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!
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Sunday, June 5, 2011
A Matter of Time
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?
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?
Sunday, May 29, 2011
The Word of the Day
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!”
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!”
Sunday, May 22, 2011
The Day After
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!
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!
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Motherly Wisdom
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!
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!
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Good News!
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!
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!
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Crossing the Line
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.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
