praying faithfully? Reading His Word daily? Too often, we get “caught up” in our daily lives and don’t pay God much attention. We begin to develop this one-way relationship of sorts, talking to Him only when we need something.

God desires an ongoing relationship with us, rich with communication. He wants our attention. He desires for us to set aside private time for Him, and include Him in our daily walk. When we make ourselves available to open communication with the Lord, we begin to see Him in everything we do. He’s at our job, in our home, on the street, in the car. And that makes for an awesome relationship. Jesus gave us the example we should follow. He often prayed to the Father, and in Matthew 6, outlines how we should pray to remain in fellowship with God.

I want to hear what God has to say to me, so I’m giving Him my full attention!

Why Church? (Part 2)

2010-05-23T07:30:00.000-04:00

My husband has taught “Children’s Church” for a number of years. It’s a lot like Sunday School, as the children are taught Bible lessons and participate in age-appropriate activities. However, Children’s Church takes place during the regular adult church service—and lasts as long. Often, when service runs longer than usual, a grumpy child will ask my husband, “When is church over?” His patent reply is, “Church is never over. Because YOU are the church.” I often wonder how many adult Christians know this.

The church is a body of believers who come together at an appointed time and place to worship the Lord. As a “body”—just like the human body—each part is essential. In 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, Paul constructs a beautifully vivid picture of what it means to be part of the body of Christ.

We are all part of the body, and each of us plays an important role in the church. There are some who have obvious responsibilities, such as the pastor, deacon, usher, and trustee. But even those of us who sit in the pews have a part. We participate in singing the praise and worship songs, we bring tithes and offerings, we unite in prayer, and in some churches we “turn to your neighbor” as the preacher instructs during the sermon. Whether you are at the “head” or just a “foot” in the door, you are essential to the body of Christ.

But what happens when a part of the body becomes injured? I can tell you from personal experience that there’s no hurt like church hurt. But do you know that God is a Healer? Through prayer and forgiveness, He can help overcome the pain, and make us stronger for it. In Hebrews 10:25, Paul says, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Why church? Because you are an important part of the body of believers.

Why Church? (Part 1)

2010-05-16T08:27:00.001-04:00

This morning, many will put on their “Sunday best” and make their way to their local place of worship. Yet there are those who will sit at home and wonder, “Why do I have to go to church? Can’t I be a Christian all by myself?” The answer to that depends on what you understand about church.

There are several definitions for “church.” One speaks to the physical building in which Christian worship takes place. But the other, more relevant definition, is that a “church” is a body of believers. It is a congregation of like-minded Christians who come together to serve the Lord and fellowship with one another.

I’ve heard many people say, “I get my church on TV,” and proceed to name their favorite Christian cable network and/or televangelist. For those with no means of getting to church, this may suffice. But unfortunately, many people use this medium as a way to avoid contact with other Christians altogether.

On the flip side, there are those who go to church every week—because it’s a tradition. They put no more thought into going to the church house on Sunday than they do of getting into the shower in the morning. It’s just the thing to do.

As Christians, our attitude toward church should not be one of avoidance nor obligation. We should actually be excited about the thought of coming together! On Sunday morning, we get to go to a building that is dedicated to our Father and join a group of people in acknowledging all that He has done for us! We sing songs to His glory! We learn more about His promises to us and how to live life with Him! This is why in Psalm 122:1, David said, “I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the LORD.’”

Why church? For those who love the Lord, it’s a place to enjoy worship with people who love Him also.

Mother's Day

2010-05-09T07:30:00.000-04:00

For many, Mother’s Day is a day filled with cards and flowers. Moms are given gifts and many are taken out to dinner. It’s a day set aside to show mom a little appreciation for the great things she’s done and sacrifices she has made. But especially today, let’s not forget about the motherless. And the moms whose children are no longer here to give them handmade treasures. Today’s blog is dedicated to the moms and the children for whom Mother’s Day has a different meaning.

The Baptist church has a tradition where women are pinned with carnations on Mother’s Day. A red carnation signifies that mom is still living. A white carnation indicates that mom has passed on. Maybe your church does the same thing. You may even overhear an elder woman of your congregation who has the distinction of wearing a red carnation proudly declare, “Yep, my mother is 92 [or insert incredible age here] and is still with us!” But do not overlook the young woman wearing a white flower pinned to her chest. Maybe the sting of her mother passing is as fresh of the flower she’s wearing.

The pews may be filled with moms whose adult children have decided to join them for service this morning. (These same adult children will be elbowed sharply to stand on their feet for the Visitor’s Welcome, so that mom can beam proudly as they introduce themselves.) But do not ignore the mom who sits alone today, who may even wipe a tear every now and then while the pastor delivers a patent sermon about “a mother’s love.”

We live in a society that’s anything but traditional. More common today than ever before, we have stepfamilies, blended families, extended families, adoptive families and more. We should not take it for granted that our experience with our mother is the same as everyone else’s. One person’s definition of a mom (“the woman who gave birth to me”) may be different from another’s (“the woman who raised me”). And even being a mother has different meanings. One mom may be struggling to make ends meet to feed her children, and another has given her children away to someone who can better provide for them. Both are mothers, regardless of our judgment.

Today, let’s remember that Mother’s Day is truly a celebration of our Father, who has put certain women in our lives to help mold us into the people He wants us to be. But we are not to place the gift of being a mom, or having a mom, above the gift of God. In fact, in Matthew 10:37-38, Jesus reminds us that we are to love Him above all else: “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.”

And a special word to those who are feeling alone today: God has not left you without hope or comfort (John 14). Just as He has helped you get through each day so far, He is with you—especially today. God has wrapped you in the covering of His love, which you can wear proudly as you go out today. So celebrate with those who celebrate, and love with the Love that your Father has given you. That is the best gift you can give on Mother’s Day and one that will be returned to you in abundance.

Celebrate Mother’s Day through the love of our Father!

Practice, Practice, Practice

2010-05-02T07:30:00.000-04:00

According to an age-old joke, a young man who is lost in Manhattan runs into a gentleman on the street. When the young man asks, “Excuse me, sir, how do I get to Carnegie Hall?” the gentleman earnestly replies, “Practice, practice, practice.” In all seriousness, the same answer can be given to the question, “How can I find righteousness?”

Righteousness is shown throughout the Bible as more than just faith, or a belief in God. It may be defined as faith in action. The first mention of righteousness is Genesis 6:9, which reports, “Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God.” Then in Genesis 15:6, we find that after being told of his impending prosperity, “Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness.” In both examples, these great men didn’t just believe in God, they acted upon their faith. Noah lived a life that was pleasing to God. Abraham surrendered all disbelief and followed God.

Most often, we hear the word “righteous” used in the context of someone being “self-righteous.” A person accused of being such is normally seen as judgmental, narrow-minded, and condescending. If you think about it, someone who is “self” righteous puts his faith in himself, not God. But true righteousness means living according to God’s way.

So how do we achieve righteousness? Not just by believing in God, but by practicing those things that are pleasing to God. Putting our faith in action. Prayer (communication with God), worship (demonstrating love for God), and fasting (putting something aside to focus on God) are just the start of what we should practice. In our daily life, we can also practice patience, humility, kindness, and honesty. Let’s put our faith in action and live the righteous life to which we are called.

Let’s practice what is preached, so that we may attain righteousness!

Flip the Script

2010-04-25T07:26:00.004-04:00

Have you ever played out an entire scenario in your head? It goes something like this, “Well, if I say such and such, I know that so and so is going to say this and that, and then I’m going to have to do this, that, and the other.” In our daily walk, we have a “script” that we tend to follow which helps shape our interactions with our family, friends, and associates. But every now and then, we need to flip the script.

Shakespeare wrote, “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” When you think about your daily interactions, that begins to ring true. For example, when you see someone you know in passing, you may ask, “How are you doing?” and the expected and scripted response is, “Fine.” When you get to church on Sunday morning, your “Good morning! How are you?” may be answered with, “Blessed!” In either example, a response of, “Well, my husband and I argued again all night last night, I’m feeling a little depressed right now, and I’m really not sure how I’m going to make it today,” would be jarring. In fact, most of us would not know how to immediately respond. It’s not in the script.

One of the greatest problems that the Pharisees and Sadducees had with Jesus Christ was that he refused to follow the script. Religious leaders at that time had a prescribed way of doing things. Even their worship followed a certain script. Their relationship with God was impersonal and matter-of-fact. But Jesus introduced a new way to live. Instead of living scripted, He challenged them to live Spiritually!

In Matthew 5:21-48, as part of the awesome “Sermon on the Mount,” Jesus presents key elements of our scriptural script, “Do not murder…Do not commit adultery…An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.” But He challenges the way we look at and respond to these things. Even a slow-burning anger against a brother is linked to murder, a lustful look is akin to adultery, and instead of revenge, Jesus presented the notion of loving our enemies. By flipping the script, we come closer to righteousness.

As you go about your daily walk, consider the way you interact with your family, friends, and coworkers. Are you following the usual script with all of your dialogue and responses set in a predictable pattern? Maybe it’s time to flip the script! Greet your family with an “I love you” instead of “Good morning” today. Give your coworker a genuine compliment on a work-related effort, just because. Make a conscious decision to not get upset the next time someone slights you, but immediately turn it over to God and let Him deal with it.

Flip the script and watch the blessings bounce back to you!

Not by Chance

2010-04-11T07:30:00.001-04:00

It’s not a coincidence that you’re reading this today. Nor is it by chance that you may have just talked to someone about this very subject: Every thing happens for a reason. Some Christians call it “Divine appointment,” because everything happens at its appointed time in its appointed place.

In the book of Judges, chapter 7, Gideon was about to set out for battle. Yet, he still had doubts about whether or not God was going to deliver the enemy into his hand. So the Lord told him to go down to the enemy’s camp that night. When he did, he overheard a conversation between two soldiers. One was retelling a dream that he’d had—a loaf of barley had tumbled into their camp and knocked down their tent. The other soldier realized that this was a sign that their army was going to lose the fight to Gideon. Encouraged, Gideon ran back to his camp and set charge against the enemy, where he was victorious.

Was it a coincidence that Gideon overheard this conversation? Was it by chance that he just happened to be in the right place at the right time? Gideon is just one of the countless examples the Bible gives us of how things work together as part of God’s plan.

Even the most tragic events produce the most wonderful works of the Lord. Does that mean that God wants us to suffer so that He can perform miracles in our lives? Absolutely not! But the world is sinful and as long as we live in this world, we will experience our share of suffering from time to time. Yet, as Christians, we can rest assured because as Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” It all happens for a reason.

I don’t need good luck, because I have a great God!

A Gift for You

2010-04-04T07:30:00.001-04:00

Easter, like Christmas, is one of the most important holy days (or “holidays”) on a Christian’s calendar. On Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ by giving gifts to one another. Yet on Easter, we celebrate Jesus’ death and resurrection with the greatest gift of all—salvation.

Luke 24:1–8 is the basis of our Easter celebration, “He has risen!” To understand the significance of that, remember that we were born into sin. And sin has a cost. Death.

When Adam disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit, he brought sin into the world. Because of the impropriety of one man, the entire world had to suffer the consequences of sin. Back in the days of Moses, to repent for their sins, God’s chosen people had to make sacrifices of animals. Blood for blood. And they couldn’t sacrifice just any animals, they had to be the best of the flock. Now, the Old Testament prophets promised that this would not always be the case. A great Savior (or Messiah) would come to pay the sin-debt once and for all.

Generations later, along came Jesus, born of a woman through the Holy Spirit. Part human, part divine, and God himself. He was the perfect sacrifice, the best that humanity had to offer. He spent about 3 years teaching the Word of God, performing miracles, and building up disciples who would continue to spread the Word. In spite of His wisdom and evident holiness, the religious leaders of the time could not accept Jesus as the Messiah. Convinced that He was a heretic, the religious leaders convicted Jesus of blasphemy had had Him crucified.

Jesus endured torture and crucifixion, dying a humiliating death on the cross. In actuality, for those who followed Him at the time, all seemed lost. But it was His resurrection that proved His divinity. Jesus demonstrated power over death! And it all began to make sense—Jesus, who was able to even raise Himself from the dead, allowed himself to be persecuted, humbly submitting to the beatings and insults. He endured the persecution and gave himself as a willing sacrifice—a perfect specimen whose blood was shed to save us from our sins. Just as one man (Adam) brought the penalty of sin into the world, one man (Jesus) was able to redeem us from it. This is why Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Celebrate Easter all year long by sharing the gift of the Good News with others. Pray this prayer with them, which accepts the gift of salvation: “Lord, I know that I have sinned. But I believe that Jesus lived a life without sin, that He died as a sacrifice for my sins, and that he was raised from the dead so that I might have everlasting life. Jesus, please come into my life. Be my Lord, my Savior, and my friend.”

What a wonderful gift!

Are You Smiling?

2010-03-28T07:30:00.000-04:00

You may have seen it on the street. Maybe on your way to work or while shopping at the mall. Hopefully, you saw quite a few the last time you were in church. I’m talking about a random, cheerful, open smile, that warmed your heart and made your day. Of all the ways that we as Christians can spread the love of God, the easiest may be through a smile.

Yes, it’s no secret that I’m part of the smile ministry. Coworkers, friends, and complete strangers have often commented on my “smiley” disposition. And every now and then, I’m accused of “smiling for no reason.” But one of my favorite Sunday School arts and crafts remnants is a small pillow that puts it all into perspective. The pillow says, “Smile, Jesus loves you!” So even when I’m having a hard day or if I’m going through a particularly rough trial, if you ask me, “Why are you smiling?” My answer will most likely be, “God is good!”

Interestingly enough, the word “smile” does NOT appear in the King James Version of the Bible. According to my keyword search, not even once. The closest mention of smiling comes from Proverbs 15:13 which says, “A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.” And to me, that verse speaks volumes.

If we let our circumstances dictate our countenance (the expression on our face, or our outward appearance), then we would walk around half the time with a smile and half the time with a scowl! Let’s face it, in life, we have good days and bad days. But when we have joy within—the joy that comes from knowing the love of Jesus and having a relationship with God—then our heart is not affected by our circumstance. We may have hard times, but our spirit is not broken. We may have pain, but we are not hopeless. We may be down, but we are not out!

When others see your smile—especially in times when they know you are going through difficulties—it speaks to their spirit. It lets them know that in spite of your circumstances, you have something that is going to get you through. And often, it’s infectious. You may soon find them “smiling for no reason,” too. What a great opportunity to share the joy of the Lord!

No matter what the circumstance, we can have a cheerful countenance. Smile, Jesus loves you!

Your New Season

2010-03-14T07:33:00.002-04:00

This is an exciting time of year. The snow is melting, the temperature is rising, and the daylight lasts longer (by the way, Daylight Savings Time begins today). Of course, this is all the prelude to the lovely spring season. But many of us aren’t just making a transition out of winter, the Lord is preparing us for other changes in our lives. Are you ready for your new season?

There have been times recently where we’ve felt like we just can’t win for losing. One disappointment has come after another. And just when we thought things couldn’t get any worse, something else came along that was even more devastating. The more we’ve tried to get ahead the further we’ve gotten behind. For many of us it’s been a miserable season in our lives.

In a beautiful passage from Song of Solomon 2:11-12, a young lover eagerly anticipates the new season with her beloved and says, “See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land.” Aren’t we looking for the same signs of change?

Just like the single blade of grass that appears with the first sign spring, the Lord is sending you glimmers of hope. Pay attention to the signs of change around you. Maybe the frozen job market is starting to thaw, or your monthly payments are starting to make a dent in your bills, perhaps there’s even a chance to rebuild a broken relationship, or maybe healing from a sickness has begun. Are you ready for the new season?

In the cycle of life, the winter of our lives is followed by the renewal of spring. Get ready—a change is going to come!

The Movie vs. The Book

2010-03-07T09:00:00.000-05:00

When Hollywood adapts a popular book for movie audiences, it is often met with criticism. “The book is better,” is commonly grumbled. Often, the book itself rockets to the top of the best seller list, as people grab it from the shelves to compare the written word to the silver screen. They want to see for themselves if the characters, story line, and ending stay true to the original. One of the best-selling books of all time is the Bible. But as Christians, can we spot the differences between the original text and the Hollywood version?

I remember once talking to my Sunday School class about the life of Moses. When explaining why he had to flee Egypt (Exodus 2:11–15), one of my students piped up, “Because he accidentally killed one of the Egyptians.” “Accidentally?” I replied, “No, I don’t think so.” But my student went on to explain how it happened in The Prince of Egypt. Or, in other words, how in the PG-rated Hollywood version, the scriptwriters and director felt it was better to have Moses kill someone accidentally than to have audiences know that he committed murder, as the Word clearly states.

While the imagination and artistry involved in theatrical productions of Biblical accounts are entertaining, we need to be careful to consult the original. And yes, even the beloved Easter season favorite, The Passion of the Christ needs to be viewed with a careful eye. There are a couple of scenes that are fused with more Hollywood creativity than Biblical accuracy. One that comes to mind is the frightening torment of Judas after the betrayal. Possible? Yes. Accurate? No. the depiction on screen is not accounted for in the Bible (Matthew 27:3–5).

As Christians, we should feel free to enjoy entertainment that is positive and uplifting. And it is encouraging to see writers, actors, directors and others sharing their talents in this way—when they have so many other options. Biblically-based presentations are a great way to introduce people to Christ and positively represent our faith…let’s just be sure we know the difference between the adaptation and the original.

I enjoyed the movie, but the Book is better!

God Says, “Move”

2010-02-28T07:30:00.001-05:00

In the children’s game, “Simon Says,” the leader calls out orders for the rest of the group to follow. “Simon says, put your hands in the air. Simon says, spin around.” As long as the order begins with “Simon says...,” the group must obediently follow. But if the order is missing the directive from Simon, such as, “Now, sit down,” those who follow are out. As Christians, following orders from God is similar—but it’s no child’s game.

God wants a “Simon Says” type of mindset when it comes to His people. A great example can be found in Numbers 9:15–23. There, we read the account of the Israelites who were led by Moses out of bondage from Egypt and into the desert. They were set apart as God’s chosen people and were headed to the land that God promised their ancestors. As God led these hundreds of thousands of people through the desert, He gave them direction in the form of a great cloud. When the cloud hovered above the Israelites’ camp, they were to stay put. But when the cloud moved, they were to pick up their things and move. Sometimes the cloud stayed put for months or years. Sometimes it moved in a matter of days. Each time, the Israelites obediently followed. When God said, “Move,” they moved!

Years ago in my Sunday School class, we would occasionally play “Jesus Says” at the end of our session. It was a great way to get my students to burn off all that extra energy, but I hoped that it also helped to get across an important point. When Jesus says something, we are to follow it obediently. And if we decide to follow someone else or our own way of thinking, we’re in trouble.

Some may say, “If only it was as simple as having Jesus standing before you, telling you exactly what to do.” But the truth is, that’s exactly what He does. How do we find out what Jesus says? It’s easy:

• It starts with prayer. Opening the lines of communication with God allows us to tune our spiritual ears to His voice. When we pray, we go before God, making ourselves available to hear what He has to say.
• We need to study His word. Reading the Bible gives us great insights to the direction God has for our lives. Don’t know where to start? Read the book of Proverbs. It’s a collection of wisdom that gives you basic truths and instructions that can enrich your life from day to day.
• Acknowledge the presence of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said He would never leave us or forsake us. His Spirit resides with us and walks with us. The Holy Spirit has been described as a still, soft voice. If we listen, we’ll know exactly what Jesus wants us to do.

When God says, “Move,” I’m going to do just that!

Down, But Not Out

2010-02-21T07:30:00.002-05:00

For many of us, the year started off with a bang. We made plans and we made promises. We declared our resolutions for the year: To lose weight, to save money, to be more organized, to stay focused. And here we are, two months into the year, and how are we doing? We’ve gained a few extra pounds, we’ve splurged on unnecessary items, we’ve lost track of our organization, we’ve gotten distracted. Yep, we’ve fallen down. But don’t worry...we’re not out!

The best intentions are often thwarted by minor setbacks. Just when we are starting to get into the groove of a new way of living or doing things, up creeps an old habit that throws us off our new rhythm. Unfortunately, this is the point when many of us throw up our hands and say, “Aw, forget it! I can’t do this!” (For those of us who are in denial, think about it. It really is THAT easy to give up.)

Old habits may occasionally trip us up, but we shouldn’t give them the power to defeat us. Let’s say you’ve decided to cut back on junk food this year. But you somehow ended up on your living room couch surrounded by a bag of Doritos, a box of Entenmann’s donuts, and a pizza delivery on the way. This is not the time to throw up your hands and say, “Well, that’s it! I’ve failed!” Instead, acknowledge, assess, and affirm:

Acknowledge that you’ve fallen down. This may include taking it before the Lord in prayer.
Assess what triggered the set back. You may realize that there may be situations and stimuli you may need to avoid in the future.
Affirm your commitment to reaching your goal. Then brush yourself off and try again!

Even Paul acknowledged that he faced difficulties along the way to achieving his spiritual goals. Philippians 3:13–14 says, “Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” The key here is that Paul teaches us that in order to reach the goal, we have to keep going, in spite of yesterday’s setbacks or shortcomings.

I’m going to keep pressing on toward my goal. I may have just gotten started, but I’ve gone too far to turn back now!

Love Triangle

2010-02-14T07:29:00.001-05:00

My husband once came home and told me about a conversation he had with a co-worker. After my husband mentioned that he and I were both Christians, the co-worker replied, “Wow, that must be great! So whenever you and your wife have a problem or disagreement, you just get on your knees and pray about it together!” My husband and I laughed heartily for a minute. It’s not always THAT easy, but having Christ in our marriage does make a big difference.

On many occasions, my husband and I have both acknowledged that without Christ in our lives, our marriage couldn’t have lasted as long as it has (14 years and counting). We have what many people would call a Christ-centered relationship. But I can tell you now that it doesn’t mean that we never have disagreements or arguments. Like every couple, we’ve had our share of problems. What makes our marriage Christ-centered is that we recognize there’s a third party in our relationship.

A really good friend of mine explained it like this: It’s a love triangle.

Picture the shape of a triangle in your mind. At the very top of the triangle, the apex, there is God. Now at the bottom—in one corner, there’s the husband, and in the other corner, there’s the wife. All 3 are connected. As the husband and wife interact back and forth with one another, they do so with God as their covering. And sometimes they may need to go through God in order to get through to the other.

This line of thought follows the Biblical principle found in 1 Corinthians 11:11–12, which says, “In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.”

Are you in a love triangle? Just put God first in your life and at the head of your relationship!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Who’s On Your List?

2010-02-07T07:33:00.001-05:00

The Bible tells us to bring our requests to the Lord in prayer (Philippians 4:6). And often, when in need, we have no problem bringing our concerns before Him. But how often do we make it a point to remember to include others on our prayer list?

We know that intercessory prayer, or prayer for other people, works. In Matthew 8:5-13, we find the centurion who asked Jesus for help on behalf of his servant, who lay paralyzed back home. Jesus commended the faith of the soldier and healed the servant immediately. No laying of hands, no touching and falling out, just a word from the Lord brought healing to a man who lay ill, miles away.

Is it our responsibility to pray for others? Well, we are commanded to love one another (John 15:12). Romans 12:10 even tells us to honor others above ourselves. Caring about the needs of others is part of loving and honoring them. If we are able to bring to the Lord our own issues and problems, we should be able do the same for others.

Start by keeping a running list of the cares and concerns of your loved ones. And when in prayer, before you ask for anything for yourself, try putting the needs of others before your own. And watch the hand of God at work!

I’m making a list and sending up some prayers for others!

A Time to Heal

2010-01-31T07:30:00.000-05:00

I was catching up with a good friend recently and we ended up sharing our stories of the problems and hardships we suffered over the last year. Yet at the end of it all, my friend declared that this year would be a year of healing in her life. And when I stopped to think about it, I realized that just as Ecclesiastes 3:3 says, this may very well be “a time to heal.”

Healing is a process of renewal. It is the way in which we are made whole or restored. For example, when we fall and break our leg, over time, it heals. Using that example, let’s keep in mind that the physical process of healing is not much different from the spiritual one.

First of all, at the point of injury, we cry out for help. Just as a broken leg can lead to an outcry of “Call 911!” an injured spirit cries out to the Lord in prayer (Psalm 6:9). Next, is treatment. Just as only a skilled healthcare professional can attend to a broken leg, we can only trust our personal crises to the master Healer who knows how to straighten out our situation (Proverbs 3:5–6). Then there is the recovery process. Our leg may be set in a cast and we may be instructed to go easy on it for a while. In spiritual healing, we may set aside a period of time for prayer and fasting. We may also need to do some forgiving and letting go of the past for a complete recovery (Colossians 3:13).

An often quoted scripture from Isaiah 53:5 reminds us of the connection between physical and spiritual healing. In speaking of Jesus Christ, the messiah, the passage reads, “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

Jesus paid the ultimate price and gave His life so that we may be healed from the ravages of sin. That’s why we have hope, my brothers and sisters in Christ. Just when we think we’re down, we are not out. We may feel dragged through, but we can make it to the other side. We may get beaten down, but we can get up again. And just when it seems like we’re run over, we find that we can overcome anything.

Let the healing begin!

Love Your Enemies

2010-01-24T07:30:00.001-05:00

One of the most difficult concepts in the Bible is the idea of loving our enemies. Is it even possible to love someone who has done their best to cause us harm? Well, it is difficult, but it is not impossible.

Jesus himself said in Matthew 5:43–45, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”

Wow. That’s pretty hard for most of us to swallow. There are those in the world who are simply out to emotionally and/or physically hurt us. And our instruction from God is to love them and to even pray for them! This goes against everything society tells us. We’re supposed to prove that we’re not punks, plot our revenge, get the upper hand, and make them pay! Right?

Well…not if we want to live God’s way.

First and foremost, prayer is essential. When we spend time with God, it helps keep us from focusing all our attention on the enemy. Praying for our enemies also demonstrates obedience to the Lord and a willingness to trust in Him to work out the situation. Loving our enemies is one of the best ways to show God that we love Him.

Jesus knew what it was like to be persecuted. While here on earth, He endured many attacks from enemies. He was talked about, insulted, ridiculed and beaten. But He gave us the example to follow. In Matthew 5:46–48, Jesus says, “If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

I’m going to love those who hate me, because I love Him most of all.

Seeing the God in the Bad

2010-01-10T07:51:00.002-05:00

When we are faced with the trials of life, such as the loss of a loved one, a financial crisis, or a devastating disappointment, it’s easy to lose perspective. The hurt, the pain, or the sting can be so overwhelming that we may take our focus off God and, instead, put it on our situation. But when we learn to look for the presence of the Lord in our circumstances, we may begin to overcome the snares of depression, anxiety, and helplessness.

Jesus never promised heaven on earth. In fact, in speaking with the disciples—His loyal followers—Jesus warned them that they would face many trials and tribulations here on earth. Jesus says in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” My brothers and sisters in Christ, we are not immune to the problems of life. But what separates us from the rest of the world is our hope in Christ, and the comfort we can find in the Holy Spirit.

So how do we deal with the trials of life? What do we do when a spouse walks out? When a child becomes lost to the streets and ends up in jail? After losing a job with no promise of finding a new one right away? When a poor choice leads to personal downfall? In Philippians 4:4–9, Paul outlines a perfect strategy:

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” When Paul says “always,” he doesn’t just mean praise God for the good. We need to know how to praise God in the middle of the bad. He is still God and He is always in control.

“Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.” Even when we are in the midst of a trial, we must remain humble and reflect Christ in our words and actions.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” When the fears creep in and our blood pressure rises, that’s when we need to immediately stop and take our concerns to the Lord in prayer.

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Know that the Holy Spirit will comfort you during your trial so that even when it seems as though everything around you is falling apart, you can have the peace of mind to keep yourself together.

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” My brothers and sisters in Christ, we have to stop focusing on the negative aspects of the situation and see the hand of God at work—it is just as valid to look for what went right as it is to focus on what went wrong. Perspective is everything.

“Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Study the scriptures and learn from the examples of others. Know that the same God who delivered them can deliver you.

Things may be bad, but God is always good. I’m trusting in Him to get me through!

Clean House

2010-01-03T07:30:00.000-05:00

“Out with the old, in with the new,” is a phrase you may often hear this time of year. It may be used in a material sense, as in getting rid of old items to make room for the new ones that came with the holiday gift-getting. Or, the term may be used spiritually, as in getting rid of old habits to take on newer, healthier ways of living. Either way, “out with the old and in with the new” is the first start to cleaning house.

There is a show on the Style cable network called “Clean House.” On the program, people who are trapped in a lifestyle of clutter are given an opportunity to change their lives. The Clean House crew arrives to help the residents sort through the chaos of knick-knacks, dirty clothes, and whatnot that they have been living in. This includes a heart-to-heart talk to understand when the chaos began—which is usually after some traumatic life event, such as the death of a loved one. After a yard sale, some new furniture, and a fresh coat of paint, the residents return home to find everything clean and uncluttered. And they promise to lead a life that will sustain their clutter free, clean house.

At this time of year, you may hear folks make the resolution to clean up their act, or get their house in order for 2010. If the pledge is sincere, the result can be life-altering. In 2 Kings 20:1, King Hezekiah was told to get his house in order (or clean house) by Isaiah, a prophet of the Lord. Isaiah went further to explain that Hezekiah was going to die. However, the king wept so bitterly that God sent Isaiah with a new message—that He would add 15 years to Hezekiah’s life. God honored Hezekiah’s tears and had mercy on him.

Let’s get serious about cleaning up this year. Whether it’s a material or a spiritual matter, I’m ready to clean house and get on with better living!

Happy Birthday, Jesus

2009-12-20T07:30:00.001-05:00

This is the time of year we set aside to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is with great pleasure that this week’s blog presents the account of the birth of Jesus from Luke 1:26–38; 2:1–20. (You can also click on the link to visit biblegateway.com, where you can select “Listen to this passage” and hear Luke 1 and 2 read aloud.)

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[c] the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.”

“I am the Lord's servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

The Birth of Jesus

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Merry Christmas, from the VOCAB, LLC family to yours!

What is Family?

2009-12-13T07:30:00.000-05:00

We love our family. Of course, there are times when we disagree with one another, or become disappointed in our loved ones. But when the family bond is strong, the love never ends. My brothers and sisters in Christ—do we ever stop to think about the significance of being "brothers" and "sisters" in Christ? We are family!

Recently, I had the pleasure of meeting a large number of family members that I had never met before. As a result, my perception of my family tree suddenly grew exponentially! Not only was I overjoyed to find these long lost relatives—I realized that in an instant, my heart was full of love and appreciation for each and every one of them.

At one point, I had to stop and ask myself: Was the love simply built on the premise of sharing the same last name? Was I genetically predisposed to love these people? Or was it simply the joy that comes with being part of a family?

This really got me to thinking…what if that notion of family was applied to other areas in my life? Take for example, my church family. Do I tell them I love them enough? Do they understand that I appreciate each of them for the talents, strengths, and fellowship that they bring to our place of worship?

And then it extended even farther. What about my work family? Or my community family? Aren’t we all connected in a special way, as well? If I thought of my neighbor as truly my sister or my brother, would I be a little friendlier and more thoughtful toward them? What if my neighbor thought likewise of me?

I really started getting excited about this thing, and then I realized—DUH!—that’s what God has been trying to tell us all along! Matthew 25:34–40 tells of the day that Jesus returns and gathers those who belong to Him. As He calls them, He mentions that they were faithful in showing their love to Him. How? By loving others! God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, so that WE may be part of the inheritance of His kingdom.

I’m so honored to be part of the family of God and I want to show it with a loving spirit toward all of God’s children!

Making Bricks Without Straw

2009-12-06T07:30:00.000-05:00

“You have to do more with less!”
“We’re short-staffed, but we need you to produce twice as much!”
An interesting ramification of our current economic recession is the demand that’s being placed on the average worker. Many of those who were fortunate enough to avoid the axe of massive job cuts, are wondering if they were fortunate at all—now with longer hours, no increase in pay, and less satisfaction in the workplace.

“Due to the economic recession…” is a phrase that seems to be uttered quite regularly these days. In the workplace, it’s often used as justification for stripping away even the basic niceties that workers have become used to. And it’s leveraged as a threat against those who feel that they can do better elsewhere: “Due to the economic recession…no one else is hiring!”

But there is hope. While dealing with my own struggles in the workplace, I was led to Exodus 5. In this passage of scripture, Moses and Aaron go before Pharaoh to petition for the release of the Israelites. Outraged by the request, Pharaoh sets forth an impossible ordinance: the Israelite slave workers were to continue making their allotment of bricks every day, but they were to do so by gathering their own straw for the bricks. (Basically forcing them to do twice as much with fewer resources.) Upon falling short, the workers were beaten mercilessly.

What I found most interesting about this scenario were the words of Pharaoh in verse 9, “Make the work harder for the men so that they keep working and pay no attention to lies.” Those “lies” that Pharaoh referred to were the petitions of Moses and Aaron on behalf of the Lord to, “Let My people go!” Pharaoh believed that with an oppressive burden of work on their shoulders, the Israelites would turn away from the Word of God.

My brothers and sisters in Christ, during these “hard economic times” have we become so burdened in the workplace that we have turned away from the Word of God? Are we becoming frustrated, depressed, and agitated or are we still leaning on His promises that we are the head and not the tail? Do we still believe that we are more than conquerors? Are we trusting in Him with all our heart and leaning not to our own understanding?

In the NIV version of the Bible, toward the end of Exodus 5, there is a header that precedes verse 22. That header reads, “God promises deliverance.” And as chapter 5 transitions into Exodus 6, the Lord promises to remove His people from their oppressive yoke.

Let’s not be like the Israelites who became discouraged and disgruntled in their oppression. Let’s rejoice and give God praise in advance for His deliverance!

Thanks for the Encouragement!

2009-11-29T07:45:00.001-05:00

On behalf of VOCAB, LLC, we just wanted to take this time to thank you for supporting this blog and our efforts. We have heard so many praise reports from those who read the blog and are strengthened, and it continues to be a blessing to us. We give honor to God and thanks for His direction in our weekly postings.

This blog is just one component of VOCAB, LLC. Our company name stands for Vision, Opportunity, Creativity, Accessibility and Belief. Our mission is to bring the God-led vision of Christian authors to life by offering opportunities for them to become published, helping them express their creativity and making their work accessible to others, based on a belief that inspired work from God must be extended to people throughout the world.

As you begin to prepare for the upcoming holiday season, please don’t forget us as you make your lists for gift-giving. We have a range of titles in our store that are sure to be a blessing to your friends and loved ones.

For her: Take a look at Promises of God. It’s an inspiring collection of spiritual poems that touch the heart and encourage the soul with praises to God and words of worship.

For him: Our latest book, Except Ye Become As Little Children is a wonderful collection of reflections written by a father who, through daily interactions with his son, gained great insights about his own relationship with God.

For them: Our children’s book, It’s Sunday and I’m Going to Church is a classic favorite for many families. Narrated by its 6-year-old author, this book takes you inside the doors of the church from a child’s perspective.

You can order any of these titles today at www.vocabllc.com. Or call 888-358-3993 to find out how readers of this blog can save on shipping!

Thank you again for your encouragement and support and we hope you continue to “Get the Word out!” by sharing this blog with your friends, family, coworkers and others.

Thanks in Advance

2009-11-22T07:30:00.000-05:00

The Thanksgiving holiday is quickly approaching. This is the time when we, as Americans, take a collective step back to reflect on all the things we have to be thankful for. Family, friends, and life are commonly found high on the list. And generally, we express thanks for the things that we have. This year, let’s also remember to give thanks for the things that are coming.

God has a plan for each of our lives. It is a plan that was devised before we were even created. And it is wonderful. Just take a look at Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” God already knows what He has prepared for us and what He wants to give us. So why not thank Him in advance?

Yes, too often, we fall into the secular trap of, “Seeing is believing.” We may thank God for our family because our loved ones are right there in front of us. But what about those of us who are praying for God to add a spouse or a child to our lives? Let’s thank God right now! We often thank God for our material things, like the roofs over our heads, the clothes on our backs, and the food on our tables. But what about those things that we are trusting God for, like a new home, new car, or new job? Let’s thank Him now!

As Christians, we understand that we don’t need to wait for the Thanksgiving holiday to thank God for what he has done. Now, let’s remember to give God thanks in advance for the things He is going to do.

I’m thanking God right now for the things that are to come!

Who Do You Think You Are?

2009-11-15T07:30:00.001-05:00

Our self-esteem is often grounded in our perception of ourselves and our belief in how others see us. Good self-esteem develops when we think well of who we are and when we expect others to think well of us, also. So, Christians should have the best self-esteem in the world, right? Well, we should, but the sad truth is often we do not. That’s because we sometimes forget who we are.

Society often challenges our self-esteem. Are we pretty enough? Thin enough? Smart enough? Wealthy enough? We are encouraged to “keep up with the Jonses” and to put on all kinds of airs and appearances so that others can think well of us, and so that we, in turn, can think well of ourselves. But in reality, it’s only our standing with God that matters.

Self-esteem works from the inside out. From a worldly perspective, that means that you have to feel good about yourself to project a positive self-image that other people will respond favorably to. As Christians, we need to have a right spirit so that others may see God through us.

Of course, there are times in our lives when we get a little down—but we are not like those without hope. We can be encouraged through God’s Word. Jesus reminded believers of just who we are in Matthew 5:14-16, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Our Father thinks so highly of us, why should we think any less of ourselves?

Who do you think you are? You are the light of the world!

Can You See It?

2009-11-08T07:30:00.001-05:00

There is a saying that goes, “If you can see it, you can achieve it.” The basic principle is that in order to become successful, you must be able to visualize your success before it happens. This technique has proven helpful to many, and can even be useful in your life.

Many Olympians report that before breaking world records, they envision their performance. According to these world-class athletes, they visualize themselves making every move that needs to be made. As outside observers, we only see the unbreakable concentration that separates the gold medal winners from the runners-up.

Where do you want to be in five years? What do you want to achieve in your life? It may be helpful to begin to visualize it and focus on your success. For example, if you see yourself as a best-selling author, start to think about what your book cover will look like. Now imagine the feel of the book in your hand. Think about your promotional tour. Your interview with Oprah. If you can see it, you can achieve it.

In the Bible, God used this visualization technique with Abraham. After promising Abraham that he would become the father of many nations, God had Abraham go outside and look up at the stars. God used the stars in the night sky to help Abraham visualize the magnitude of his offspring. (Genesis 15:5–6)

Often we are limited by what we think is possible. How much more successful may we be when we allow God, through Whom all things are possible, to have His way in our lives? If we apply the visualization technique, all we have to do is see it—and let God work out the details.

Before reaching my success I’m going to see it—and through God’s help, I know I’ll achieve it!