The next Mary in or three part series of Mary Christmas is Mary of Bethany which will be found in Luke 10:38-42.
This story is very familiar to most of us type “A” people. To set the stage it is about two sisters who were cooking for a big bunch of men including Jesus. Hard work for two but when one sits down and leaves all the work for the other, sparks are going to fly. Most of us know the story but the last time I read it I noticed something I had not noticed before: Let’s re-read verses 38-39:
As Jesus and His disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman NAMED Martha opened her home to Him. She had a sister CALLED Mary….
Did you catch that? A woman named Martha had a sister called Mary. I looked at that verse in several versions and they all said the same thing. Everywhere a person is mentioned in the Bible it says their name was…but here it says she was “called” Mary. There must have been a reason and so I looked up the definition of the name Mary. There were four definitions: 1. One who is loved by God. 2. Plump one! 3. Long-awaited child. 4. Rabbi’s understood it to mean “bitter.” So, why was she called Mary? Could it be that she was called bitter? We don’t know but we do know that she was single living with her sister and brother. Did she ever have a husband? Was he dead? Was she jilted? Was she angry at the lot of her life? We don’t know. But if we surmised that she was called “bitter” how would that enhance the story?
Many of us enter this season with great bitterness in our hearts. The reasons vary. Perhaps a loved one is no longer here to celebrate with you for one reason or another. Divorce or death entered you life and so you have divorced yourself from the celebration. Perhaps there is a great hurt in life from which it appears there is no way of forgiving. Whatever it is, you enter this season with bitterness in your heart. You see the laughing faces of others and find yourself angry, envious, or depressed. Could it be this was the way Mary of Bethany came to Jesus? Maybe tired of the pain, she saw an opportunity to be free and sat His feet drinking in everything that He had to say! She brought all of her hurt and bitterness and laid them at His feet. In that very act of sitting there she saw the Master and fell in love with Him resulting into her bitterness being replaced with peace and joy. As Martha complained to Jesus about Mary’s lack of helping, Jesus said, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one things is needed. Mary (I believe it was now definition #1) has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her.” Martha also had “issues” but chose to “do stuff” instead of admitting her true need. This season, we can choose to admit our need or get really busy and avoid it. What had Mary chosen? Oh she chose to admit! Simply put, she put all of her bitterness at the feet of Jesus and He took care of them.
Dear one, are you entering this season with bitterness? I suggest that before you go a step further in preparing to choose what is best, and sit at His feet until all the bitterness is taken away. Oh, rest at His feet this season.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Mary Christmas (a series of three)
In my hometown there was a girl whose name was Mary. While that was not unusual, her last name happened to be Christmas! I am sure her parents thought it was cute at the time! I often thought how horrible it would to be named Mary Christmas. What would her mother do when she got angry? Yell, “Mary Christmas!!!!” We laugh but then I begin to think how more and more we have begun to do the same thing with Christmas. We have become so full of “things to do” and “stuff to get” that many of us are yelling, Merry Christmas to each other. A simple look at the faces of those in the mall or my favorite place, Wal-Mart, is evidence of this. Last Christmas, I made a concerted effort to smile at people as I shopped. You would not believe the angry looks I got in return, Christmas glad tidings? I think not!
I began to think of the name “Mary” again and God led me to look at the Mary’s in Jesus’ life as He walked this earth. What could I learn from them? How would they treat Christmas? With that thought, I want to share a three-part series I call the “Mary Christmas” lesson, or how to bring Christ into our hearts and homes this holiday season.
Luke 1: 46-48
The very first Mary in Jesus life was His mother. Who was this woman? We know very little about her other than the fact that she was a virgin, and that she had found favor with God. History indicates that she was a good Jewish girl, from a good Jewish family. They lived in a little town and probably didn’t own many worldly goods. In short, she was a “nobody” whom God chose to do an incredible thing. Some of you are thinking you are just a “nobody.” You have quietly served God all these years and you are just living out the years. Oh, listen to the lesson of this Mary. God wants to do an incredible work in your life if only you do one thing! What did this Mary do?
My soul glorifies (in KJV it is magnifies) the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant!
Friend, the first thing we need to do this season is to “Magnify the Lord” through all we do. There is a tendency to put Him on the back burner while we are making the gravies and sauces for our dinners but to have a true Christmas He must be bigger than life. One year as I was decorating for Christmas…BTW a task I hated and dreaded every year---I put on some music to get me in the mood. I couldn’t find any Christmas music so I settled for a Praise and Worship CD. Paul Baloche sang as I halfway listened, reluctantly hanging garland on one of the fireplace mantles. All of a sudden I clearly heard the words of one of the songs in a way I had never listened before. The words were:
You are the One, You are Holy.
You are the One. You are Worthy.
You are the One.
You are the One I will worship….
You are the one.
I fell on my knees with tears streaming down my face at my sin of thinking this was all about me and all that I had to do. This was a time of remembering HIS birth, which resulted in MY salvation. Oh, when I got up, I began decorating with a new vigor. With every decoration I realized HE was the ONE!!
Oh, this Christmas with all your heart, Magnify the Lord…for He is the One.
I began to think of the name “Mary” again and God led me to look at the Mary’s in Jesus’ life as He walked this earth. What could I learn from them? How would they treat Christmas? With that thought, I want to share a three-part series I call the “Mary Christmas” lesson, or how to bring Christ into our hearts and homes this holiday season.
Luke 1: 46-48
The very first Mary in Jesus life was His mother. Who was this woman? We know very little about her other than the fact that she was a virgin, and that she had found favor with God. History indicates that she was a good Jewish girl, from a good Jewish family. They lived in a little town and probably didn’t own many worldly goods. In short, she was a “nobody” whom God chose to do an incredible thing. Some of you are thinking you are just a “nobody.” You have quietly served God all these years and you are just living out the years. Oh, listen to the lesson of this Mary. God wants to do an incredible work in your life if only you do one thing! What did this Mary do?
My soul glorifies (in KJV it is magnifies) the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant!
Friend, the first thing we need to do this season is to “Magnify the Lord” through all we do. There is a tendency to put Him on the back burner while we are making the gravies and sauces for our dinners but to have a true Christmas He must be bigger than life. One year as I was decorating for Christmas…BTW a task I hated and dreaded every year---I put on some music to get me in the mood. I couldn’t find any Christmas music so I settled for a Praise and Worship CD. Paul Baloche sang as I halfway listened, reluctantly hanging garland on one of the fireplace mantles. All of a sudden I clearly heard the words of one of the songs in a way I had never listened before. The words were:
You are the One, You are Holy.
You are the One. You are Worthy.
You are the One.
You are the One I will worship….
You are the one.
I fell on my knees with tears streaming down my face at my sin of thinking this was all about me and all that I had to do. This was a time of remembering HIS birth, which resulted in MY salvation. Oh, when I got up, I began decorating with a new vigor. With every decoration I realized HE was the ONE!!
Oh, this Christmas with all your heart, Magnify the Lord…for He is the One.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Perspective
I have been reading, Andy Andrews, an author who is new to me…He is not a “Christian” author but his works are definitely Christian. In his book, The Noticer, the overall theme is perspective. This idea, although not new, has been thought-provoking in this season of my life. What is perspective? I guess it is best described by the story of a fly that lighted on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Glancing at the crowds who were amazed by the ceiling’s beauty, the fly looked at what he could see from his vantage point and said, “They all came for this?” The fly could only see one tiny part of one minuscule brushstroke in the millions upon millions that make up the entire ceiling. His perspective was indeed limited.
I have been thinking about this since before Thanksgiving. What we focus on, brings our own perspective to situations. If we focus on what we don’t have, our perspective will be bleak and we will become depressed. However, if we focus upon the things we do have the perspective changes! Some examples: “Oh, no, I have to go back to work!” vs. “I am so glad I have a job in this economy!” You get the idea…but what about the whole of life? Perhaps you are going through a very difficult time…how do you get proper perspective? For the Christian, it is called faith! Often we are like flies on ceilings wondering what is going on, when all along God is working out a great plan in our lives or the lives of those we love. We can’t see the whole picture but we have to trust that it looks better from far away than it does in the midst of it! I can give lots of testimony that that is true in my life…once I stepped away from the situation, I could see the bigger picture.
A great example was while in college, I knew I had met the man of my dreams. Plans to marry were made and life was great when all of a sudden the relationship ended…and not well. I became distraught and angry. “Why would God take this person away from me for we had such a great ministry ahead?” I could only see my pain and my will. These long years later, I see clearly that God truly knew what He was doing…(thank God for unanswered prayers!) My perspective changed…I saw more of the picture and because of that (and countless other examples) I have learned that God is trustworthy. Samuel called this his Ebenezer! (I Samuel 7:12-13) He was in a fierce battle with a familiar enemy of God’s people…the Philistines. He wasn’t sure about what the future would hold for him but He knew God was in control! To show his faith, Samuel lifted a large stone, naming it “Ebenezer” which means, “Thus far the LORD helped us!” He didn’t know what was to come but “thus far” and God never changes!!
That is what I have been reflecting upon, as things in life change. “Thus far, God has been faithful,” has become my perspective. Disease enters? Thus far! Child rebels? Thus far! Job loss? Thus far! Friend, I have been on this journey long enough to know that when our perspective remains upon God’s mighty power and everlasting love for us, that we can make it! I challenge you today to remember a powerful victory God has given you in the past, find a stone, label the victory on the stone and call it your Ebenezer! I can assure you that your perspective to the situation you currently are in will change.
I love each of you so much! Focus on Him and let your perspective be, “thus far!”
I have been thinking about this since before Thanksgiving. What we focus on, brings our own perspective to situations. If we focus on what we don’t have, our perspective will be bleak and we will become depressed. However, if we focus upon the things we do have the perspective changes! Some examples: “Oh, no, I have to go back to work!” vs. “I am so glad I have a job in this economy!” You get the idea…but what about the whole of life? Perhaps you are going through a very difficult time…how do you get proper perspective? For the Christian, it is called faith! Often we are like flies on ceilings wondering what is going on, when all along God is working out a great plan in our lives or the lives of those we love. We can’t see the whole picture but we have to trust that it looks better from far away than it does in the midst of it! I can give lots of testimony that that is true in my life…once I stepped away from the situation, I could see the bigger picture.
A great example was while in college, I knew I had met the man of my dreams. Plans to marry were made and life was great when all of a sudden the relationship ended…and not well. I became distraught and angry. “Why would God take this person away from me for we had such a great ministry ahead?” I could only see my pain and my will. These long years later, I see clearly that God truly knew what He was doing…(thank God for unanswered prayers!) My perspective changed…I saw more of the picture and because of that (and countless other examples) I have learned that God is trustworthy. Samuel called this his Ebenezer! (I Samuel 7:12-13) He was in a fierce battle with a familiar enemy of God’s people…the Philistines. He wasn’t sure about what the future would hold for him but He knew God was in control! To show his faith, Samuel lifted a large stone, naming it “Ebenezer” which means, “Thus far the LORD helped us!” He didn’t know what was to come but “thus far” and God never changes!!
That is what I have been reflecting upon, as things in life change. “Thus far, God has been faithful,” has become my perspective. Disease enters? Thus far! Child rebels? Thus far! Job loss? Thus far! Friend, I have been on this journey long enough to know that when our perspective remains upon God’s mighty power and everlasting love for us, that we can make it! I challenge you today to remember a powerful victory God has given you in the past, find a stone, label the victory on the stone and call it your Ebenezer! I can assure you that your perspective to the situation you currently are in will change.
I love each of you so much! Focus on Him and let your perspective be, “thus far!”
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Pit of Perfection
I have not blogged in awhile…not because I didn’t want to but I had a fall. I fell into a pit. Perhaps you will understand for you have fallen into pits like this before, too. These pits sneak up on us. One day we are walking around, things are fine, and then there is a hole and we fall in. My particular pit was a familiar one and a dangerous one. It was a pit of “I am not good enough…” Perhaps you have had that kind of fall, too, for like the potholes in Jackson, these pits are everywhere--especially on the streets we travel most. May I suggest this is satan’s biggest weapon for “pits” tend to render us useless.
I need not go into the details of what caused my fall, but it took longer to get myself out this time. Feelings of inadequacy grew from thinking I wasn’t a good teacher to I am not a good person. “Who would ever want to be around me?” became my constant thought. This pit was not a good place to be, let me tell you!! I was not really depressed, just paralyzed in doing what I knew I needed to do. I was trapped…in bondage with chains I had put on myself.
Now, why would I share this with you? After all, I am supposed to encourage and tell you about Christ’s victorious life, aren’t I? That is exactly why I am telling you this…you see I am no longer in that pit and I want you to know how I escaped just in case you are in a similar pit right now.
While I was being all “pit-a-full” I refused to go to Christ for help. Sound familiar? satan had convinced me that God would never want to use me anymore because I was so worthless. This was the trap satan has always used… I can’t believe I fell for this lie again. I thought I knew better! I did not eat of the Word of God and soon found myself starving and willing to eat the lies of the deceiver. Dangerous place! This could have been where the story ends…BUT GOD.
When God can’t reach us the easy ways, He tries creative ways to get to us. My granddaughter, who is 10, quoted her “favorite” scripture to me…Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!” She was merely trying to impress me with her memorization, but God wanted to remind me of some very important things:
• I wasn’t good…but God is great…and God is good and He loves me with an ever-lasting love. My only goodness is from Him. Jesus even said to the people to whom he preached, “Why do you call me good…there is no one good except my Father who is in Heaven.” My significance both here and beyond, is in Him…what a wonderful place to be.
• Nothing I do makes Him love me any more or any less. I can do nothing that would cause Christ’s love to be taken away from me. His grace is sufficient for my every need but also for my every failing. It is a gift and not just at salvation but throughout my life.
• He has called me (and you) for a purpose while we are on this earth. It was upon this point that I really needed to dwell. I knew he called me but I had been coasting for a while, doing this “call” on my own…in my own wisdom. (insert hysterical laughter here!) What I had forgotten was what my granddaughter reminded me…it is Christ doing it…not me! If I am to do this thing right, I must immerse myself in His word and depend on His strength. When I do that, the situations and feeling really do change!
• I don’t need to dwell in the pit! There is an escape…and Christ’s strength is the only way.
So, what has changed? Did the situation change? Nope! What caused the fall is still stalking me. What changed was my focus. I chose to look to Christ instead of my circumstances. I used that word “chose” because it is a choice. You, dear one, can choose to stay in the pit…you can even put up curtains with a recliner…but there will be no light and no rest…for it is a pit, and a pit is dark and uncomfortable.
I am back with a vengeance to help others escape despair. Honestly, I had forgotten what it was like to be down, but now I remember…I know how some of you are feeling…I know how hard life can be…but I also know who God is and I know His Word says, “But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Is. 40:31 I have never seen an eagle in a pit!! Praise His Name!!!
I need not go into the details of what caused my fall, but it took longer to get myself out this time. Feelings of inadequacy grew from thinking I wasn’t a good teacher to I am not a good person. “Who would ever want to be around me?” became my constant thought. This pit was not a good place to be, let me tell you!! I was not really depressed, just paralyzed in doing what I knew I needed to do. I was trapped…in bondage with chains I had put on myself.
Now, why would I share this with you? After all, I am supposed to encourage and tell you about Christ’s victorious life, aren’t I? That is exactly why I am telling you this…you see I am no longer in that pit and I want you to know how I escaped just in case you are in a similar pit right now.
While I was being all “pit-a-full” I refused to go to Christ for help. Sound familiar? satan had convinced me that God would never want to use me anymore because I was so worthless. This was the trap satan has always used… I can’t believe I fell for this lie again. I thought I knew better! I did not eat of the Word of God and soon found myself starving and willing to eat the lies of the deceiver. Dangerous place! This could have been where the story ends…BUT GOD.
When God can’t reach us the easy ways, He tries creative ways to get to us. My granddaughter, who is 10, quoted her “favorite” scripture to me…Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!” She was merely trying to impress me with her memorization, but God wanted to remind me of some very important things:
• I wasn’t good…but God is great…and God is good and He loves me with an ever-lasting love. My only goodness is from Him. Jesus even said to the people to whom he preached, “Why do you call me good…there is no one good except my Father who is in Heaven.” My significance both here and beyond, is in Him…what a wonderful place to be.
• Nothing I do makes Him love me any more or any less. I can do nothing that would cause Christ’s love to be taken away from me. His grace is sufficient for my every need but also for my every failing. It is a gift and not just at salvation but throughout my life.
• He has called me (and you) for a purpose while we are on this earth. It was upon this point that I really needed to dwell. I knew he called me but I had been coasting for a while, doing this “call” on my own…in my own wisdom. (insert hysterical laughter here!) What I had forgotten was what my granddaughter reminded me…it is Christ doing it…not me! If I am to do this thing right, I must immerse myself in His word and depend on His strength. When I do that, the situations and feeling really do change!
• I don’t need to dwell in the pit! There is an escape…and Christ’s strength is the only way.
So, what has changed? Did the situation change? Nope! What caused the fall is still stalking me. What changed was my focus. I chose to look to Christ instead of my circumstances. I used that word “chose” because it is a choice. You, dear one, can choose to stay in the pit…you can even put up curtains with a recliner…but there will be no light and no rest…for it is a pit, and a pit is dark and uncomfortable.
I am back with a vengeance to help others escape despair. Honestly, I had forgotten what it was like to be down, but now I remember…I know how some of you are feeling…I know how hard life can be…but I also know who God is and I know His Word says, “But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Is. 40:31 I have never seen an eagle in a pit!! Praise His Name!!!
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Pick Me! Pick Me!!
I am a grown woman with a college degree, seminary, two wonderful adult children, 3 precious grandchildren, and a great husband! Because of Christ, I have had a very good life so what could go wrong? Well, I was reminded this week of how cruel people are and memories of 5th grade came rushing back to my mind!!
I was always taller than anyone else in my class (I still am.) Being tall and lanky also caused me to be a little clumsy so during recess when people were choosing teams for kickball, I was nearly always last in the picking. You all know that feeling. We would go home and cry and our moms would tell us how beautiful and talented we were and that “those people” were just jealous of us! Great words but it never worked did it? The fact that we were not good enough for that special group, for some, left a lasting mark. We often grow out of it and live a fairly normal life until something comes along to remind us of that memory.
That reminder happened twice this week in our household! It didn’t happen to me but to two people I love very much and through them I have re-lived every single moment of the pain I had in the 5th grade. While my rejection happened at school, my loved ones’ rejection happened at a place where rejection should never happen…at church. I will get over this and so will my loved ones but it made me wonder about what we as the church are doing in the world.
I recently read the book, Un-Christian, and thought the authors were way off base ---until this week. The fact is, humans have a need to be accepted and will go wherever that will happen. Psychologists say that is why gangs are so popular among youth…in gangs they are accepted and the members will do whatever it takes to remain a part of the group that accepted them. The world is looking for somewhere to be “picked!” The local church should be that place but is it? Reality is I am accepted in my church and so I assume everyone else who comes is, but this past week I realized that is not the case and perhaps the words in Un-Christian is more accurate than I would like to believe. These incidents happened and I became aware of my own apathy in relating to those who are not in my group of friends!
Jesus saw this attitude as we are told of his encounter with a woman who was not “picked” by those who were a part of the “in crowd”. We call her “the woman at the well” but I often wonder about the other women...you know, the ones who came early and shunned her because she was “one of those women!” Perhaps they felt superior to her and rolled their eyes or giggled as she walked by. Or maybe even worse, they never even noticed her. Oh, she saw them-- maybe watching their conversations wishing she could participate…but she knew it would never happen because she was not good enough…they would never pick her. But on this day things were going to change. Jesus saw her, looked at her, talked to her, and picked her!! He didn’t ignore her sin but He did give her hope that things could be better. The best part of this is that she was given dignity…so much that she had the courage to face the “other women” and brought them to the very person who changed her life.
That is Christ’s legacy to His church and I am afraid we are more like those shunning women rather than those offering hope. Make no mistake, we all have the capacity to become part of the special clique! We also, however, have the capacity to offer hope and dignity to those who so much want to belong but in order to do that, we must look at others through the eyes of Jesus. We must be willing to step out of our comfort zone and take some risks! It may be hard but the results just might cause revival!
Things will eventually settle down in my home; hurt feelings will be healed and I pray I will show compassion to those who were compassionless for that is what Jesus has called us to do---after all, I once was “that woman” but Jesus “picked” me and offered me hope and life! He can do the same for you and through you.
I was always taller than anyone else in my class (I still am.) Being tall and lanky also caused me to be a little clumsy so during recess when people were choosing teams for kickball, I was nearly always last in the picking. You all know that feeling. We would go home and cry and our moms would tell us how beautiful and talented we were and that “those people” were just jealous of us! Great words but it never worked did it? The fact that we were not good enough for that special group, for some, left a lasting mark. We often grow out of it and live a fairly normal life until something comes along to remind us of that memory.
That reminder happened twice this week in our household! It didn’t happen to me but to two people I love very much and through them I have re-lived every single moment of the pain I had in the 5th grade. While my rejection happened at school, my loved ones’ rejection happened at a place where rejection should never happen…at church. I will get over this and so will my loved ones but it made me wonder about what we as the church are doing in the world.
I recently read the book, Un-Christian, and thought the authors were way off base ---until this week. The fact is, humans have a need to be accepted and will go wherever that will happen. Psychologists say that is why gangs are so popular among youth…in gangs they are accepted and the members will do whatever it takes to remain a part of the group that accepted them. The world is looking for somewhere to be “picked!” The local church should be that place but is it? Reality is I am accepted in my church and so I assume everyone else who comes is, but this past week I realized that is not the case and perhaps the words in Un-Christian is more accurate than I would like to believe. These incidents happened and I became aware of my own apathy in relating to those who are not in my group of friends!
Jesus saw this attitude as we are told of his encounter with a woman who was not “picked” by those who were a part of the “in crowd”. We call her “the woman at the well” but I often wonder about the other women...you know, the ones who came early and shunned her because she was “one of those women!” Perhaps they felt superior to her and rolled their eyes or giggled as she walked by. Or maybe even worse, they never even noticed her. Oh, she saw them-- maybe watching their conversations wishing she could participate…but she knew it would never happen because she was not good enough…they would never pick her. But on this day things were going to change. Jesus saw her, looked at her, talked to her, and picked her!! He didn’t ignore her sin but He did give her hope that things could be better. The best part of this is that she was given dignity…so much that she had the courage to face the “other women” and brought them to the very person who changed her life.
That is Christ’s legacy to His church and I am afraid we are more like those shunning women rather than those offering hope. Make no mistake, we all have the capacity to become part of the special clique! We also, however, have the capacity to offer hope and dignity to those who so much want to belong but in order to do that, we must look at others through the eyes of Jesus. We must be willing to step out of our comfort zone and take some risks! It may be hard but the results just might cause revival!
Things will eventually settle down in my home; hurt feelings will be healed and I pray I will show compassion to those who were compassionless for that is what Jesus has called us to do---after all, I once was “that woman” but Jesus “picked” me and offered me hope and life! He can do the same for you and through you.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Focus
I don't like doctors! Nothing personal, I just don't like them. They probe, say little, then give you a bill and maybe some medicine. They really don't want to have conversations with you because they are focused on one thing: getting to the root of what is wrong. Many others share in this dislike of the medical profession so I don't feel alone. I, however,also hate going to the eye doctor to get new glasses. Whoa, now I admit that is weird. You might think I don't like the dilating of the eyes? No, that is cool and the glasses you get to wear are great fashion statements! No, what I don't like is having to make a decision about, "Which is better, This or This?" Arghhh! Pressure. My decision at that moment will last for at least a year...what if I make a wrong choice? I will have to live with it.
It is much like life. Each day God says, "Which is better, this or this?" We are given a choice of upon what we will focus...the negative or the positive. I love being on Facebook but many times status updates are gripes about the silliest things...a choice to focus on the negative and in doing so are setting a foundation for the rest of the day. I am as guilty as anyone about focusing on the half-empty glass! It's easier to do and doesn't require anything other than settling for the way things appear. It is like going to the eye doctor and telling him/her, "I don't see very well out of these glasses but I don't I don't want new ones" and then complaining how blurry everything is!! I remember a story about a construction worker who for an entire week complained loudly about having peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in his lunch box. He would complain loudly, "I hate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!" The other workers finally asked him why he didn't just tell his wife to make another kind of sandwich to which he answered, "Oh, I make my own lunches!"
We make our own lunches, too! We get to choose how we respond to the situations in life. Choice "one" is to complain resulting in making yourself and everyone around you miserable! Choice "two" is to focus on anything in the situation that might be positive. That is the harder choice but it is like getting new lenses for the day! This is not just a bunch of happy thought or mind control as many think...it is about where we are going to invest our lives! We were given a model of this kind of living. Hebrews 12:2 says this: Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Did you see that? Jesus set joy before Him on His journey which allowed Him to endure all that was going on around Him. Choosing to focus on the positive allows us to endure. I know there are some horrible situations in today's world but when we focus on our faith...it will be perfected. When we focus on where this road is leading...we will endure.
So, which is better? This? (headache, finances, mean people, sickness, government, etc.) or This? (God is in control, He loves me, I am blessed because I am His) Your answer will determine what your day will be! Today, I choose to look toward the joy set before me!
It is much like life. Each day God says, "Which is better, this or this?" We are given a choice of upon what we will focus...the negative or the positive. I love being on Facebook but many times status updates are gripes about the silliest things...a choice to focus on the negative and in doing so are setting a foundation for the rest of the day. I am as guilty as anyone about focusing on the half-empty glass! It's easier to do and doesn't require anything other than settling for the way things appear. It is like going to the eye doctor and telling him/her, "I don't see very well out of these glasses but I don't I don't want new ones" and then complaining how blurry everything is!! I remember a story about a construction worker who for an entire week complained loudly about having peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in his lunch box. He would complain loudly, "I hate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!" The other workers finally asked him why he didn't just tell his wife to make another kind of sandwich to which he answered, "Oh, I make my own lunches!"
We make our own lunches, too! We get to choose how we respond to the situations in life. Choice "one" is to complain resulting in making yourself and everyone around you miserable! Choice "two" is to focus on anything in the situation that might be positive. That is the harder choice but it is like getting new lenses for the day! This is not just a bunch of happy thought or mind control as many think...it is about where we are going to invest our lives! We were given a model of this kind of living. Hebrews 12:2 says this: Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Did you see that? Jesus set joy before Him on His journey which allowed Him to endure all that was going on around Him. Choosing to focus on the positive allows us to endure. I know there are some horrible situations in today's world but when we focus on our faith...it will be perfected. When we focus on where this road is leading...we will endure.
So, which is better? This? (headache, finances, mean people, sickness, government, etc.) or This? (God is in control, He loves me, I am blessed because I am His) Your answer will determine what your day will be! Today, I choose to look toward the joy set before me!
Thursday, August 20, 2009
I'm not Apathetic...I just don't care!
Not often will I put something someone else said on my blog but today I was extremely convicted of my apathy toward a lost world who needs Jesus. Perhaps this writing was just for me...but you might be in need of some reality, as well. Have a blessed day in the LORD friends.
cyndi
What Will You Do?
I love history, especially the tales of small groups of resistance fighters facing great odds or serious obstacles. As a child I grew up with many memories and impressions of World War II. My father served in the Royal Air Force and my mother told me stories of the bombing of the shipyards in Clydebank (Glasgow). I can well remember the strange emotions that arose from imagining "enemy" planes above seeking to bomb us (nice, innocent, sweet Scots) out of house and home. It instilled a sense of awe, but also raised the question: What kind of a world is this where we do such things to one another?
As an adult, I have since travelled to many sites of historical import and have spoken with many old soldiers and service personnel who lived through it all. Perhaps no tale grabs a British heart as much as that of the "Battle of Britain." In the summer of 1940, France and Belgium had been overrun; the British Expeditionary Force was evacuated from Dunkirk, leaving behind all the weapons and heavy equipment. All that stood between invasion and the Nazi onslaught was the English Channel and the pilots and fighter planes of the Royal Air Force.
Alex Kershaw, an American writer, has documented how several young Americans were willing to lose their citizenship and risk their lives to volunteer as pilots. In his book, The Few, Kershaw adds to the rich literature of this dark yet heroic time, giving lots of wonderful insight and detail on these young Americans who were almost all killed in the fierce battles that raged over Southern England and the cold, unwelcoming waters of the channel.
I am deeply grateful to those who gave their lives for our freedom. I am also deeply inspired by the sense of vision, courage, and commitment that called so many into action. To me, this offers parallels for the life of faith.
When surveying the challenges that face the gospel and the church in our time, we might ask: How are Christians doing in answering the call Christ outlined?(1) The sheer complexity of culture with all its diversity, its issues, and its needs demands a fresh sense of urgency, passion, skill, and vision. Globally, we see the rise of an increasingly mobile professional population, many of whom are open to spiritual reflection and the deeper things of life. How will they be reached? Who will go? What kind of preparation, cost, and skill will it take?
In 1 Corinthians 9:22, the apostle Paul testifies to just how willing he was to bear the price, what he was willing to do to adapt, and how serious the whole experience was to him. From the stunning confrontation on the road to Damascus to his subsequent boldness in mission, something happened. The apostle was not merely persuaded of the truth of one position over another, though that indeed happened. He was not simply overwhelmed by the good examples of the Christians and their persuasive morality, though this too may have played some part. Rather, he was "gripped" by an encounter with a Person that reframed reality, unsettled his existing world, and called him to a life of service, focus, and action.
I know it's easy to romanticize such people or such events. However, in this case, I believe there is adequate historical testimony to compel us to reflect personally on the nature and demands of the gospel, the centrality of Christ, and the call to mission. For Paul's life was turned around simply because he encountered the truth as a person, as Christ. Having said this, taking up this truth takes courage, demands a response, and is intensely personal.
Shortly after what turned out to be one of the greatest days of aerial combat during the Battle of Britain, Winston Churchill was on his way home, feeling stunned by the efforts of the young pilots and overwhelmed by their commitment. In his own inimitable way he said, "Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few." Churchill's moving words are a rich tribute to those who gave their all that others might live.
The Scriptures remind us of a time when all will face the Lord who has given even more, and all we have done with our lives will stand with us before him. Might we all hear those wonderful words: "Well done, good and faithful servant."
Stuart McAllister is vice president of training and special projects at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries in Atlanta, Georgia.
cyndi
What Will You Do?
I love history, especially the tales of small groups of resistance fighters facing great odds or serious obstacles. As a child I grew up with many memories and impressions of World War II. My father served in the Royal Air Force and my mother told me stories of the bombing of the shipyards in Clydebank (Glasgow). I can well remember the strange emotions that arose from imagining "enemy" planes above seeking to bomb us (nice, innocent, sweet Scots) out of house and home. It instilled a sense of awe, but also raised the question: What kind of a world is this where we do such things to one another?
As an adult, I have since travelled to many sites of historical import and have spoken with many old soldiers and service personnel who lived through it all. Perhaps no tale grabs a British heart as much as that of the "Battle of Britain." In the summer of 1940, France and Belgium had been overrun; the British Expeditionary Force was evacuated from Dunkirk, leaving behind all the weapons and heavy equipment. All that stood between invasion and the Nazi onslaught was the English Channel and the pilots and fighter planes of the Royal Air Force.
Alex Kershaw, an American writer, has documented how several young Americans were willing to lose their citizenship and risk their lives to volunteer as pilots. In his book, The Few, Kershaw adds to the rich literature of this dark yet heroic time, giving lots of wonderful insight and detail on these young Americans who were almost all killed in the fierce battles that raged over Southern England and the cold, unwelcoming waters of the channel.
I am deeply grateful to those who gave their lives for our freedom. I am also deeply inspired by the sense of vision, courage, and commitment that called so many into action. To me, this offers parallels for the life of faith.
When surveying the challenges that face the gospel and the church in our time, we might ask: How are Christians doing in answering the call Christ outlined?(1) The sheer complexity of culture with all its diversity, its issues, and its needs demands a fresh sense of urgency, passion, skill, and vision. Globally, we see the rise of an increasingly mobile professional population, many of whom are open to spiritual reflection and the deeper things of life. How will they be reached? Who will go? What kind of preparation, cost, and skill will it take?
In 1 Corinthians 9:22, the apostle Paul testifies to just how willing he was to bear the price, what he was willing to do to adapt, and how serious the whole experience was to him. From the stunning confrontation on the road to Damascus to his subsequent boldness in mission, something happened. The apostle was not merely persuaded of the truth of one position over another, though that indeed happened. He was not simply overwhelmed by the good examples of the Christians and their persuasive morality, though this too may have played some part. Rather, he was "gripped" by an encounter with a Person that reframed reality, unsettled his existing world, and called him to a life of service, focus, and action.
I know it's easy to romanticize such people or such events. However, in this case, I believe there is adequate historical testimony to compel us to reflect personally on the nature and demands of the gospel, the centrality of Christ, and the call to mission. For Paul's life was turned around simply because he encountered the truth as a person, as Christ. Having said this, taking up this truth takes courage, demands a response, and is intensely personal.
Shortly after what turned out to be one of the greatest days of aerial combat during the Battle of Britain, Winston Churchill was on his way home, feeling stunned by the efforts of the young pilots and overwhelmed by their commitment. In his own inimitable way he said, "Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few." Churchill's moving words are a rich tribute to those who gave their all that others might live.
The Scriptures remind us of a time when all will face the Lord who has given even more, and all we have done with our lives will stand with us before him. Might we all hear those wonderful words: "Well done, good and faithful servant."
Stuart McAllister is vice president of training and special projects at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries in Atlanta, Georgia.
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