From His glorious, unlimited resources He will give you mighty inner strength through His Holy Spirit.~Ephesians 3:16
It is for us to pray not for tasks equal to our powers, but for powers equal to our tasks, to go forward with a great desire forever beating at the door of our hearts as we travel toward our distant goal.~Helen Keller
Life's challenges. We meet them every day. They challenge our inner strength. If anyone on this earth had inner strength, I would say that it was Helen Keller. And the fact that she recognized prayer as part of her arsenal speaks loudly to us. She overcame unbelievably difficult adversities in her life. If you are unfamiliar with Helen Keller, I would recommend you do a simple search for her name and you can get that quick blurb of information that our lives focus on now.
Meanwhile, what about our reactions to life's challenges? In comparison to what the Apostle Paul and Helen Keller went through, my present challenge seems so petty. Because I have my eyesight, speech, hearing and a sound mind, I struggle with what might be considered mundane endeavors during my day. I have the excuse that I was laid off my job and continue a job search until my fingers fall off every day. I try each day to work harder at that despite the rejection letters that mess with your head and make you doubt yourself if not careful.
When the inevitable challenge hits us, will we fight or fold? We often hear fight or flight as options to situations. Pick your battles. When challenges come, will we continue to fight or fall apart? Paul, the author of this scripture, fought many inward battles and faced extremely difficult situations. So he had reason to pray for believers asking God's Spirit to provide that inner strength for them; that believers would be strong in the challenges facing them.
What clouds this picture further is that some of us have this cocky attitude of “bring it on” and “give it your best shot” believing we can handle anything the day brings our way. But if we honestly assess our previous battles, most of us would have to admit we have lost more than we have won. Without that inner strength, we will eventually give up. And if we as Christ's followers give up, we have been robbed of our Christian living and service.
Furthermore, we are not going to delight God by choosing to fight battles on our own even if we have fought well. Paul reminds us we are not on our own. I remind myself often that my life is not my own. We can ask God to supply the inner strength we need to do His will; the inner strength to live and serve Him. When we do this, that inner strength will come from His riches and bring Him glory.
Often I start my day feeling confident and ready to go out and do battle with whatever comes my way. I have learned the hard way that if I choose to go it alone, I am going to get kicked in the stomach. All the self-help books in the world cannot provide the inner strength that God offers. You can convince yourself through various behavioral techniques that you can meet life's challenges by yourself. But nothing you can do by yourself can give you that inner strength from God.
Unfortunately, many have no one they can turn to for help. And oft times we do not want people to know about our personal struggles so we listen to advice coming from various directions, pick an answer we can put our faith in, and go out to wage war on the challenge du jour. And if you make it through that challenge, you know that there will be more waiting for you. Or maybe you are facing one big struggle that permeates your entire day as does business startup. It just keeps coming at you and coming at you whenever you feel you are strong enough to get back into the fray.
Even though we might see ourselves as mighty warriors taking on whatever life throws at us, at the end of the day where do you stand? Did you conquer those demons by yourself or did you have the courage to ask for help? And it does take courage to break down and let someone else know that you cannot go it alone. We do not want people to see our weaknesses because all too often they will turn around and use them against us. I do not want to tell anybody that my business is not producing as I expected it to by this time. Failure is not an option so I will persist until it does.
In contrast to what the world might offer in the way of giving you inner strength, God is the only true recourse. He is our refuge. If we choose to go it alone and possibly win that battle by ourselves, tomorrow will just send us something more challenging. What will you do then? Do you tell yourself that this is just life's way of making you a stronger person? Or do you admit that going it alone won't work in today's battle. We all want to be seen as viral, successful and able to conquer all comers but for a lot of us that is just a facade. The sooner we learn to ask Him for His help, the sooner we will have that true inner strength.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
It's Time We Became New Lumps
Remove this old leaven (yeast) from among us so that you will be a new lump (of dough). Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us.~1st Corinthians 5:7
Definition of leaven: to mingle or permeate with some modifying, alleviating, or vivifying element
“One bad apple spoils the barrel.” These days produce is too expensive to purchase a bag of luscious looking apples only to get home and find one rotting and causing those around it to rot. It's the same with people. A person with a bad attitude likes to spread it to everyone around them.
The Passover practiced removing malice and wickedness in order to form a new lump of sincerity and truth. Is there someone around us with blatant sins that need confronting? Making ourselves into a new lump by taking a closer look at our own lives is really the objective. Ask yourself: Am I setting a negative example by being impatient? And do I want to have things my way all the time? Or do I have unrealistic expectations which cause me to have a judgmental attitude? These are just a few questions we might put to ourselves before judging others.
Therefore, I become a “new lump” if I will purge any attitudes or negative actions within myself before I go around criticizing others. I can always find something in me that needs adjusting but it is much easier to look outward at what others might be doing wrongly. We can always find someone doing something we perceive as wrong and spend our time being critical of them.
Instead of cleaning up our own messes, we prefer to focus on someone else's dirty little secret. There is always something in us that can be improved upon. Looking outward at other's faults is just such an example. Going around with a critical attitude tends to ruin all those around us and really needs to be taken care of within us first.
We have been given in scripture, in more than one location, the types of spirit and spiritual gifts that God would have us tend towards as we look at ourselves and the attitude we might have. And, you say, but this person really is doing something very wrong, very sinful in their life. Remember Christ refused to throw the first stone at the woman caught in adultery. I have always wondered where the man was that was caught with her. My view of a double standard but maybe he was judged differently by the elders of the church. See what I mean about being judgmental. It took very little for me to come up with that question and judge that man when it is not my place to know how God dealt with him and we know God did because adultery is one of those sins high on the list of sins that God hates.
Definition of leaven: to mingle or permeate with some modifying, alleviating, or vivifying element
“One bad apple spoils the barrel.” These days produce is too expensive to purchase a bag of luscious looking apples only to get home and find one rotting and causing those around it to rot. It's the same with people. A person with a bad attitude likes to spread it to everyone around them.
The Passover practiced removing malice and wickedness in order to form a new lump of sincerity and truth. Is there someone around us with blatant sins that need confronting? Making ourselves into a new lump by taking a closer look at our own lives is really the objective. Ask yourself: Am I setting a negative example by being impatient? And do I want to have things my way all the time? Or do I have unrealistic expectations which cause me to have a judgmental attitude? These are just a few questions we might put to ourselves before judging others.
Therefore, I become a “new lump” if I will purge any attitudes or negative actions within myself before I go around criticizing others. I can always find something in me that needs adjusting but it is much easier to look outward at what others might be doing wrongly. We can always find someone doing something we perceive as wrong and spend our time being critical of them.
Instead of cleaning up our own messes, we prefer to focus on someone else's dirty little secret. There is always something in us that can be improved upon. Looking outward at other's faults is just such an example. Going around with a critical attitude tends to ruin all those around us and really needs to be taken care of within us first.
We have been given in scripture, in more than one location, the types of spirit and spiritual gifts that God would have us tend towards as we look at ourselves and the attitude we might have. And, you say, but this person really is doing something very wrong, very sinful in their life. Remember Christ refused to throw the first stone at the woman caught in adultery. I have always wondered where the man was that was caught with her. My view of a double standard but maybe he was judged differently by the elders of the church. See what I mean about being judgmental. It took very little for me to come up with that question and judge that man when it is not my place to know how God dealt with him and we know God did because adultery is one of those sins high on the list of sins that God hates.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
A Good Night's Sleep
Psalm 4:8 I will lie down in peace and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.
A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor's book.~Irish Proverb
I used to have so much trouble sleeping. I was in an abusive marriage in which we also had money problems. If I asked doctors why I could not sleep and why I hurt all over every minute of the day, they would just look at my circumstances, write out prescriptions that were highly addictive, and refer me to a psychiatrist to prescribe anti-depressants. End of matter. Maybe for them but not for me. In 2008, when the economy starting going bad, it caused a lot of people to have sleepless nights. Businesses were failing, incomes were falling, jobs were vanishing and the threat of foreclosure deprived many of a good night's rest.
All across the country, people who had been doing everything right: avoiding debt and living frugally, saving regularly and investing awoke one morning to find almost everything gone. There was a loud cry from sea to sea of unfairness. It is just not fair that this is happening to me when I tried so hard to do what I should. Some who know about this psalm of David still sleep soundly even while facing difficulties.
This psalm may have been written by King David as he experienced unfairness. His son was trying to take the king's throne for himself. This psalm is a prayer, a rebuke to enemies and of his testimony. David declared that he trusted in the Lord and could sleep in peace. End of matter.
At times, if you are normal, you have walked through some dreadfully dark valleys. Our soldiers, for example. Do you think they sleep very soundly when on or near the battlefield? We should pray each and everyday for them. For their constant protection and that despite the horrors around them, they might still be at peace. Regardless of the circumstances, we are promised that Christ is walking right there in our midst so that we never walk alone.
For our good health, we all need a certain amount of deep sleep every night to revive our bodies and minds. If you go long periods without good sleep, it can seriously negatively affect your health.
Whether you prefer the psalmist advice or the Irish Proverb is up to you.
I too suffered the loss of my job in 2009. Besides being humiliating, my severance package only went so far and soon the insurance benefits were gone. I kept one eye on the calendar and one on the computer as I watched time creep up on that last severance check. But for a long time—much before this layoff, I had been searching for work at home. Talk about crazy. Just look into one business “solution” on the Internet and you will wake up the next morning with your in box full, your scam protector full and overwhelmed by every kind of questionable opportunity.
Since I had been playing around with this for a while, I could quickly discern what were definite scams, might be scams and those that looked promising enough to risk opening the flood gates. I was literally signing up with a pills and potions selling type business when I received a tremendous invitation and explanation of an Internet marketing business that indeed had those 50-60 K income stories, but it got past those “eye-catchers” and explained their business.
I literally ran from the pills and potions sellers and jumped on board what appeared to be an amazing business that actually lived up to its claims. BUT this so called successful business also involved intensive ongoing Internet marketing training. You needed input, determination, willingness to work hard and finally, you had to follow directions or I should say follow the leader because that was at the heart of this system. If you could follow the leader like we did when we were kids and put some concerted effort into your business, you were told you would succeed and be able to sell anything to anybody. You could stay with the business and build, or use this system to bolster a faltering business all the while getting an education in the Internet marketing arena.
As for those with few computer skills: Remember, I said follow the leader? In no time at all, you would be involved in all the social media, doing email campaigns, writing articles and if you are overwhelmed by those few items, then that is good because the program can be overwhelming. You are told that upfront.
All the while you were to have a mentor to help you, a forum you could also seek help from, and contact with live persons for immediate help you might need. Unlike so many of the scam businesses out there, you are never abandoned, you have choices as to how much money you want to involve in your business which is what this will become—your business, not a hobby. It is possible to find an Internet marketing business to help pick up the pieces of your failing brick and mortar business but it takes time and a lot research to find what will help you and most people do not have that much time which is why so many people get ripped off by internet marketing business promises.
You know that we have all heard the saying: 'If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.' It takes a great deal of effort and time that most people do not have in order to find an online business that works. I wish I could tell you this one was it for me but it was not and I lost a lot of money to them which I truly wish I could regain and in which I had never heard of this so called carbon copy business that virtually promises you success that will help you sleep better or your tired mind and body could be refreshed.
No happy ending to this blog. Live and learn is a hard pill to swallow when you have put a lot of money into something you truly believed would improve your life and finances but ends up being no different from the fly by night companies. They just use better internet capabilities to make themselves look like a classy system that could help you have more to put into your pocket than into their pockets lined with the efforts of many people like me that gave it my all--literally--and did not get out until it was too late and vast sums of money could just be sitting in a savings account earning little interest instead of going to a company that claimed to be the answer to all my financial problems.
A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor's book.~Irish Proverb
I used to have so much trouble sleeping. I was in an abusive marriage in which we also had money problems. If I asked doctors why I could not sleep and why I hurt all over every minute of the day, they would just look at my circumstances, write out prescriptions that were highly addictive, and refer me to a psychiatrist to prescribe anti-depressants. End of matter. Maybe for them but not for me. In 2008, when the economy starting going bad, it caused a lot of people to have sleepless nights. Businesses were failing, incomes were falling, jobs were vanishing and the threat of foreclosure deprived many of a good night's rest.
All across the country, people who had been doing everything right: avoiding debt and living frugally, saving regularly and investing awoke one morning to find almost everything gone. There was a loud cry from sea to sea of unfairness. It is just not fair that this is happening to me when I tried so hard to do what I should. Some who know about this psalm of David still sleep soundly even while facing difficulties.
This psalm may have been written by King David as he experienced unfairness. His son was trying to take the king's throne for himself. This psalm is a prayer, a rebuke to enemies and of his testimony. David declared that he trusted in the Lord and could sleep in peace. End of matter.
At times, if you are normal, you have walked through some dreadfully dark valleys. Our soldiers, for example. Do you think they sleep very soundly when on or near the battlefield? We should pray each and everyday for them. For their constant protection and that despite the horrors around them, they might still be at peace. Regardless of the circumstances, we are promised that Christ is walking right there in our midst so that we never walk alone.
For our good health, we all need a certain amount of deep sleep every night to revive our bodies and minds. If you go long periods without good sleep, it can seriously negatively affect your health.
Whether you prefer the psalmist advice or the Irish Proverb is up to you.
I too suffered the loss of my job in 2009. Besides being humiliating, my severance package only went so far and soon the insurance benefits were gone. I kept one eye on the calendar and one on the computer as I watched time creep up on that last severance check. But for a long time—much before this layoff, I had been searching for work at home. Talk about crazy. Just look into one business “solution” on the Internet and you will wake up the next morning with your in box full, your scam protector full and overwhelmed by every kind of questionable opportunity.
Since I had been playing around with this for a while, I could quickly discern what were definite scams, might be scams and those that looked promising enough to risk opening the flood gates. I was literally signing up with a pills and potions selling type business when I received a tremendous invitation and explanation of an Internet marketing business that indeed had those 50-60 K income stories, but it got past those “eye-catchers” and explained their business.
I literally ran from the pills and potions sellers and jumped on board what appeared to be an amazing business that actually lived up to its claims. BUT this so called successful business also involved intensive ongoing Internet marketing training. You needed input, determination, willingness to work hard and finally, you had to follow directions or I should say follow the leader because that was at the heart of this system. If you could follow the leader like we did when we were kids and put some concerted effort into your business, you were told you would succeed and be able to sell anything to anybody. You could stay with the business and build, or use this system to bolster a faltering business all the while getting an education in the Internet marketing arena.
As for those with few computer skills: Remember, I said follow the leader? In no time at all, you would be involved in all the social media, doing email campaigns, writing articles and if you are overwhelmed by those few items, then that is good because the program can be overwhelming. You are told that upfront.
All the while you were to have a mentor to help you, a forum you could also seek help from, and contact with live persons for immediate help you might need. Unlike so many of the scam businesses out there, you are never abandoned, you have choices as to how much money you want to involve in your business which is what this will become—your business, not a hobby. It is possible to find an Internet marketing business to help pick up the pieces of your failing brick and mortar business but it takes time and a lot research to find what will help you and most people do not have that much time which is why so many people get ripped off by internet marketing business promises.
You know that we have all heard the saying: 'If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.' It takes a great deal of effort and time that most people do not have in order to find an online business that works. I wish I could tell you this one was it for me but it was not and I lost a lot of money to them which I truly wish I could regain and in which I had never heard of this so called carbon copy business that virtually promises you success that will help you sleep better or your tired mind and body could be refreshed.
No happy ending to this blog. Live and learn is a hard pill to swallow when you have put a lot of money into something you truly believed would improve your life and finances but ends up being no different from the fly by night companies. They just use better internet capabilities to make themselves look like a classy system that could help you have more to put into your pocket than into their pockets lined with the efforts of many people like me that gave it my all--literally--and did not get out until it was too late and vast sums of money could just be sitting in a savings account earning little interest instead of going to a company that claimed to be the answer to all my financial problems.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Waiting for Godot, Greatest Play of the 20th century. Not!
Psalm 38:22 Come quickly to help me, O Lord my Savior
Is there anyone who likes to wait? We live in a society that wants products and services now. We want our answers now. We want everything right NOW! I have started an internet marketing business from home. I signed up with a terrific company. But there is so much to learn and as I learn, I keep glancing over to see if any leads are coming in because I want them now even though I still have so much to learn about getting those leads.
Meanwhile, God gives no timetable for when He will fulfill promises or when prayers will be answered. He does not promise us that answers come the minute we ask for them. God does not say responses come that day, week, month, or even that year. Timing is not the issue; the issue is faith.
It is easier to ask for something and believe we'll receive it when we think we know the exact minute it will arrive. Praying then waiting for an answer from God is the hard part.
Do not assume God's silence as His denial. He is in no rush and you should not be either because His timing is perfect. What we need to do is ask Him to help us wait on and understand His perfect timing.
I awoke this morning to the luscious smell of coffee. Turned the computer on and reached for my devotional book. I read the devotional above and then out of curiosity, went to a keyword search engine and entered waiting for God. I am an Internet Marketing Strategist and have been looking for keywords to tie my business to my faith, my belief in God.
To my surprise, I got a pretty good response. But the keywords that stood out in my curious mind were “Waiting for Godot,” a play by Samuel Beckett and now I am trying to decide if I regret looking further into this keyword and how it might play out in my home based business as well as relate to my devotional.
His stuff is SO depressing and so far away from what I believe that all I can do is shake my head. Its plot, the characters, everything is supposedly meaningless. But then he confuses me because he says the characters represent all of humanity. They do not like to be around each other but do not want to be apart either. Beckett believes there is no logic or reason for anything they do.
In contrast to what he believes is my definition of faith. Faith is belief and trust in and loyalty to God. Faith is a firm belief in something for which there is no proof. His characters await the coming of Godot. Godot is their God. They believe Godot has cast humanity aside yet each day he promises to come back. When he does not return, the characters take that to mean he fails in his promises which they took to mean this very day.
What is the theme of Godot? The attempt to convince humanity to stop waiting for God to present himself and stop wasting time trying to discover the meaning of life. The author believes that no matter how long we wait, Godot will not come. God, if he exists, contributes to the chaos by his silence. Beckett died in 1989 probably before seeing his Godot. He proposed that life is essentially meaningless but people cannot bare that, so we create our own Godot to save us from earthly hell. Nobody knows the day that my God is returning. It declares that in the Bible. The return date is only known by God.
Although Beckett asks what we are doing here, his answer is that: In this immense confusion, we are waiting for Godot to come. The illusion of salvation is needed to cope with a meaningless life and to Beckett, Godot is that illusion. He wants us to believe that life is based on chance, time is meaningless, human life is meaningless so humans must invent or rely on such Godots, or they would die. What about you? I do not find my life meaningless. If I did, I would not bother to continue to work on my internet marketing business or do anything else for that matter. I find his writing to be offensive.
Beckett questions why we continue to even live but answers with a conflicted: because we make life meaningful. (I thought he said we are meaningless.) He wants us to stop waiting for some manifestation and live out our lives because according to Beckett, that is when the meaning of life will become apparent to us. According to the Bible says we are to persistently watch for His return because no one knows when that will be. I will repeat the definition of faith: Faith is belief in God. Faith is a firm belief in something for which there is no proof. And as I stated earlier, God is not on our timetable but His own.
Waiting for Godot has been called the greatest play of the 20th century but I do not know how that is possible. I am sure literary critics will consider me stupid and backward but I don't care! I did find it humorous that when Beckett won the Nobel Prize in 1969, his wife, Suzanne, commented: "This is a catastrophe." I happen to agree with her. Beckett refused to attend the Nobel ceremony.
My life is meaningful because of the time I have to read stuff like this and time spent with my dog, Mo, my son and family and this: http://cattleon1000hills.com/?site=VSophiaR I know Sophia finds her life meaningful and I hope you will listen as she shares how she made such a successful leap in this business of ours. No cattle or land for sale but a fantastic opportunity that will assuredly add meaning to your life.
cattleon1000hills.com/?site=VJeffL
Is there anyone who likes to wait? We live in a society that wants products and services now. We want our answers now. We want everything right NOW! I have started an internet marketing business from home. I signed up with a terrific company. But there is so much to learn and as I learn, I keep glancing over to see if any leads are coming in because I want them now even though I still have so much to learn about getting those leads.
Meanwhile, God gives no timetable for when He will fulfill promises or when prayers will be answered. He does not promise us that answers come the minute we ask for them. God does not say responses come that day, week, month, or even that year. Timing is not the issue; the issue is faith.
It is easier to ask for something and believe we'll receive it when we think we know the exact minute it will arrive. Praying then waiting for an answer from God is the hard part.
Do not assume God's silence as His denial. He is in no rush and you should not be either because His timing is perfect. What we need to do is ask Him to help us wait on and understand His perfect timing.
I awoke this morning to the luscious smell of coffee. Turned the computer on and reached for my devotional book. I read the devotional above and then out of curiosity, went to a keyword search engine and entered waiting for God. I am an Internet Marketing Strategist and have been looking for keywords to tie my business to my faith, my belief in God.
To my surprise, I got a pretty good response. But the keywords that stood out in my curious mind were “Waiting for Godot,” a play by Samuel Beckett and now I am trying to decide if I regret looking further into this keyword and how it might play out in my home based business as well as relate to my devotional.
His stuff is SO depressing and so far away from what I believe that all I can do is shake my head. Its plot, the characters, everything is supposedly meaningless. But then he confuses me because he says the characters represent all of humanity. They do not like to be around each other but do not want to be apart either. Beckett believes there is no logic or reason for anything they do.
In contrast to what he believes is my definition of faith. Faith is belief and trust in and loyalty to God. Faith is a firm belief in something for which there is no proof. His characters await the coming of Godot. Godot is their God. They believe Godot has cast humanity aside yet each day he promises to come back. When he does not return, the characters take that to mean he fails in his promises which they took to mean this very day.
What is the theme of Godot? The attempt to convince humanity to stop waiting for God to present himself and stop wasting time trying to discover the meaning of life. The author believes that no matter how long we wait, Godot will not come. God, if he exists, contributes to the chaos by his silence. Beckett died in 1989 probably before seeing his Godot. He proposed that life is essentially meaningless but people cannot bare that, so we create our own Godot to save us from earthly hell. Nobody knows the day that my God is returning. It declares that in the Bible. The return date is only known by God.
Although Beckett asks what we are doing here, his answer is that: In this immense confusion, we are waiting for Godot to come. The illusion of salvation is needed to cope with a meaningless life and to Beckett, Godot is that illusion. He wants us to believe that life is based on chance, time is meaningless, human life is meaningless so humans must invent or rely on such Godots, or they would die. What about you? I do not find my life meaningless. If I did, I would not bother to continue to work on my internet marketing business or do anything else for that matter. I find his writing to be offensive.
Beckett questions why we continue to even live but answers with a conflicted: because we make life meaningful. (I thought he said we are meaningless.) He wants us to stop waiting for some manifestation and live out our lives because according to Beckett, that is when the meaning of life will become apparent to us. According to the Bible says we are to persistently watch for His return because no one knows when that will be. I will repeat the definition of faith: Faith is belief in God. Faith is a firm belief in something for which there is no proof. And as I stated earlier, God is not on our timetable but His own.
Waiting for Godot has been called the greatest play of the 20th century but I do not know how that is possible. I am sure literary critics will consider me stupid and backward but I don't care! I did find it humorous that when Beckett won the Nobel Prize in 1969, his wife, Suzanne, commented: "This is a catastrophe." I happen to agree with her. Beckett refused to attend the Nobel ceremony.
My life is meaningful because of the time I have to read stuff like this and time spent with my dog, Mo, my son and family and this: http://cattleon1000hills.com/?site=VSophiaR I know Sophia finds her life meaningful and I hope you will listen as she shares how she made such a successful leap in this business of ours. No cattle or land for sale but a fantastic opportunity that will assuredly add meaning to your life.
cattleon1000hills.com/?site=VJeffL
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
The Art of Listening
Hebrews 2:1 We must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.
How carefully do we listen to what God reveals? And note I said we, not you, because this applies to everyone. How intent are we on earnestly keeping things private that we should not let sip? God gives all the wisdom, insight, and counsel we need for living. But in the hectic activities, stress and pressures of life, it is easy to totally miss His message or at the least misunderstand what He was trying to show us.
This principle of listening closely applies to other relationships as well as to the people we meet during the day. How many of us have been sharing something we deem really important to us only to get that blank stare or the repeated uh, huhs that tell us this person does not care what I am sharing from my heart? Even worse is telling someone something in private, requesting that it be kept between you only to hear it somewhere in the office later. A good listener can be hard to find. It is an art to be developed over time that shows respect for that person.
We should ask for His help to listen with sensitivity, faithfulness, and remembrance as He speaks. We also need help to listen carefully so that the things He says will not be distorted or discarded.
How carefully do we listen to what God reveals? And note I said we, not you, because this applies to everyone. How intent are we on earnestly keeping things private that we should not let sip? God gives all the wisdom, insight, and counsel we need for living. But in the hectic activities, stress and pressures of life, it is easy to totally miss His message or at the least misunderstand what He was trying to show us.
This principle of listening closely applies to other relationships as well as to the people we meet during the day. How many of us have been sharing something we deem really important to us only to get that blank stare or the repeated uh, huhs that tell us this person does not care what I am sharing from my heart? Even worse is telling someone something in private, requesting that it be kept between you only to hear it somewhere in the office later. A good listener can be hard to find. It is an art to be developed over time that shows respect for that person.
We should ask for His help to listen with sensitivity, faithfulness, and remembrance as He speaks. We also need help to listen carefully so that the things He says will not be distorted or discarded.
Monday, February 8, 2010
How do You Acquire Judgment with Wisdom?
1 Kings 3:28b And the people were awed as they realized the great wisdom God had given Solomon to render decisions with justice.
When a father caught his teenage son smoking, he took off his belt. The young man assumed his father was about to give him a whipping but instead his father handed his son the belt. As he handed the belt to him, he told his son that he should go ahead and beat him now because he could not possibly hurt him more than he had just done by smoking.
Many years later, in his fifties, the son said he would never forget the look in his father's eyes and the disappointment he saw in them. The father's actions were effective. The son never smoked again.
While most people have heard of King Solomon, what usually comes to mind is that he was the richest person on the face of the earth. But before God gave him all that wealth, He gave Solomon something else; something Solomon specifically asked for. King Solomon asked God for wisdom to rule his people wisely.
In contrast to the father catching his son smoking, Solomon was presented with a different test. Two mothers came to the King to determine the maternity of a baby. One mother's baby had died during the night and she switched her dead baby with another mother's live baby. They wanted the King's official answer as to the maternity of the child. I feel sure that Solomon prayed to God for wisdom as both mothers were devastated.
Instead of giving the child to one mother, Solomon decreed that the baby be cut in half and each mother was to be given an equal portion. Drastic decision but it provided the answer Solomon needed. The real mother begged Solomon not to kill the baby while the other mother agreed with the King's decision to divide the baby in half. Of course, Solomon awarded the baby to the mother who wanted life for the child. Evidence of the King's great wisdom spread and was awe-inspiring throughout his kingdom.
Doubtfully anyone reading this will be ruling a kingdom but each of us faces challenging judgments like the father who caught his son smoking. We meet with challenges at home, when we are at work and even in church.
It could be that you have a difficult decision that you are faced with today. The same God that made King Solomon the wisest king in history and that showed the father how to deal with his young son smoking, will help you with your decision if you just ask Him. He is already aware of what you are struggling with, so why not ask Him to show you how you need to handle it. It will take a load off your shoulders.
When a father caught his teenage son smoking, he took off his belt. The young man assumed his father was about to give him a whipping but instead his father handed his son the belt. As he handed the belt to him, he told his son that he should go ahead and beat him now because he could not possibly hurt him more than he had just done by smoking.
Many years later, in his fifties, the son said he would never forget the look in his father's eyes and the disappointment he saw in them. The father's actions were effective. The son never smoked again.
While most people have heard of King Solomon, what usually comes to mind is that he was the richest person on the face of the earth. But before God gave him all that wealth, He gave Solomon something else; something Solomon specifically asked for. King Solomon asked God for wisdom to rule his people wisely.
In contrast to the father catching his son smoking, Solomon was presented with a different test. Two mothers came to the King to determine the maternity of a baby. One mother's baby had died during the night and she switched her dead baby with another mother's live baby. They wanted the King's official answer as to the maternity of the child. I feel sure that Solomon prayed to God for wisdom as both mothers were devastated.
Instead of giving the child to one mother, Solomon decreed that the baby be cut in half and each mother was to be given an equal portion. Drastic decision but it provided the answer Solomon needed. The real mother begged Solomon not to kill the baby while the other mother agreed with the King's decision to divide the baby in half. Of course, Solomon awarded the baby to the mother who wanted life for the child. Evidence of the King's great wisdom spread and was awe-inspiring throughout his kingdom.
Doubtfully anyone reading this will be ruling a kingdom but each of us faces challenging judgments like the father who caught his son smoking. We meet with challenges at home, when we are at work and even in church.
It could be that you have a difficult decision that you are faced with today. The same God that made King Solomon the wisest king in history and that showed the father how to deal with his young son smoking, will help you with your decision if you just ask Him. He is already aware of what you are struggling with, so why not ask Him to show you how you need to handle it. It will take a load off your shoulders.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
How Do You Determine Your True Friends?
Philemon 4 I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers.
Paul was thinking of Philemon when he expressed genuine gratitude to God for such a true friend. Do you have such a person in your life?
Truthful, trustworthy and in it for the long haul—not just when things are going good, are attributes to look for in a true friend. Plus, it has been said that to have a friend, you have to be a friend.
Do you have someone in your life that you can safely confide in? A man once said that he performed this experiment: He shared a secret with someone to see if the secret got out. If it did, he knew he could not trust this person; that he could not safely confide in this person.
Meanwhile, a real friend tells you the truth even when it hurts. Do you have someone in your life that holds you accountable? That will confront you if necessary? Is there someone in your life that is not afraid to tell you that you need an attitude adjustment? Do you have someone who would speak in your defense, if necessary? If you needed a new kidney, can you think of anyone you could go to and ask for one of theirs or that would volunteer a kidney before you even asked?
Finally, an old adage states that: If you can count the number of true friends on one hand at the end of your life, consider yourself richly blessed! Why not take a moment and assess your friendships? Who do you thank God for bringing into your life? But even more importantly: Who is thanking God for you right now?
My mother used to rise early every morning. It was in her blood. She could not sleep late and was too active to want to. The first thing she did after grabbing her coffee was to grab her Bible. After she had finished her devotional, she would pray for me and my siblings. I rested assured even when I did not deserve it that, if nobody else, my mother would be praying for me. I was using her. I was using her prayerlife because I was lazy in my own.
My mother passed away in 2000. I continue to flounder around in my prayerlife. The only person that I know of that prays for me often is an associate pastor at my church. He responds every week to anything I have requested prayer for. Every Wednesday in the mail will be a postcard from him with reassuring words that he is praying for me. I am so grateful for him and his prayers but do I reciprocate? He has needs just like I do but do I pray for him?
Paul was thinking of Philemon when he expressed genuine gratitude to God for such a true friend. Do you have such a person in your life?
Truthful, trustworthy and in it for the long haul—not just when things are going good, are attributes to look for in a true friend. Plus, it has been said that to have a friend, you have to be a friend.
Do you have someone in your life that you can safely confide in? A man once said that he performed this experiment: He shared a secret with someone to see if the secret got out. If it did, he knew he could not trust this person; that he could not safely confide in this person.
Meanwhile, a real friend tells you the truth even when it hurts. Do you have someone in your life that holds you accountable? That will confront you if necessary? Is there someone in your life that is not afraid to tell you that you need an attitude adjustment? Do you have someone who would speak in your defense, if necessary? If you needed a new kidney, can you think of anyone you could go to and ask for one of theirs or that would volunteer a kidney before you even asked?
Finally, an old adage states that: If you can count the number of true friends on one hand at the end of your life, consider yourself richly blessed! Why not take a moment and assess your friendships? Who do you thank God for bringing into your life? But even more importantly: Who is thanking God for you right now?
My mother used to rise early every morning. It was in her blood. She could not sleep late and was too active to want to. The first thing she did after grabbing her coffee was to grab her Bible. After she had finished her devotional, she would pray for me and my siblings. I rested assured even when I did not deserve it that, if nobody else, my mother would be praying for me. I was using her. I was using her prayerlife because I was lazy in my own.
My mother passed away in 2000. I continue to flounder around in my prayerlife. The only person that I know of that prays for me often is an associate pastor at my church. He responds every week to anything I have requested prayer for. Every Wednesday in the mail will be a postcard from him with reassuring words that he is praying for me. I am so grateful for him and his prayers but do I reciprocate? He has needs just like I do but do I pray for him?
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Is there a Way to Find Rest?
Matthew 11: 28-29 Come to me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls.
Our world is so fast paced. Every hi-tech advance promises a more efficient use of our time. Yet it seems more like with each convenience we go out and buy, it makes us even more harassed and even more rushed instead of having more time.
Cell phones, BlackBerries, GPS navigation, computers and the internet all say that if we learn how to use them, our lives will be easier. Instead we have given ourselves an excuse for squeezing more time into the same twenty four hour period that each of us has in a day. It is like we have more and more weight around our necks at the end of the day and deep down rest eludes us.
Jim Rohn said: Time is more value than money. You can get more money, but you cannot get more time.
Jesus made us a promise almost 2000 years ago for how we can get genuine rest. It does not involve taking a cruise or some other type of vacation. It does not include another modern advancement squeezed into our lives draining us of even more strength. The offer Jesus makes restores our strength. He just asks that we listen to His teaching and learn from His ways and then we will find that genuine rest each of us so badly needs. As we learn from this gentle and humble teacher, we will experience the deep down revitalizing soul rest that is so badly needed in our lives today.
We can ask Him right now to help us learn from Him to be gentle and humble in our dealings with others and to have that true renewing needed for our weary souls. After doing so, see if you rest easier tonight and awaken renewed and refreshed.
Our world is so fast paced. Every hi-tech advance promises a more efficient use of our time. Yet it seems more like with each convenience we go out and buy, it makes us even more harassed and even more rushed instead of having more time.
Cell phones, BlackBerries, GPS navigation, computers and the internet all say that if we learn how to use them, our lives will be easier. Instead we have given ourselves an excuse for squeezing more time into the same twenty four hour period that each of us has in a day. It is like we have more and more weight around our necks at the end of the day and deep down rest eludes us.
Jim Rohn said: Time is more value than money. You can get more money, but you cannot get more time.
Jesus made us a promise almost 2000 years ago for how we can get genuine rest. It does not involve taking a cruise or some other type of vacation. It does not include another modern advancement squeezed into our lives draining us of even more strength. The offer Jesus makes restores our strength. He just asks that we listen to His teaching and learn from His ways and then we will find that genuine rest each of us so badly needs. As we learn from this gentle and humble teacher, we will experience the deep down revitalizing soul rest that is so badly needed in our lives today.
We can ask Him right now to help us learn from Him to be gentle and humble in our dealings with others and to have that true renewing needed for our weary souls. After doing so, see if you rest easier tonight and awaken renewed and refreshed.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Your Reputation Precedes You
Romans 16:19 But everyone knows that you are obedient to the Lord. This makes me very happy. I want you to see clearly what is right and to stay innocent of any wrong.
Finlay Graham had a reputation as a preacher, a teacher and “race car driver” through the dangerous streets of Beirut. In Beirut traffic, he could get get through tight places while driving on the sidewalk, which was the practice of other Beirutis, to get around a tangled up mess of cars. His driver's reputation did not outweigh his abilities to teach at the Baptist Seminary in Beirut. He was also a church planter.
His reputation preceded him. Although he is no longer with us, he and all of us came to appreciate the God-given talents and abilities he had.
Do you ever wonder about your reputation? What kind of reputation do you have? What about some of these characteristics: integrity, honesty, trustworthy, goodness, kindness and Christlikeness? Are others glad on your behalf? My earthly father always told us not to do anything we would not be willing to put our name on. That has helped me all throughout my life.
Are we in any way bringing shame to the name of Jesus? If so we need to ask God to forgive us, cleanse us and make us more like Him? God, we ask that you would grant that our reputations would be pure like Jesus.
Finlay Graham had a reputation as a preacher, a teacher and “race car driver” through the dangerous streets of Beirut. In Beirut traffic, he could get get through tight places while driving on the sidewalk, which was the practice of other Beirutis, to get around a tangled up mess of cars. His driver's reputation did not outweigh his abilities to teach at the Baptist Seminary in Beirut. He was also a church planter.
His reputation preceded him. Although he is no longer with us, he and all of us came to appreciate the God-given talents and abilities he had.
Do you ever wonder about your reputation? What kind of reputation do you have? What about some of these characteristics: integrity, honesty, trustworthy, goodness, kindness and Christlikeness? Are others glad on your behalf? My earthly father always told us not to do anything we would not be willing to put our name on. That has helped me all throughout my life.
Are we in any way bringing shame to the name of Jesus? If so we need to ask God to forgive us, cleanse us and make us more like Him? God, we ask that you would grant that our reputations would be pure like Jesus.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
How do We Convey Generosity and Diligence?
Ecclesiastes 11:1 Give generously, for your gifts will return to you later.
Give something away, and it will come back to you. Sounds like a contradiction, doesn't it? This is one of the principles that God designed for His children: the principle of generosity. The resources that God has provided for us are to be handled wisely, responsibly and diligently. We should always follow His wisdom in the use of our personal good fortune.
I believe God led me to a community of entrepreneurs which believes in giving back not just to our community alone but there came a call to action for members to help in the Haiti relief situation and in raising funds so a young woman could complete her education. I am so glad to have found a business that is not just concerned with how much money you can make. We are deeply concerned with how much we can help others achieve their goals, lift them up and get them to a point where they can be responsible citizens of this world and provide help when needed at such a time as this.
When you have a fully blessed child of God, liken them to a filled cloud ready to drop rain. That child will naturally be generous to others. We may be called upon to share of our material possessions or be asked to give of our spirituality, both because of His presence within us. He provided all we have and there will be times when He gives a call to action in which He will be right there with us as we obey and give of ourselves through the benefits He has provided.
Just as we cannot see the wind or understand the growth of an unborn child, we can in no way understand all the ways in which God is working. He will multiply your generosity if you will keep giving. Your generosity will continue to receive benefits. Like in the movie “Pay It Forward”, you help someone, they will in turn help someone and on it goes. Your generosity will come back to you.
Thankfully I own my own business so I can participate in both ways. I can contribute financially which is the easy way to help. Write a check and forget about it. Or, I can volunteer my time. Because I own a home based business, I get to set my own hours and even take off a day or two without damage to that business. It will continue working without me.
This community I am in starts every day with a “Wake Up Call” in which our host ends each morning by saying this: Do something today, something good and positive in the knowing, for someone you know cannot possibly repay you and the world will be better for it. I have paraphrased this but I think you can pick up on what is most important and that we are urged to do every day, not just when we feel like it but every day.
So I ask today that God would help me joyfully share the many blessings He has given me. And I am so thankful for what allows all this to take place: http://cattleon1000hills.com/?site=VSophiaR .My good friend Sophia is going to share some about our business and also about having the freedom to go and do when there is a need or desire. No cattle or land for sale. This business was named after God's generous ways in which He owns it all and can at any time “sell one of those cows” to help someone in need.
Give something away, and it will come back to you. Sounds like a contradiction, doesn't it? This is one of the principles that God designed for His children: the principle of generosity. The resources that God has provided for us are to be handled wisely, responsibly and diligently. We should always follow His wisdom in the use of our personal good fortune.
I believe God led me to a community of entrepreneurs which believes in giving back not just to our community alone but there came a call to action for members to help in the Haiti relief situation and in raising funds so a young woman could complete her education. I am so glad to have found a business that is not just concerned with how much money you can make. We are deeply concerned with how much we can help others achieve their goals, lift them up and get them to a point where they can be responsible citizens of this world and provide help when needed at such a time as this.
When you have a fully blessed child of God, liken them to a filled cloud ready to drop rain. That child will naturally be generous to others. We may be called upon to share of our material possessions or be asked to give of our spirituality, both because of His presence within us. He provided all we have and there will be times when He gives a call to action in which He will be right there with us as we obey and give of ourselves through the benefits He has provided.
Just as we cannot see the wind or understand the growth of an unborn child, we can in no way understand all the ways in which God is working. He will multiply your generosity if you will keep giving. Your generosity will continue to receive benefits. Like in the movie “Pay It Forward”, you help someone, they will in turn help someone and on it goes. Your generosity will come back to you.
Thankfully I own my own business so I can participate in both ways. I can contribute financially which is the easy way to help. Write a check and forget about it. Or, I can volunteer my time. Because I own a home based business, I get to set my own hours and even take off a day or two without damage to that business. It will continue working without me.
This community I am in starts every day with a “Wake Up Call” in which our host ends each morning by saying this: Do something today, something good and positive in the knowing, for someone you know cannot possibly repay you and the world will be better for it. I have paraphrased this but I think you can pick up on what is most important and that we are urged to do every day, not just when we feel like it but every day.
So I ask today that God would help me joyfully share the many blessings He has given me. And I am so thankful for what allows all this to take place: http://cattleon1000hills.com/?site=VSophiaR .My good friend Sophia is going to share some about our business and also about having the freedom to go and do when there is a need or desire. No cattle or land for sale. This business was named after God's generous ways in which He owns it all and can at any time “sell one of those cows” to help someone in need.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Will you Delight or Disappoint the Lord?
Numbers 14:8 If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land, and give it to us; a land which flows with milk and honey.
The Israelites had the privilege of witnessing first hand God's power and grace more than any other nation on earth during their time and since then. His power was evident through the ten plagues, the parting of the Red Sea and their freedom from Egyptian slavery. They witnessed His grace as He provided their water, food, and protection as they traveled throughout the wilderness. Without Him, they would have had none of this.
Finally once they stood on the brink of the land God had promised them, they chose not to go in. They thought the giant-like inhabitants would surely kill them all. All that God wanted from them was their obedience to cross over into this land of milk and honey. He had delivered them time and again from ferocious nations as they traveled in the wilderness. Despite His great love for them, they rebelled bringing sadness instead of joy to God's heart.
Essentially we all have that same opportunity to delight the Lord and bring joy to His heart. What it boils down to is the choice between obeying the path He has prepared for us to travel on or rebelling in order to go our own way. We can be strong-willed and opinionated in thinking we know what is best for us like a disobedient child.
What stands between you and your “promised land” today? If the choice you have to make is whether or not to obey Him, choose to delight Him with your obedience. Let the desire of your heart be to delight Him. Ask Him for the help to obey Him and follow His plans for your life. Those plans are always so much better than what we can devise on our own. The sooner we realize this and let it sink into our hearts, the easier life will be for us.
The Israelites had the privilege of witnessing first hand God's power and grace more than any other nation on earth during their time and since then. His power was evident through the ten plagues, the parting of the Red Sea and their freedom from Egyptian slavery. They witnessed His grace as He provided their water, food, and protection as they traveled throughout the wilderness. Without Him, they would have had none of this.
Finally once they stood on the brink of the land God had promised them, they chose not to go in. They thought the giant-like inhabitants would surely kill them all. All that God wanted from them was their obedience to cross over into this land of milk and honey. He had delivered them time and again from ferocious nations as they traveled in the wilderness. Despite His great love for them, they rebelled bringing sadness instead of joy to God's heart.
Essentially we all have that same opportunity to delight the Lord and bring joy to His heart. What it boils down to is the choice between obeying the path He has prepared for us to travel on or rebelling in order to go our own way. We can be strong-willed and opinionated in thinking we know what is best for us like a disobedient child.
What stands between you and your “promised land” today? If the choice you have to make is whether or not to obey Him, choose to delight Him with your obedience. Let the desire of your heart be to delight Him. Ask Him for the help to obey Him and follow His plans for your life. Those plans are always so much better than what we can devise on our own. The sooner we realize this and let it sink into our hearts, the easier life will be for us.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Why Shouldn't I Go It Alone?
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his friend. But if alone, who will help you get back up when you fall.
Even though we might put on the spiritual armor of God (found in Ephesians 6:11-18) every morning, we still have one weakness: we can be attacked from behind. Satan does not mind how he gets to you. If it is from behind and you do not have anyone watching your back, then he will try to overwhelm you with temptation.
Therefore, spiritually speaking, we all need someone in our lives to whom we have given permission to diligently watch our backs. I am sure most everyone has seen the new ad campaign with Shaquille O'Neal in response to a certain company's very slow response to downloading movies from the Internet. Shaq explains what the other guy offers misleads the client compared with what his company offers. The ad ends with “Shaq Has Your Back” and shows the happy group with Shaq standing behind the person(s) involved. Shaq is so big compared to those he is standing with that I always think of the story of David and Goliath and maybe that is what the company wants us to think subliminally. Who can or would dare to go up against Shaq?
In his time, King Solomon wrote to us about this very point. Solomon studied the failures in others and within himself. He recognized, in all his wisdom, that we should not go it alone. His wisdom showed him that everyone needs someone to keep them on the best path. Then we can reciprocate in the other's life if deemed necessary. Like holding each other accountable for their actions.
Just as important today, do you have someone who holds you spiritually accountable? If you do not, you can ask God to open your eyes to see that very special person He has sent into your life. Not someone to beat you over the head when you slip and make mistakes but one to encourage you to always pursue God's best. In Hebrews 3:13, it states: Encourage one another daily. And which of us does not want/need daily encouragement? Go to a friend or family member that you have good relations with already and ask if they will be your accountability partner. If not, God will bring that special encourager into your life if you ask Him to.
God, we ask that you help us to always remember that we need the help of others in order to succeed in the spiritual battles we face every day.
Personally, in the Internet marketing business I have created, I need an accountability partner on days when I consider just giving up and going elsewhere despite all the time and effort I have put into this business, Cattle on 1000 Hills. If God has brought me here to be an encourager and not to share in profits, then I will do the very best job at it that I can. But it sure would be good to see leads coming in and sales being made. I know He is in charge of all that, too, so I will not grumble and complain.
cattleon1000hills.com/?site=VJeffL
Even though we might put on the spiritual armor of God (found in Ephesians 6:11-18) every morning, we still have one weakness: we can be attacked from behind. Satan does not mind how he gets to you. If it is from behind and you do not have anyone watching your back, then he will try to overwhelm you with temptation.
Therefore, spiritually speaking, we all need someone in our lives to whom we have given permission to diligently watch our backs. I am sure most everyone has seen the new ad campaign with Shaquille O'Neal in response to a certain company's very slow response to downloading movies from the Internet. Shaq explains what the other guy offers misleads the client compared with what his company offers. The ad ends with “Shaq Has Your Back” and shows the happy group with Shaq standing behind the person(s) involved. Shaq is so big compared to those he is standing with that I always think of the story of David and Goliath and maybe that is what the company wants us to think subliminally. Who can or would dare to go up against Shaq?
In his time, King Solomon wrote to us about this very point. Solomon studied the failures in others and within himself. He recognized, in all his wisdom, that we should not go it alone. His wisdom showed him that everyone needs someone to keep them on the best path. Then we can reciprocate in the other's life if deemed necessary. Like holding each other accountable for their actions.
Just as important today, do you have someone who holds you spiritually accountable? If you do not, you can ask God to open your eyes to see that very special person He has sent into your life. Not someone to beat you over the head when you slip and make mistakes but one to encourage you to always pursue God's best. In Hebrews 3:13, it states: Encourage one another daily. And which of us does not want/need daily encouragement? Go to a friend or family member that you have good relations with already and ask if they will be your accountability partner. If not, God will bring that special encourager into your life if you ask Him to.
God, we ask that you help us to always remember that we need the help of others in order to succeed in the spiritual battles we face every day.
Personally, in the Internet marketing business I have created, I need an accountability partner on days when I consider just giving up and going elsewhere despite all the time and effort I have put into this business, Cattle on 1000 Hills. If God has brought me here to be an encourager and not to share in profits, then I will do the very best job at it that I can. But it sure would be good to see leads coming in and sales being made. I know He is in charge of all that, too, so I will not grumble and complain.
cattleon1000hills.com/?site=VJeffL
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
