Somebody

A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.

1 Corinthians 12:7 

 

For the longest time, I believed that God had not chosen to give me any sort of gift.  I mean, let's face it, I am not much of a singer (except when the windows are rolled up and one of my favorite songs comes on the radio); I can't even draw a straight line; there are so many things I don't possess that I felt like a nobody.  

 

Then I realized that God are no nobodies in God's family!  In God's family, every person is SOMEBODY!  God has given each of His family members a spiritual gift!  

 

I have taken "Spiritual Gifts" tests over my lifetime and the results were always different so I didn't put much credence to my test results. Then I heard a sermon by Steve Brown on the radio where he explained that sometimes we tend to try to "over spiritualize" our gifts.  If we aren't a GREAT orator then we believe we cannot share God's good news with anyone.  If we aren't perfect then we can't be of any use to God especially around the people who know us best.  And such are the lies from the smokey pit!!!

 

God gives each of us a gift we to help each other!  It was then that I realized, I can listen to others and use my experiences to offer guidance; I can show others that I care; there are so many things God has allowed me to do when I stopped trying to BE "spiritual" and let Him use me as He wants.

You Are God's Poetry!

For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them.

Ephesians 2:10 

 

In High School, one of my assignments for my English class was to write a poem.  Not just any poem, it had to be at least 50 lines long, had to express imagery, had to flow easily AND cause the reader to pause to ponder the thoughts the poem was to generate, and we had three months to complete the project.  I admit I struggled and sweated over this project for the entire three months but was never satisfied with the work.  When the due date arrived, I turned in my work and prepared for the red pen to slash my work to pieces.  But when we had all turned in our projects, the teacher asked "How easy was this project?"  I thought she was from Pluto or somewhere equally as distant for asking such a question.  She went on to explain that poetry is not easy even though when we read it, it would seem easy.  Finding just the right words to express the images and thoughts takes a LOT of creativity!   

 

Keeping that in mind, in today's verse the Greek word for "Workmanship" is poiema from which we derive the English word "poem."  Thus, we are God's poem...His masterpiece of creative genius!  Think about this, if you take any single line from a poem, it would make little sense alone, yet when combined with the other lines, the creativity becomes clear.  

 

God is continually adding new lines to our life's poem, showing His creativity and Genius, because WE are HIS masterpiece! 

How Are You Waiting?

Wait patiently for the Lord.
    Be brave and courageous.
    Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

Psalm 27:14 

 

Let me ask you a rather personal question: How good are you at waiting patiently?  Yeah, I'm not good at that either, but I'm learning. I can only speak for me, I am extremely impatient and become frustrated having to wait.  And if you really want to know extended waiting, stand in line at Disney or stand in line at the checkout with 42 registers but only 4 are open or go to the pharmacy to simply pick up your meds and the ONE person in front of you wants to have a stroll down memory lane with the pharmacist. Waiting is NOT easy, but let me give you something to ponder: "Exceptional work is preceded by extended waiting."

 

Think about this, God chose to keep Moses waiting until Moses reached 80 years old before revealing His mission for Moses' life.  Did you catch that? EIGHTY YEARS!!!  I cannot even begin to comprehend waiting that long!

 

What about that little excursion into the Wilderness where Moses led the Israelites to the Land God had promised them?  That little jaunt took 40 years!!  

 

Even David, the beloved of God, had to wait 13 years AFTER he had been anointed as King of Israel before he could actually become the king.  In the meantime, he was chased by King Saul through the desert because Saul was trying to kill David in order to keep him from becoming King of Israel.  David ruled Israel for the best 40 years they had known up to that point.

 

I knew at age 7 that God had called me into ministry.  I waited and waited and waited.  Then I gave up waiting and went my own way for YEARS.  Finally, God got through to me that I was supposed to be waiting for Him to bring my calling to pass.  From the age of 7 until I was ordained at the ripe age of 42 God was working in my life and I didn't even realize it.  Every experience, every rebellion, every heartache, every laugh, every chuckle, every deep darkness, God was using them all to mold me and shape me to be able to walk with people through their lives.  And God made me wait 35 years to be ordained, another year to finish seminary, and another 2 years until He opened the door at the Sheriff's Department.

 

God is the God of patience.  I am glad for that because means He is more than patient with me.  Think about that.

How Is Your Freedom Being Used?

Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. Live as servants of God. 

1 Peter 2:16

 

We love our freedom!  We love being free!  But what do we use our freedoms to do?  We have Freedom of Speech, but how do we use that freedom to build up or tear down?  We have Freedom of Press, but do we use that freedom to print truth or our version of the "truth"?  

 

We have so many freedoms that are afforded to us and two questions must be asked: 

1. Do we truly appreciate the freedoms we have?

2. How are we using our freedoms to help others?

 

Some have taken their freedoms and have used them for their own selfish purposes, we see this every single day.  But those who truly appreciate their freedoms want to use them to help others.  You see, we have the Freedom to reach out to others in need.  We have the Freedom to speak encouragement to others who need to hear it.  We have the Freedom to pray for others, and with them if they wish.  We have the Freedom to worship.  We have the Freedom to make someone else's life a little better.  You have the Freedom to read this and let it sink in or ignore it.

 

How are you enjoying your Freedoms?

 

More Than Expected

If someone compels you to go one mile, go two miles with him.

Matthew 5:41 

 

We like it when we get a little something extra, don't we?  We like it when others go out of their way to do that little extra something to make our encounter special.  When my Bride and I go to Charleston, we always stop my the fudge shops because they go that extra mile by providing samples of their product, and we like that.  As a matter of fact, we will usually stop in and make a purchase because of that encounter.  Just as a little side note, which will get me in trouble later today, we stopped at the fudge shop to purchase some Turtles.  The counter person asked my Bride which Chocolate Turtle she wanted. Without missing a beat, her priceless response was "The BIGGEST one!"

 

Now, let me ask you something...stop groaning,....do YOU go that extra mile to make other people's encounters with you special?  I'm not suggesting you give out free fudge samples unless you want me to become your bestest friend!  But what about making sure their encounter with you is one they will find comfortable, even if the reason for the encounter is unpleasant? 

 

True, going the extra mile can be time consuming and take conscious effort, but so does anything that is worthwhile.  If someone needs to talk with you, do you begin looking at your watch or fidgeting or try to wrap up the conversation after a few minutes or do you take the time to listen to them, perhaps even offering guidance or wisdom?

 

Take time to go that extra mile and you will get to know people in a whole different way, and...they will get to know you as well.

I Don't Need Anyone!

“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

Matthew 6:31-33 

 

We're a stubborn lot, aren't we?  We concern ourselves about so many things that we really shouldn't, but we are determined that no solution will be found without us.  Think for a moment, What is your biggest NEED right now?  Perhaps it's another cup of coffee, or to feel important, or a chance to step back and regroup, or even the need to know that someone cares.  

 

Yet because we are so stubborn, we don't let anyone know what we truly need because that might come across as a sign of weakness.  I'll confess publicly, I have a need to be accepted and loved.  I NEED that!  Does that make me weak?  Nope!  That confession makes me human.  

 

Let me give you a premise:  "If you will let your needs drive you to God, God will meet your deepest needs."  Don't believe me? Do it and see!  Jesus promised, in today's passage, that if we seek the Kingdom of God above all else, God will meet our needs.  And here's the kicker, He will meet them far better than we ever could!

It's A Struggle Sometimes

Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.

John 13:35

 

Have you looked at our society today?  Have you noticed how much anger and bitterness seems to ooze from every word and glance?  Have you heard all the rage being spewed from the mouths of those who manage to get the media's attention?  

 

I can't speak for anyone except me, but I was taught to keep quiet if I had nothing nice or constructive to say. Granted, there have been times I have not lived up to that standard, but I am still trying to adhere to that teaching.  Yet if we look around us today, we hear everything BUT nice things being said....and very loudly too.  Yet Ecclesiastes reminds us that this is nothing new ("There is NOTHING new under the sun")  We seem to relish insulting, bashing and lashing out at anyone and everyone.

 

Now look at Jesus' teaching.  We prove to the world our character by our love or lack of love. What a punch to the chin that was for me when I read that this morning.  We must learn to love each other!  I came across a wonderful quote this morning from that famous philosopher Anon E. Mous: "The best love is the one that makes you a better person without changing you into someone other than yourself."  The best love brings out the best in others!

 

The more I thought about bringing out the best in others, the more I began to understand that it begins with me!  If I am not willing to love others and bring out the best in them, why would they want to do that for me?  Love begins with us! Each of us! Isn't it time to start?