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.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Merry Christmas
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!
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!
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Under Construction
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!
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!
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Who Doesn’t Like You?
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.
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.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Before You Hit SNOOZE…
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!
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!
Sunday, October 16, 2011
What’s for You Is for You
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.
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.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
The Devil Made Me (Not) Do It
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.
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.
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