Today's Challenge....Getting Along!

Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

Colossians 3:13-15 

 

Wonder what would happen if your fingers no longer liked being part of the same body as your mouth and, as a result, decided not to put food in your mouth anymore? What would be the end result?  Your body would slowly starve to death.  Now, while that is a far-fetched analogy, isn't that the same thing we do when we refuse to be part of one another?  

 

Someone says something that we don't like, or does something that offends us, and we get angry then we just ignore them (much like the fingers ignored the mouth), and what is the end result?  We are called to live in peace with one another, encouraging each other, being thankful for each other, and loving each other (sometimes in spite of each other).

Yeah, I got a whack between the eyes with this one too.  Today's challenge is to get along with others.  Talk with someone you haven't spoken to in a while because of a falling out.  Lift each other up and encourage each other.  Be thankful for each others, after all, God brought each person into our lives for a purpose.  Remember, we are ONE body!

All Shook Up!

And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.

Romans 7:18-19 

If your life was laid open for all to see, what would be seen?  Would people find out that you have been pretending to be something you're not?  Would they see that you aren't as perfect as you seem?

I have taken time recently to look back on my life (now that I am older), and to be honest, I am truly surprised that God has allowed me to survive.  My life has been one mess after another.  Honestly, I have failed at life!  I won't hide that fact from you.  My life's soundtrack would be Jerry Lee Lewis' "All Shook Up!"

But here's the kicker...regardless of how badly I have messed my life up; no matter what mistakes I have made; regardless of how rotten and putrid my life...God is still loving me and sent Jesus to die on my behalf.  I want to do good, but I fail over and over....but God!

One of the things I have learned over the course of my life is that God is amazing.  You see, if I was able to do what I knew to be right every single time, then I would get the "Big Head" and begin to believe I did it all on my own.  God has a way of reminding me that He is the one in charge, not me.  

"Remember The Days In The Old Schoolyard"

Therefore let us pursue the things which produce peace and the things that build up one another. 

Romans 14:19

 

I like music.  When I was much younger, one of the songs that caught my attention was called "Remember The Days In The Old Schoolyard" by Cat Stevens.  It talked about children at play in the schoolyard and how that memory made him miss those carefree days.

 

To be honest, I remember getting to play at recess in grade school.  We would play kickball, tag, basketball and we had so much fun.  We didn't argue (much) we simply wanted to enjoy the time and have fun.  Where have those days gone?  When have we become so self seeking that we have lost the ability to build each other up?

 

Take this one thought with you today: We are here together.  Let's be together.  Let's work toward building each other up and appreciating each other.  Everyone has something positive to offer, encourage that.  THANK YOU for sharing yourself!

Lessons Learned In The Dark

[God said]   "I create the light and make the darkness.
I send good times and bad times.
    I, the Lord, am the one who does these things."

Isaiah 45:7 

 

During the recent storm, power was lost in many places, my office being among them.  However, force of habit led me to flip the light switch and then bump painfully into the corner of my desk.  The light did not come on when I flipped the switch because there was no power and I didn't have the power to make it work.  I considered yelling at the light switch, laying hands on the light switch, in the end (due to the mishap with the corner of the desk) I sat in the dark and prayed.

 

You see, when we try to do thing in our own power, we fail miserably.  How many times have we tried to "fake it till we make it"?  How many times have we tried to make our plans work, even if the purpose was to honor God?  How many times have we tried to live life without God's power?

 

When we realize that God is God and He is the one in control, then life becomes a little easier to take.  When the good times come, be grateful and ask God for those with whom you can share that with.  When the trials come, be grateful and ask God to teach you. 

 

When God's power is at work in our lives, others will notice because we reflect Him.

I Am Grateful....!

And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be grateful.

Colossians 3:15 

 

Peace.....  That doesn't seem to be what we see a whole lot of in the world today.  Just look at the all that is happening around us.  Peace?  Hardly!

 

But remember what Jesus taught us about Peace: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be distressed or lacking in courage" - John 14:27.  Remember the Peace He gives us is NOT lack of trouble, rather the focus on Christ during troubling times!  And part of that Peace includes gratitude!

 

The Apostle writes, "And ALWAYS be grateful!"  Yes, grateful even in times of chaos.  Yes, even in times of struggle.  Yes, even in times of trials.  We are to ALWAYS be grateful.  I confess, that I have gotten caught up in all that is going on around me and have forgotten all I have to be grateful for.

 

When I am struggling, God is still in control and still loves me.

When I doubt, God is still in control and still loves me.

When I am angry, God is still in control and still loves me.

When I am frustrated, God is still in control and still loves me.

When I mess things up, God is still in control and still loves me.

When I am happy and think it's all because of me, God is still in control and still loves me.

 

So what do I have to be Grateful for:

...those who care enough to pray for me and with me (in spite of myself).

...those who share a laugh with me.

...those who allow me to be part of their lives.

...those who let me pray with and for them.

...those who are willing to love and be loved.

...those who dare to reach out for help.

...those who reach out to help.

...I am grateful that God has allowed me to see another year (today's my birthday).

the list of reasons to be grateful is endless.

 

My challenge for all of us....focus on all we have to be grateful for...especially when we are tempted to let the world trample us.  Focus on the Peace of Christ and embrace it! 

We're Different And We're His!

‘By his power we live and move and exist.’ Some of your own poets have said: ‘For we are his children.’ 

Acts 17:28 

 

Let's put on your thinking caps (or have another coffee or two) and ponder something together.  When God formed Adam from the dust of the earth and breathed into him the breath of Life, God breathed into Adam part of Himself.  And that tiny portion of God has been passed down through the generations.  

 

Without God, we cannot live or move or exist.  But because God has given us the Breath of Life, we are His children.  Are we perfect?  Have you ever met a perfect child?  God loves us unconditionally, yet He also loves us enough to correct us.  God does everything to help us grow.

 

Why? Because We are HIS children!

BE Part of the Resistance!

The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

1 Corinthians 10:13 

 

"I just can't help myself!"

"This is too hard!"

"Just this once won't matter."

"You just don't understand what I'm feeling."

 "You just don't get it!"

 

Excuses! We throw them around like confetti at a parade and wonder why we aren't suddenly and magically not any better off than the day before.  In fact, we discover that the only thing we've gotten better at doing is....making excuses.

 

We may believe that we are the only ones who are enduring our particular temptations.  While that may seem partly true, we seem to have forgotten that Jesus was God in human form.  Jesus lived among us, as one of us, and was tempted in every single way that we are, yet He did not sin. Not only that, but God does not allow ANY temptation to be more than we can stand with His help AND He always provides a way to endure the temptation.

 

Now I applaud those of you who have resisted the temptation to knock some sense into my head or smack some smart aleck up side the noggin'.  You have the patience of a saint.

 

Thank you to those who are patient with others in spite of our oddities and snarkiness.