Life Hack #9 - A Miser's Heart

Life Hack #9:

We have seen all kinds of "givers" in this world - some give with a genuine heart; others give with strings attached; still others put on the show of giving, but their heart is definitely not in it. Scripture tells us God loves a cheerful giver - one who has learned to give without strings attached and from a genuine desire to meet the needs of another or to share the blessings of one's own life so another may be blessed. God focuses a great deal on a "genuineness" or "truthfulness" of heart, mind, and soul. Maybe this is because the degree of truthfulness we have in our daily dealings with others is comparable to how well we are being truthful in our relationship with Jesus!

Don’t accept a meal from a tightwad; don’t expect anything special. He’ll be as stingy with you as he is with himself; he’ll say, “Eat! Drink!” but won’t mean a word of it. His miserly serving will turn your stomach when you realize the meal’s a sham. (Proverbs 23:6-8)

We might think of the miserly as "inwardly calculating" individuals. They are always doing the calculation of the costs of all they do and "give". The miser doesn't really "give" - he extends something, but it is not with a genuine desire to either meet your need, nor to bless you from the abundance of his own blessed state. All the world wants to feel love - genuine compassion from another individual, a sense of being valued, and an assurance of acceptance. The miserly individual is incapable of really extending this kind of genuine heart action toward another. Generous individuals are liberal in their giving. There is a freedom in their spirit which allows them to "part with" their time, talent, and treasures without hesitation. 

This is in direct opposition to the spirit of the miserly or stingy. The generous give what is of value to another, while the miserly will consider the value of what he is giving and have a sense of regret in parting with it. When God says he loves a cheerful giver, he is indicating this attitude of heart which enjoys giving something of value to another - whether it is time, talent, or treasure. The generous give of their time - not counting the time as "theirs", but as a means by which they bless the life of another. Their willingness to give of their talents (those things which some might call their "abilities") is without measure - holding nothing back when another has a need. This is the attitude of heart God expects of his children.

The difference between the two really comes down to how closely we hold onto the things, abilities, and time God gives to us. The miserly see all they have as something they have achieved which they see as a means to benefit themselves. The generous see all they have been given as something they can freely use to benefit another. The "liberality" of the giver is reflected in one's ability to truthfully be "openhanded" in their giving. They have the ability to give with an abundance, but they consistently expect it to come back to them. The generous give without expecting it to come back to them. God always blesses them - even though they never gave to be blessed! 

If we find ourselves giving in order to get, we are not truthfully genuine in our giving - we are doing it with strings attached. The joy of God's heart is to give - it is the story of salvation - he gave what no one deserved because he loved us that much. The "story" behind our giving is something which might just reveal either a generous or a miserly heart. When we stop to examine how we "give", we might just be surprised by how frequently we expect something in return. Learning to give with "openhanded" joy is truly something learned as we embrace the spirit of the giver of all good things - God himself. Just sayin!

Life Hack #8 - Faking It

Life Hack #8:

God isn't looking for those who are able to do a good 'pantomime' - improvising through all of life. The goal God has for each of us is to settle into our calling, not having to 'pretend' our way through life. If you have ever heard that adage to 'fake it till you make it', you might just have found yourself believing if you 'faked' something long enough it, you'd eventually realize it. Truth be told, we seldom 'make it' just by 'faking it'. A 'mime' is an imitator, but they aren't really experiencing the 'reality' of the character they are assuming. God is looking at each of us as unique individuals, knowing very well that we might just try to 'imitate' Christ's actions, but not really understand fully the character of Christ that performed those actions.

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. (Ephesians 5:1-2)

What did Paul have in mind when he told the Ephesian church to 'imitate God'? The answer is right there in the passage. We are to live a life filled with genuine love - having Christ as our example. How did he display his love - he offered himself for us. Did Paul intend for us to 'fake it till we make it' where it applies to living this life 'filled with love'? We might not understand fully how much Christ loves us until we meet him at heaven's gates but trust me on this one - his love is expressed to us each and every day in his unending grace. If we extend grace in even the tiniest of measures today, we are 'imitating' the actions of Christ. Grace is unmerited favor - giving another something better than what they deserve. In everything we do, we are to be 'grace-filled'. This is the ultimate expression of love - not the fake kind - but the genuine love of Christ.

As you and I both know, extending grace might just be the hardest thing we can do at times. We might 'pretend' to be grace-filled, but on the inside, we are chatting at the bit. We want to say something that isn't kind. We desire to put that other person in their place. We want to show them just how much they hurt us. I get it - it isn't always easy to be gracious. But...God never asks us to 'pretend' to be gracious - we never 'pantomime' grace. He tells us to continually lean into him, bringing those hurts and cares to him FIRST, then allow him to bring grace to the surface instead of whatever it is that might be our first response to the circumstances. Hard as it might be, grace is bound to surface in place of that response when we actually give the hurt to God right at that moment. A 'mime' is an imitator - nothing is real about what he displays. His main goal is to entertain. God doesn't need 'entertainers' in his kingdom - he needs gracious servants who will do the work of displaying the reality of Christ's grace to a hurting and fallen world. Just sayin!

Life Hack #7 - Hidden Treasure

Life Hack #7:

Riches are elusive - especially when we are pursuing them. Riches seldom fall into our laps, delivered on a silver platter, all nice and neat. We have to pursue, labor, direct our focus, and spend a whole lot of time going after them. Riches are not "prohibited" or "bad" for a Christian, but they are not the end-all - the main pursuit in life. We need to discover where our true riches are and how they are obtained, maintained, and continually refreshed.

Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich; restrain yourself! Riches disappear in the blink of an eye; wealth sprouts wings and flies off into the wild blue yonder. (Proverbs 23:4-5)

Our true riches are not the "things" or "bank balance" we attain, but the richness of God's grace, love, and purpose in our lives. What we often find ourselves doing is pursuing what we "think" will make us happy in some sense, rather than accepting what we can "count on" to fulfill us totally. Once we determine our actions as either "pursuing" or "accepting", we might have a little indicator of what types of riches we are after in this lifetime! Those which elude us need to be pursued - those which are gifted to us need to be accepted.

God's grace and love are "accepted" riches - we "amass" them at the point of our acceptance of the sacrificial death of Christ and the placement of our hope in his finished work on the cross. We "accrue" these riches into our lives the longer we walk with Jesus and learn of him. Today's grace will be built upon tomorrow, and tomorrow's grace will increase even more into infinity. We are not really amassing "more" - just coming to appreciate the significance of his grace and love more fully each day. We are truly receiving, not pursuing, because God pursues US in order to bring us close to him. We just nuzzle up in response to his love and grace - this is what we often refer to as pursuing him.

Earthly treasures are fine - they fulfill a purpose in this life here on earth. Things like food, housing, clothing, and enough money to keep the lights on I am trusting God to provide - giving me good health and the ability to interact with life around me. What I am focused on daily is the purposeful spending of time getting into his Word, allowing it to get into me, and letting his still-small-voice speak into the depths of my spirit. We are unaware of the magnitude of God's riches until we allow him to reveal them to us. God wants us to beware of the "pursuit" of what doesn't really last. In turn, he hopes we will learn the meaning of our true "wealth" or "riches" - Jesus Christ. To be a child of God is to come into the fullness of all the "wealth" of God's Kingdom. Don't live to pursue what really doesn't matter in the end! Just sayin!

Life Hack #6 - But I Want It

Life Hack #6:

Do you ever watch those "do it yourself" remodeling programs? They have so many inspiring ways to do the hard work, often at a fraction of the cost of having someone else do it. I don't tackle many of those projects myself because I don't possess the know-how or muscle, but I time to do them. I "want" the nice back splash, shiny new vanity, and hardwood floors, but I won't be "doing" the work! Do you ever struggle with wanting what the "rich and famous" seem to have at their disposal? Or maybe just seeing someone who seems to have a little better home, car, or wardrobe than you do? You get all these ideas in your head about how "nice" all their "amenities" are, and you forget how absolutely blessed you already are! "Life Hack #6" is to be content with what we have so much of already.

When you go out to dinner with an influential person, mind your manners: Don’t gobble your food, don’t talk with your mouth full. And don’t stuff yourself; bridle your appetite. (Proverbs 23:1-3)

Do not desire what others of "fortune" or "position" or "fame" possess, because these "things" are often quite deceptive. Even the neighbor next door who does a little better than we do with income, is able to amass a few more "toys" in their garage and is able to set off on ventures here and there - they may be someone we come to envy. Why is we struggle when we see what others have, lured in by the deception of "having"? It might just link back to the first sin recorded - the eyes being a window where we "take in" and then begin to consider what it is that has been declared to be out of reach for us right now. Seeing is the beginning of wanting - when we dwell upon what it is we have seen, we begin to form a desire to obtain what it is we have seen.

The eyes behold - the mind begins to unfold the possibilities - the heart directs the hands to reach out in order to take hold. We are not to crave the delicacies set out by the "rich" or "famous". The reason is that what is set out before us is deceptive - there is no real knowledge of how much bondage has occurred in order to actually provide obtain those things! Kings used to overtake other nations, placing their people into captivity - making them work their lands and ranches for the benefit of the conquering king's coffers and storehouses. The king's profit came at the back-breaking labor of those he put into captivity - bondage for them meant increasing benefit for him. To desire what brings bondage is not something we want to be engaged in, is it?

Our eyes "see" a great deal - but not all we see is meant to become ours in the end. We need wisdom in discerning those things which might bring bondage into our lives - bondage of any sort can be introduced by little more than considering with the "eye" what may look nice but be declared as "off limits" for us right now. Be very, very careful with what you see and then pursue without really thinking about it. The wisest thing we can do is 'consider' those things at the foot of the cross - then leave behind what God has not planned for us to 'have' at this moment - remembering all we have been given in the 'right now'. Just sayin!

Life Hack #5 - Get Busy

Life Hack #5:

Skill is the ability, coming from one's knowledge, practice, and aptitude, to do something well - even to the point of excelling at whatever it is you are called to do. There is a sense of confidence as the tasks are performed - ability revealed in complete dexterity to perform the functions required. Skill might be a learned thing - but it could be an innate aptitude to "just do it" - their aptitude revealing their ability consistently. You've heard it said, "maybe they are born with it", but some have to work quite hard to develop the same level of skill that the individual with "innate aptitude" just seems to slip right into. The skilled worker is in high demand - because they can be counted on to perform at a consistent level of "output". As scripture puts it, "they will serve before kings" - because the best of talent rises to the top, doesn't it?

Observe people who are good at their work—skilled workers are always in demand and admired; they don’t take a backseat to anyone. (Proverbs 22:29)

We need to take notice of those who possess "skill" for the work they are called to perform - for we can learn much from them if we will just begin to see their 'talent' through eyes willing to learn from what we observe. Did you know that the original meaning of "skilled" was actually one who exhibited understanding or discernment? When we are observing someone who has "understanding" of a task at hand, we are able to see how they process the "pieces" of the task and handle them with such ease. In learning from their "understanding" of the task - the things they discern about the phases of that task - we can learn to undertake similar tasks, as well.

There is an opportunity to serve afforded to each of us, but we need to develop our understanding and discernment of the tasks ahead of us. As we serve the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, we want to keep in mind his overriding authority in our lives. We don't serve just because we "have" to, but because it is an honor to use our skill for his glory. The "reason" for our service is not to bring glory to ourselves, but to give all glory to the one who gives us the ability to perform these tasks in the first place. Where we choose to serve makes a huge difference. It is a tremendous thing to be in a position to use what God has given you to the fullest ability each and every day. 

When I come across an individual who says they have "no skill" or "aptitude" - maybe they call it not having any "talent" - I know this is not possible because each of us is created with an aptitude of some sort, we often just haven't tapped into it yet! We need to ask God to reveal to us what it is we have a "bent" toward - this is often the beginning of the revelation of what our "skill set" might just be. If we want to serve and serve well, we need to know what "skills" we can best bring to the table, don't we? God's word reminds us that we "have not because we ask not". We lack wisdom of our aptitude because we don't ask him to reveal it to us. When we finally ask, he is faithful to reveal. Just sayin!

Life Hack #4 - Within or Without

Life Hack #4:

Keep those boundaries - but you have to know them before you can keep them! Boundaries are really nothing more than a dividing line. We have all kinds of "dividing lines" in life, don't we? Some are quite real - like those drawn for the purposes of playing a sport on the field. Others are set up in our minds - not specifically clear to others, but definitely clear to us. The problem comes when someone wants to move one of those boundaries - stretching it or reducing it in some manner. We feel a little threatened, challenged, or overcome by this attempt to move the "markers", don't we? 

Don’t stealthily move back the boundary lines staked out long ago by your ancestors. (Proverbs 22:28)

In Old Testament times, they did not have surveyors with highly technical laser point imaging tools to assist in laying out boundary lines. They'd use landmarks or "markers" of sorts to indicate a boundary. They'd say the boundary limit was the mountain range to the east or the river to the west. If they had no such "visible" limit, they'd set up some kind of pile of stones or pillar. That "pile" would stand as a marker to indicate the point of boundary. 

There are also boundary lines of different sorts which we often refer to as rules or commandments. The Ten Commandments were given as "protective boundaries" in our lives. They were never meant to be "laborious" or "impossible" to keep but were designed to assist us in remaining in a place of safety - spiritually, physically, emotionally, and 'relationally'. This is all that God's "rules" really are anyway - like guardrails on a winding highway, they keep us safe from going over the edge!

One thing is certain - boundaries are not to be moved! We cannot dispute the "ownership" of a particular piece of property because the boundary lines establish that ownership. The boundary lines we choose to live within in our own lives often show who has been declared the "owner" of our lives! Live within God's boundaries and we are showing he is the owner of our life. Choose to constantly be moving those boundary lines and we reveal the ownership is really ours and not his. This doesn't seem very significant, but we often move boundaries little by little, almost as though we'd hope nobody would notice them being moved. In truth, God catches each subtle movement of the boundaries, and he is grieved when we push them away, or even "fudge the line" a little.

Learning to trust the boundaries God establishes for our lives is part of growing up in Jesus. Trusting him enough to stay within those established boundaries is a matter of maturity - not moving those lines is a matter of obedience. Boundaries established early in our walk with Jesus are not meant to be moved later on - they may become clearer as we walk with him, but once established, they are to be honored. Just sayin!

Life Hack #3 - A Real Windfall

Life Hack #3:

Forbes magazine published an article November 28, 2012, entitled "Why Winning Powerball Won't Make You Happy" written by Susan Adams. Citing multiple studies which point out the IMMEDIATE high or exuberance of winning, but then focus on the quick return to a low point within just a short point in time, she concludes: "While winning the lottery can make a difference, it won't affect the other conditions of your life". We can "bet" on the one-time windfall, or we can count on the certainty of what God provides with consistency. The choice seems pretty simple to me, but obviously there are a whole lot of others who actually don't believe this!

Don’t gamble on the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, hocking your house against a lucky chance. The time will come when you have to pay up; you’ll be left with nothing but the shirt on your back. (Proverbs 22:26-27)

"Life Hack #3" looks at where it is we determine our "windfall" or "riches" to rest - in the 'windfall' or in the 'consistency'. Life's joy isn't in the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. The "lucky chance" many take will do little more than make them more than financially broke in the end. Gambling seems like a pretty risky business to me. My mother used to say to me, "My poor wee lassie". My response to mom each and every time she says this to me: "I no so poor". Yep, the grammar is wrong, but you get the point. I am not poor in any respect - in fact, I am as rich as I can be, blessed beyond measure in Christ Jesus - even when things may not be "quite right" in my life. A lot of us determine our disposition in life based on the circumstances we are dealt. Look at the one who carries us through those circumstances, not at the circumstances themselves!

If we look at wealth to give us a sense of "worth" in life, we will always be chasing an elusive dream, for today's "wealth" will not keep up with tomorrow's demands. If we look at "image" to give us a sense of worth in life, we will be chasing a pretty unmanageable dream, for our "image" will fade in time, no matter how much plastic surgery we have done! God's direction to us is to look to him to give us our sense of worth - for this is truthfully the only thing which "imputes" value into our lives. We could hold out for the windfall at the end of the rainbow, but I would rather have my value determined today, not some day down the road when I "hit it big". I don't think there is anything "bigger" to "hit" than being redeemed by the grace of God from a life lived without him for all of eternity!

Keeping our focus on the "what if" of tomorrow will not benefit us any today. In fact, it serves to do nothing more than make us yearn for what we don't have and what we will be unlikely to ever achieve. Rather than focus on the "what if" of tomorrow, we would do well to focus on the "what is" of today. We have been granted so much in Christ Jesus - it will take us a lifetime to actually realize the significance of the TRUE and lasting "windfall" we have in HIM! Just sayin!

Life Hack #2 - Choose Your Company

Life Hack #2:

Embrace these life hacks, and it may be safe to say our foundation will be one of trust - not in ourselves, but in God himself. They help to hold us accountable for our actions and attitudes. The company we keep, as well as the company we don't keep, makes a huge difference in the choices we make in life. "Life Hack #1" dealt with our attitude toward the 'poor and needy' - how we interact within the "boundaries" of Christian love or not. "Life Hack #2" focuses on those we associate with the most. Why is this important? Wrong relationships are as dangerous as wind is to fire. Pick the wrong ones to engage with and you will find your world set on fire, but not a fire you can control!

Don’t hang out with angry people; don’t keep company with hotheads. Bad temper is contagious—don’t get infected. (Proverbs 22:24-25)

Angry people make life miserable for others, don't they? Anger is an emotion with overwhelming potential to destroy both in word and deed. Words spoken in haste, without forethought, aimed at hurting another will leave lasting scars. Words spoken in a rage of anger, not really aimed at anyone, but spoken nonetheless, have just as much potential to leave scars because we never know who will latch onto them and take them as a "truth" they will hold onto about themselves, their work, or their abilities. The emotion of anger is more than a simple "feeling" - it may include an outburst, or vindictive twist. It is not always measurable, nor is it quickly identified before it has a chance to affect those in its path.

If you have ever been around testy people, you might have recognized how easily you were caught up into the "testy" attitude. It was probably because it made you a little uneasy to be around them. Be around it long enough and it may become you agreeing more and more with the things which set them off. Bad attitudes have a tendency to rub off onto others - infecting them with their poison. This is the reason we are warned to avoid hanging out (keeping regular company) with those who have an issue with anger and the resulting outbursts. Unfortunately, anger turns us inward, but it directs its "flow" outward. Anger is often a result of perceiving your rights have been violated - someone has not respected your space, they've invaded your "territory". 

You may begin to feel like people take you for granted - not appreciating you. You have turned inward - it is all about you. In time, you might even begin to express this feeling of being taken for granted in short jabs toward another, rehearsing the times they have done you wrong, and even taking shots with sarcasm. Little by little, you begin to nurse your feelings of being wronged. In time, these feelings (validated by your own rehearsal of events) take on a life of their own - expressed often in outbursts (turning outward). From mothers everywhere: "Don't hang out with the wrong crowd - they will corrupt good morals!" Anger has so much volatility associated with it, so it becomes a destructive emotion almost without warning. Associating with those who are given to such volatility is dangerous ground to trod. 

If you don't end up injured yourself, you will eventually become what you associate with! Then you will be the one so inwardly focused that all your outward actions are harsh, brutally unkind, and just plain miserable to be around. Emotions are real - we cannot deny them. We need to "hang with" those who will help us to reveal our emotions in reasonable, upright, and consistent ways. Those we choose as our closest relationships - those we "frequent" most often - will go a long way in helping us develop reasonableness in our emotions. Hotheads need to realize how they drive those away who may have their greatest potential to change their life. Just sayin!

Life Hack #1 - Meet the Need

Life Hack #1:

Listen carefully to my wisdom; take to heart what I can teach you. You’ll treasure its sweetness deep within; you’ll give it bold expression in your speech. To make sure your foundation is trust in God, I’m laying it all out right now just for you. I’m giving you thirty sterling principles—tested guidelines to live by. Believe me—these are truths that work, and will keep you accountable to those who sent you. (Proverbs 22:17-21) 

The intention of learning these "Life Hacks" is that we make sure our foundation is a solid, committed trust in God. As you may have read, these "Life Hacks" actually will provide a foundation by which we will be held accountable for our actions. Uh oh, gone to meddling now! Scripture reminds us, "Don’t walk on the poor just because they’re poor, and don’t use your position to crush the weak, because God will come to their defense; the life you took, he’ll take from you and give back to them."  (Proverbs 22:22-23 MSG)

Our first "Life Hack" deals with the "poor" and the "weak" and our attitude toward them. God is asking us to examine our heart attitude - how we see ourselves in comparison to others and how we use that perception to either meet or ignore the needs of those around us. God's command to us is to love him first, then to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. How we view another in "comparison" to how we view ourselves can tell us a lot about our attitude of heart. If we see ourselves as more fortunate, better positioned, or even "above" another, we might just have some work which needs to be done in our hearts. No man or woman created by our heavenly Father has any better or worse "position" in God's eyes. We are all his creation - we all have needs - our needs just differ. To judge another by their "position" or their intensity of "need" is just not what God wanted any of us to do. Rather, he wants us to be sensitive to the needs of others - regardless of their "status" in this life.

We have an opportunity to meet that need, and in so doing, we are serving that individual as Christ would expect us to. When that need is outside of our ability to meet in the material, physical, or emotional sense, then we still have an opportunity and obligation to bring that need before the throne of God. There are varying degrees of being "poor" or "weak". Being "poor" simply means we are lacking in something we have need of - it could be material (such as finances), physical (such as a place to live), emotional (such as a friend to walk alongside us), or even spiritual (such as when we just need someone to help us connect with God on a matter). As scripture reminds us, to ignore the needs of anyone who has a "lack of what is needed" is to "walk on them". When we walk on another, we are treating them as though their need is beneath us - not important to us or to the Christian community at large.

We all have varying degrees of weakness - no one is entirely strong. We have an obligation to understand the areas of weakness another may struggle with in life - for only then may we step up to be an encouragement and a lifeline for their healing and recovery - spiritually, emotionally, or physically. We have "poor" and "weak" all around us and at times, the finger points back at us. Our attitude of heart is manifest in how well we interpret the need and our responsiveness to meet that need with whatever is within our ability. We are at least under an obligation to bring the need before God for his intervention. "Life Hack #1" deals with the sense of "community" we all need to build - not ignoring anyone within our influence. If we maintain a heart ready to reach out to those in need or just simply weak in some respect, we are standing ready to serve as Christ's ambassadors. This indeed is what will thrill the heart of God. Just sayin!

What are you waiting for?

And that’s the way it was with us before Christ came. We were like children; we were slaves to the basic spiritual principles of this world. But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir. (Galatians 4:3-7)

Made an heir - though a part of a different family (the family of sin), no better than common slaves, now adopted (into the family of God) - now heir to all that belongs to a member of the 'royal line'. Slaves don't possess much - most of the time they only have the clothes on their back. What is the greatest thing you possess as a child of God? Is it your 'fire insurance' - knowing you won't burn in the Lake of Fire come Judgment Day? Is it your 'abounding peace' - having no sense of peace and knowing only utter chaos in your life before you said a loud 'yes' to Jesus? Is it your healed and whole emotions - having lived with all manner of emotional imbalance before you invited Christ to bring balance? Regardless of what you consider to be your 'greatest' possession today, there are far greater gifts that abound for those who have been adopted into the family of God!

When my father was alive, I could call out 'Dad' and he'd immediately respond. Either he'd come my way or call back to see what I needed. He was a faithful father, always there for me, never abandoning me no matter what foolishness I got myself into. If we could know the love of our earthly fathers so deeply and profoundly, is it possible that I could know the love of our heavenly Father even more so? Yes, it is - because we have been given the means by which to come to know him even better. We have been brought near by the finished work of his Son on the cross. We have been kept near by the work of grace in our lives. We have been tutored by the Holy Spirit, to know how our heavenly Father moves and how he responds to our cries. We have been provided his Word, to bolster us when times are harder than we might like, and to present truth where we have been buying into any form of lie in our lives. Truly, we have 'much more' to look forward to in Christ Jesus - as a member of the 'royal family'.

Goodness knows we all needed a change of 'venue' in our lives - we were just barely touching the surface of what God created us for before we asked Christ to lead our lives. We might not have realized just how 'impoverished' we were before we submitted our lives to him, but all the wealth of the world does not compare to the vastness of the riches we can and will experience in Christ Jesus. If you find yourself trusting in your 'earthly family riches' today, not having experienced the riches of your 'heavenly family', it isn't too late. The way has already been provided in Christ Jesus - all you need to do is tell him you want to be part of this great big family. You will be welcomed in as an heir of promise - so what are you waiting for? Just askin...

Just a candle...

The earth has grown old with its burden of care, but at Christmas it always is young, the heart of the jewel burns lustrous and fair, and its soul full of music breaks the air, when the song of angels is sung. (Phillips Brooks)

Most of us have all sung some form of Christmas carol at one time or another. It doesn't matter that it was or wasn't in tune, we sang out. Why? There was something about that time of year that made your heart burst into song. Jingle Bells, Noel, or O Come All Ye Faithful - the songs burst forth. We hear them on all the overhead PA systems in malls, grocery stores, and on the radio while we travel here and there. Did you know that singing praises is an expression of joy? It is the expression of the heart to God. With that in mind, let those songs rip!

But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread your protection over them, that all who love your name may be filled with joy. For you bless the godly, O Lord; you surround them with your shield of love. (Psalm 5:11-12)

When we have taken refuge in Christ, the natural outcome is to give praise. Don't stifle it - let it out! As God spreads his protection over us, our soul begins to feel a song rising within. There is something about feeling 'well and protected' that brings a sense of contentment and peace over our lives. Do you know what contentment and a sense of wellness does? It makes us want to express gratitude - psalms and songs of praise are nothing more than an expression of the heart revealing the immense gratitude we have within.

During this season of Christmas, let us not stifle God's praises. Worship him in spirit and in truth. Let your inner man loose - let those hymns, songs, and psalms rise. Carol on! Have you ever really listened to some of the words of those carols? I came across one the other day that touched my heart. So, as we end today, I will include the lyrics for you to consider. A candle - God's perfect light - know the riches you have this season! Enjoy!

A Candle in The Window: https://tinyurl.com/lrwsqfh

There's a road that I remember leading to a special place
Where the door was always open to a smiling face
There's a picture on the mantle of a boy that looks like me
It's always the same, there's a stocking with my name
And a candle in the window, a flame against the night
There's a candle in the window, it's like God's perfect light
It don't take a lot of money to know what riches are
Just a candle in the window

Maybe it's just wishful thinking I can hear the sleigh bells ring
Almost taste the pie she's baking, it's Christmas Eve

And there's a candle in the window, a flame against the night
The candle in the window, it's like God's perfect light
It don't take a lot of money to know what riches are
Just a candle in the window and Christmas in your heart

Wherever the years may take me no matter how far I go
There's going to be a candle burning, it's always nice to know
It don't take a lot of money to know what riches are
Just a candle in the window and Christmas in your heart

As what her usual custom...

"Some things are so unexpected that no one is prepared for them." (Leo Rosten)

How is it we can have something so plainly before us and totally miss it? We aren't really looking? We aren't really interested? We think it couldn't be? We oftentimes 'miss' what God puts right before us. The woman at the well was there to draw water - do you think she was looking for the Messiah as she went to the well? Not likely - in fact, the Samaritan woman would have been condemned if her peers had of seen her actually talking with a Jewish man. We might not always see, but God can open our eyes so that we can comprehend what it is we are missing!

Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus told her, “I am the Messiah!” (John 4:21-26)

When he comes...

She didn't recognize him as the Messiah, but somehow, she knew there would be a Messiah from among the Jewish nation. Was she looking for him to come? She knew he would 'bring answers' - explaining things in a way so she could understand them - but was she really 'seeking' him? No one really knows, but she must have had at least a bit of faith to speak those words so clearly, suggesting she trusted that the Messiah would come.

What is it you are trusting God for today? Are you really looking for his intervention, or just 'hoping for' something to be 'different'? We can be 'hoping' for a long time if we are never really looking along with that hope. Seeking is part of faith - it isn't that we just believe something will happen - it is that we go about doing whatever God asks of us while we await that which is about to happen. 

She went to the well - drawing her water for the day. She made the journey, knowing it was her 'usual custom' to do so. Did she expect to meet the Messiah there? No, but she knew he was coming. She went about what she knew to do, all the while trusting in the hope of his coming. Perhaps what we need most is not more 'hope', but to just trust while we are going about our 'usual custom' of whatever it is God has tasked us to do. Just sayin!

What flows from your heart?

We ought to do good to others as simply as a horse runs, or a bee makes honey, or a vine bears grapes season after season without thinking of the grapes it has borne. (Marcus Aurelius)

What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” (James 2:14-18)

Do good - for faith is manifested in the goodness produced without thinking - all because the heart is so in touch with God that goodness just flows from it. Actions speak louder than words, but actions alone are not enough. The spirit bears witness to the actions as much as the actions bear witness to the condition of the heart! God expects us to keep our heart in the very best of condition so that goodness is the natural outflow.

You see those little reminders on bumper stickers from time to time that challenge us to practice 'random acts of kindness'. You hear of the person at the coffee shop paying for the person's order behind them, or the customer adding a hundred-dollar tip to the five-dollar coffee and pie they enjoyed. Yes, these are perhaps 'random acts of kindness', but could it be that someone is so in tune with the goodness of God that their heart just overflows with that goodness to others? Perhaps, but not always. It is possible to 'practice random acts' such as these without ever knowing or trusting in God.

It may come as a surprise to some that good deeds don't always mean someone has said 'yes' to Jesus. It just means they chose to think of someone other than themselves for a moment. When God is at the center of one's life, ALL that flows from that life is bathed in God's goodness. Mercy and kindness are byproducts of having experienced God's grace. The heart is transformed and what flows from the heart is genuine and consistent. I see many a Christian beating themselves up because they don't feel they are living as well as God wants them to. Just know this - live for God, not for man. What flows from that is bound to be good. Just sayin!

Time to move in

"A good conscience is a continual Christmas." (Benjamin Franklin) 

How does one keep a good or 'clear' conscience? Quite simply: "By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us." (I John 3:19-24) When scripture speaks of the heart 'condemning us', it is speaking of the action of the conscience. Abiding in Christ Jesus is the very best way to keep a clear conscience. So, perhaps the better question to ask is how it is we learn to 'abide' in Christ Jesus?

Abiding means more than having a casual relationship with Christ - that is religion. Going to church once a week, saying a prayer before meals, and owning a Bible doesn't make for a relationship - it makes for the 'appearance' of being a Christian. To discover what the Bible teaches, then putting those things into action, adjusting our behavior when prompted to do so by the Spirit within - these are signs that we are learning to 'abide' in Christ. 

Abiding also involves not wandering in the waiting. Abiding means we are sustained IN the waiting. I cannot tell you how much difficulty I have in waiting for something to happen when everything inside of me wants to just see some 'action' occurring. When we learn to abide in Christ Jesus, we are also learning to abide inside his timing and his methods. We don't choose the moment he will act - he does. We don't choose the way he will move - he does. We learn to trust both the timing and the methodology he will use to accomplish his purposes. How on earth do we do that?

The most important part of 'abiding in' Christ is to just learn to 'settle into' him. We don't buy a house, get the title in hand, and then walk away from it. We move into it, get 'settled into' it, and we abide there. We need to 'move into' Christ - by taking time to get to know his Word (the Bible), listening to his voice (through song, good teaching, things that catch our attention in scripture), and talking with him (not through 'canned prayers', but with an open heart that shares hurts, hang-ups, and happy things). The more we 'move into' Christ, the more we will sense he 'abides' within. Just sayin!

Do you believe?

“I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26)

Do you believe this? That is a very telling question, for all else in our life hinges on the answer. Anyone who believes - is that you? Do you believe that Jesus is the resurrection and the life? Do you believe he made a way for you to be reconciled to God? Do you accept this free gift? These are the questions we must answer - if not today, then when?

First, we believe in his finished work on the Cross - then we live in him. What does that mean? We don't become puppets in his hand, but we do relinquish the right to live in control of our lives. We willingly lay down our control and allow him to take the reins. The free gift opens the way for us to live free of things we don't even know have us bound. So many claim they have no need of a Savior because they have lived 'good lives'. Is it possible to be 'good enough' to be reconciled to God apart from the work Christ has done on our behalf?

The answer is an absolute 'no' - nothing we can 'do' will ever reconcile us to God. We would have to be 'doing' and 'doing' all the time - yet never really achieving the end goal. The moment we stop 'doing' and begin 'trusting' is the moment of transition. We ask Christ to enter into our lives and do you know what he does? He gives us immeasurable peace, eternal hope, and freedom from having to always be 'doing' in order to be 'right'.

I am the resurrection - life is possible only through the one who has conquered death. I am the life - life is empty when we attempt to fill the space within our spirit that belongs to him alone. Anyone - that means all who will believe - will live - even after dying. Eternal life is guaranteed to all of us - either alongside Christ in the heavenly realms, or alongside Satan and his renegade band of demons in hell. I think I will choose the heavenly realms. How about you? Just askin...

Put Christ First TODAY

Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment. (Proverbs 4:7)

"Choose your friends with caution; plan your future with purpose and frame your life with faith." (Thomas S. Monson) No truer words have been spoken - all these choices matter so greatly, don't they? Wisdom eludes many of our decisions throughout our lifetime, leaving us a bit more disappointed in the outcome than we'd have hoped. Choose wisely and the outcome brings us cheer. Make an unwise choice in friendships, or our future plans, and the end result will surely leave us wanting. Choose to put God first in our lives and the choices we make in the other two area are sure to be better than if we'd made them on our own!

How do we consistently make wise choices? The answer is really quite simple - we choose Christ first above all else. Why does this ensure consistently wise choices? Christ IS wisdom - he embodies all wisdom, so choosing him means we actually 'tap into' wisdom's source! You have probably grown tired of me stressing 'Christ first' in your life, but there really is no other 'wise' choice. The more we plan for the future without putting Christ first in those plans, the more those plans are bound to have unforeseen consequences, unexpected expenses, and disappointing outcomes.

Develop a life of faith - above all else. The rest just falls into place somehow. We don't understand how Christ brings clarity where there has been so much chaos, but he does. We don't always appreciate how or when he moves, but he always orchestrates things. The important thing is to place our trust in his plans and purposes for our lives - then walk in the wisdom he gives each and every day, so we are making the right choice for that day. I think we want to plan our choices way out into the future, but Christ asks us to choose him TODAY, make choices in his wisdom TODAY, and plan TODAY for what may add to our tomorrows. 

We get the cart before the horse many times and wonder why the pieces seem to not be working well. Today is all we are assured - so live it well. Be wise in today's choices, knowing God holds the future plans in his hands. The 'purpose' in our future is made up of the 'purpose' of our TODAY. If our purpose TODAY is Christ first in all we do, we are making wise choices. If Christ first in our relationships is the means by which we relate to one another, then TODAY'S relationships will make for stronger ones tomorrow! Just sayin!

It isn't gift wrapped, but it is a good gift!

"Christmas is the spirit of giving without a thought of getting. It is happiness because we see joy in people. It is forgetting self and finding time for others. It is discarding the meaningless and stressing the true values." (Thomas S. Monson) What stress are you under right now just because of 'holiday prep'? So many times, we spend far more time 'prepping' for the meals, gift-giving, and decorating that we forget to spend a little more time with each other just enjoying the time. The true value of Christmas is not in the 'prepping', but in the 'spending' - spending time with those we love.

When the people cry to the Lord for help against those who oppress them, he will send them a savior who will rescue them. (Isaiah 19:20)

Some may even feel as though Christmas is not a very big deal. It is a time for good food, some entertainment, and a load of gift-wrapping being undone in an instant. They miss the meaning of the moment. The gift given all those many years ago isn't appreciated as the 'greatest gift' of all. Jesus hasn't even been invited to their table for the holiday feast. Sadly, many will go through the motions of Christmas and not experience the real purpose of Christmas - the gift of a Savior for all mankind.

This kind of 'celebration' is memorable, for sure, but it is just a bit 'emptier' than God desires. All stand in need of a Savior - even those who don't realize their need quite yet. Let this be the season of gift-giving in your homes - share the gift of Jesus with someone who might not even know to 'cry out' for a Savior yet. Share more than the wrapped packages - share yourself. Let them see Jesus in you in acts of service and kindness. Share yourself with others this season and in so doing, you are likely to be sharing just a bit more of Jesus than you realize. Just sayin!

No crash and burn here

Why do some flourish in times of trial, while others just barely eek by and often have a harder time due to the increased pressure? If faith plays a part in "holding up" and "conquering", then what part does it play? The condition of their spirits matters - when the spirit is 'healthy', it is easier to conquer adversity. A crushed spirit will get us down quicker than anything else!

A healthy spirit conquers adversity, but what can you do when the spirit is crushed? (Proverbs 18:14)

The spirit of man animates him - it gives us the connection we need for life itself. There is a connection with the source of all life - God himself. When the spirit is well, the entire man is well - regardless of the circumstances coming our way. Consider the three parts of man - body, soul, and spirit. The body is made up of all we consider as being in contact with the environment around us - it is what we use to experience the sensations of sight, touch, sound, etc. We interact with our environment in and through our body. 

The soul is made up of our mind, will, emotions - the things which help us to interact with reason, rational thought, choice, and responsiveness. It is the place of our remembrances - where we lay up memories and recall them from time to time. The spirit actually "plays off of" the other two parts of our being. We take in things by various interactions and form some kind of thought about the event. If you have ever sat in the midst of the forest, listening to the sounds of the wind in the trees, observing the scurrying critters, and taking in the majesty of it all, you might have been elevated to a place of worship in your spirit. Your 'body' was interacting with your 'spirit'.

Spirit elevates us - it brings us to new heights, taking us to new depths, and helps us to hold on when the climb seems way too hard. The spirit is what helps us stabilize in times of trial and keeps us on course in times of temptation. The spirit is a rudder directing us toward the good things God has for us to experience in life - even if they are buried deep within times of trial! A ship's rudder is small, but it directs the biggest ship with the greatest of ease - simply because it operates to do only one thing - to point or position the ship in the direction the ship is to be headed. 

Our spirit helps to point us in the direction we are to be headed. As we commune with God in spirit, we get direction that our emotions, reason, or rational thought cannot provide. They can suggest certain responses, but our spirit is where we find the assurance of faith and hope - something which keeps us going even when it gets tough. A crushed spirit is something we cannot endure very long - for it robs us of hope, diminishes all steps we might normally take in faith, and steers us in directions we'd normally not travel. This is why it is so important to continually allow our spirit to be renewed - in times of prayer, praise, worship, and thanksgiving. As we commune with God, we renew our spirit. It is raised again into places of hope and faith - re-energized for the journey ahead. Move from periodic renewal to a constant "recharge" of your spirit! You might just avoid the crash and burn of a crushed spirit! Just sayin!

I messed up

Thomas Jefferson lived by one principle: "Whenever you do a thing, act as if all the world were watching." While it isn't a direct quote from the Bible, the principle sure is! All the world watches to see how the children of God will respond in times of need, crisis, and even peaceful repose. Why? They want to know if you will handle life differently because Jesus dwells within you.

Intelligent people are always ready to learn. Their ears are open for knowledge. (Proverbs 18:15)

Robert Half reminds us, "When one teaches, two learn." For me to teach anything, share any of the truths God has revealed to me, I have to learn them first. Do I learn them all fully before I share them? No, but when truth becomes alive to me, you bet I am going to share it! Be ready to learn, no matter the day or the hour. This is how I operate - when God speaks, I want to be ready to listen. How about you?

Do some of God's teachings come at a time when I am busy with other stuff? Yes, and if I don't slow down long enough to acknowledge it, I will lose it. If we go through life at a break-neck speed, we might miss more than one lesson God is teaching. We may not see the example set for us in another's actions. Are the greatest lessons always taught from the pulpit? Not hardly! Some of the hardest, but most profound lessons are learned at the moment we make the dumbest mistakes.

Remember: The 'teachable' do a whole lot of 'teaching'. What do others 'learn' from you? Do they learn of the faithfulness of grace? Do they see the wisdom of humility? Do they understand the importance of confession? These are truthfully what I would label as everyday kind of lessons. As we stumble through our day, we might find there are times to admit we didn't do things very well. Do we just do that silently, afraid someone might think poorly of us if we were to share it with another? They already saw us mess up - why not also let them see how a righteous man or woman deals with that 'mess up' in a godly manner? Just askin...

Just a cry away

All he does is just and good, and all his commandments are trustworthy. They are forever true, to be obeyed faithfully and with integrity. He has paid a full ransom for his people. He has guaranteed his covenant with them forever. What a holy, awe-inspiring name he has! Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom. (Psalm 111:7-10)

All he does is just and good - he is to be trusted. All his commandments are 'trustworthy' - his justice and goodness makes a solid basis for all truth contained within them. Our part - obedience. Somehow, I think we got the hard part! Faithful obedience - actions taken with utmost integrity - we just don't hit the mark on that one all of the time. Sometimes we just want to take an action because it makes us feel good, while at other times we want to take it because something made us feel bad!

We may not always feel like the most 'obedient' creatures on this planet, but if Christ is at work in your heart, you are on the right path! Obedience is not just a one-time deal. It is you and I continually making the right choices - even when we don't feel like it. Because of God's goodness, he has provided all we need for right-living in Christ Jesus. We may not always choose to live right, but with Jesus at the helm, corrective action is about to occur!

If we struggle with bad choices, even after asking Jesus into our lives, we aren't struggling alone. Each of us has our own struggles, but none of us is without the means by which to move beyond them. That means is Christ - his Spirit resident within us, urging us onward, giving us the desire to get up and move on. Obedience is oftentimes viewed as us trying something on our own, failing pretty badly, then turning to Jesus for his help. Wouldn't it be nice if we turned this around, missing that 'failing pretty badly' part all together?

Oftentimes obedience is just a cry away. We forget just how much God has invested in our success! He doesn't want us to fail in the area of obedience - he wants us to grow in the knowledge of his grace, but he also wants us to grow in the knowledge of his power within. We might just have to learn to trust that small voice within that urges us toward obedience. Remember, obedience is not as a result of a master's whip across our back, but rather a 'lover's' call to come closer. Just sayin!

Just pondering

How amazing are the deeds of the Lord! All who delight in him should ponder them. Everything he does reveals his glory and majesty. His righteousness never fails. (Psalm 111:2-3)

All who delight in him should ponder his deeds. What does it mean to ponder? To consider something deeply and thoroughly - we get the word meditation from this concept of pondering. Meditation isn't sitting cross-legged and chanting - it is taking time out to just dig a little deeper into the object of your attention. If God is the object right now - you are pondering!

"A season of suffering is a small assignment when compared to the reward. Rather than begrudge your problem, explore it. Ponder it. And most of all, use it. Use it to the glory of God." (Max Lucado) We may not want to admit it, but God can and does use every 'season' of our lives - good, mediocre, or really bad! Ponder these seasons - what is he doing, how are we responding, what might he be teaching us in that moment? We aren't going to grow in Christ if we ever expect to do it without some element of 'pondering' him.

Everything he does reveals his glory - that should resonate in your soul and deep within your spirit. Nothing escapes his use in your life - nothing. The tiniest of issues can reveal the biggest of victories. The greatest of victories can reveal the most hidden of virtues. We need to consider well what he is doing, for in so doing we open ourselves up to the revelation of something we may not have really known about God or ourselves. Pondering is not wasted time - in fact, it is the most beneficial use of time you may ever experience. Just sayin!

That used to be a tight fit

You must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 3:18)

"I do not at all understand the mystery of grace - only that it meets us where we are but does not leave us where it found us." (Anne Lamott) Do you understand grace? I know more about grace each and every day I live - simply because there isn't a moment that goes by where I don't need more of it! Grace isn't always 'understood' as much as it is 'appreciated'. We are wrapped in the healing power of grace, not so we can sin again, but so we can see our sin as forgiven and learn to live without sinning again.

All of this walk with Jesus is one of coming to 'appreciate' the extreme value of the work of grace in our lives. We discover new things about how grace does a work within us every day. We might not 'feel' grace at work but trust me on this one - if you are a child of God, grace isn't finished with you yet! Have you ever worn a garment that felt just a bit too tight, making it hard for you to really be comfortable in it? Then one day, you realize that the garment you had put to the back of your closet because of the discomfort now fits without that binding or uncomfortable feel any longer.

Grace is kind of like that - one day, the sin that so easily tripped us up and got us all in a muddle doesn't hold us captive any longer. What caused us so much discomfort at one time no longer has that same 'binding' power. As long as we attempted to deal with that sin in our own power, we were bound up in it - uncomfortable, ill at ease, and under the pressure of guilt. When grace did its work within us, what once caused us such unnecessary 'pressure' is gone! We know a new level of comfort because we are walking free of the 'extra weight' sin created in our lives. It may not be easy to see grace 'growing' within us, but we can definitely 'feel' the effect of it in the long run. Just sayin!

More than a Girl Scout motto

Prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. (I Peter 1:13-15)

Have you ever sat down, knowing you were about to face a tougher than usual circumstance, just preparing your heart and mind for what is about to happen? If we did this before we took any actions in life, I wonder how much of a difference it would actually make? I know we couldn't just take five before everything we are about to do, but if we prepare our hearts and minds first thing in the day, I wonder if our days would be a little less 'self-controlled' and a little more 'Spirit-controlled'?

Slipping back is easy - actually comprehending the triggers that cause us to slip back is a bit harder. This is where our time with Jesus is so important. We don't always have 'perfect sight' when it comes to the myriad of decisions we are going to make each day, but God does! So, isn't it a bit foolish of us to just march into our day without taking any time out to actually prepare for what lies ahead? 

Two things really 'trigger' grumpiness in me: being tired and hungry. Get food onboard and my attitude brightens. Get the proper amount of rest so my body can be refreshed and I am ready for the day. Eliminate the triggers and the 'slipping' isn't going to occur as easily. These are two very simplified triggers that I mention, but you get the idea. When it comes to the bigger ones, such as what makes me respond in anger, I might just need a little insight outside of my own observations!

I consult with God, of course, but I also listen to what others are telling me. They see my behavior, and observe what leads up to it, so their feedback is critical to me. We may not know what causes us to 'slip back' or 'slip up', but when we have God's perspective, we can formulate a plan - being prepared for the moment that will come. When we have the feedback of faithful friends in this walk, we can take that to God and ask him for his help with what it is they have observed. If we want to walk 'holy' as God is holy, we need to prepare our hearts and minds for the steps we are about to take each and every day. Just sayin!

Racers, start your engines!

Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him. (I Chronicles 16:11)

"Desire is the key to motivation, but it is determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal - a commitment to excellence - that will enable you to attain the success you seek." (Mario Andretti) Imagine a race car driver assuming the position behind the wheel of a highly powered auto, revving the engine several times, buckled in, watching intently for the flag to drop signifying the start of the race. What sense would it make for the driver to rev and rev, then putt-putt away from the starting line, lagging behind all those who are out lapping him? He has all the power he needs - he just doesn't tap into it! He knows the goal is the finish line, but he doesn't seem to be committed to the goal, just the ride. God needs individuals who are more than along for the ride - he needs those who will tap into the power he provides - using it fully to see they cross the finish line. 

Seek him - but when you find him, what will you do with him? What will you allow him to do for you? That racer has sponsors - those who will invest in him time and time again. We have one 'sponsor' - God himself - investing in us time and time again. Never tiring of making that investment - all he asks of us is the commitment to see the race through with all the power he provides. We have strength beyond our means, but will we use it? Whatever you are facing today that seems a bit like it might overwhelm you is kind of like what that race car driver faces when being 'out lapped' by a few cars. He doesn't just allow them to 'out lap' him - he pushes the pedal to the metal and taps into the power of that engine!

Continual seeking means we engage the 'engine' - we do more than 'rev' it a bit. We tap into the power God provides in our seeking and we take the laps with gusto. We may not gain much in one lap, but when we continue to face each lap by tapping into the 'super-powered engine' within us, we soon 'out lap' the doubts, fears, and disappointments of life. We don't know the potential within us, but when we do more than 'play with religion' and actually take on this relationship with gusto, we see that potential released full force! Just sayin!

Bridging the Gap

Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we’re a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth. (Ephesians 1:7-10)

A "direct reason" for something occurring - we need to know this, don't we? In fact, if we were to look at the origin of the word 'because', we find it stems from the term "by cause". "Because" sets out the reason for something occurring - some action happening. "Therefore" refers to some set of facts already established acting as the reason we can move to the next thought or action. These words are rich in meaning, as they give us a point of reference for the "reason" we can believe or act upon what it is we are reading. It would be so much easier for God to say it is "because I said so" - but do we really "get" it? Not usually. We don't understand the "why" yet and we are creatures who need to know the "why"! We need the dots connected - it helps us take steps when we see one action leading to another.

We are declared "free" in many different ways. We are free from condemnation, guilt, our sin, the penalty for our sin, our past, and even the limits of our inabilities. Why is it we live so far "below" our level of freedom? We haven't really thought of the "because" by which our freedom became a reality and how reliable that "because" really is! Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah - blood poured out on the altar of the Cross - we are free people. The "why" behind our freedom - the blood of Christ, shed on our behalf, applied to the Cross at Calvary - the purchase of our freedom from sin and the penalty for that sin. It was by the blood of Christ that our understanding of God's grace was opened - it was the blood that made a way possible for us to share in this understanding.

Adam and Eve only saw the two trees - one of life, the other of good and evil. Which do you imagine Satan wanted them to taste of first? If they tasted of the one called "life" - do you think they'd have been inclined to experience good and evil? Not likely! He presented them with the one that would open their eyes to experimenting with good and evil - knowing full well God would not allow them to experience eternal life without a means of restoring them to their innocence! Freedom was totally compromised that day in the garden - freedom was returned to us that day on Calvary. Freedom was the farthest thing from our reach without the intervention of the Cross. Once the Cross provided the "bridge" for our freedom, we were free to cross over and taste of the tree of life. What we could not experience without the Cross was provided free of charge, unearned by any of our own effort. 

If we could see luscious trees full of ripe fruit on the other side of a ravine, hunger deeply set into the fabric of our being, all while we stand in the barrenness of desert land, would we be prone to use the bridge provided to cross over to the other side? Probably so! Why? It makes sense, it satisfies a need, and we'd be considered silly if we just ignored what was right in front of us. So many of us live in the barrenness of the desert rather than using the bridge provided to cross over to the fullness available in Christ Jesus. It isn't because we are comfortable in our present state - but BECAUSE we haven't trusted the bridge provided for US!

Some of us hesitate to fully cross the bridge between past (bondage) and present (freedom). We are stuck in our ways - settling instead for the barrenness of the desert. We don't make the connection with what God has provided and what it is we so desperately need. BECAUSE you have been born with a sin nature, you need a means by which to "bridge" the gap between your sinfulness and God's righteousness. BECAUSE you have no means by which to bridge this gap yourself, God has provided completely free of charge a means by which the gap can be closed - Jesus. BECAUSE of every action Christ took on our behalf, the way has been provided for our total freedom. BECAUSE of his provision, we are declared free. BECAUSE we take the bridge provided, we ARE free! You and I ARE free - not just walking toward freedom, but totally and completely free. What God has declared to be free is free indeed. Isn't it silly to stay in the barrenness of our bondage when we have been granted so much in Christ Jesus? Just asking!

Shaken to the Core

You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel. Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. (Hebrews 12:24-25)

We can refuse to change our minds - determined that we know what is best for our lives, but when we determine to never allow our hearts to be changed, there is no hope for our minds! The mind change occurs because of the heart change. We may not understand the connection between the two, but it exists. To live a transformed life requires a yielded heart and a mind renewed.

To refuse is to make a determination that we will not accept or do something. We actually demand our own way whenever we refuse. To refuse God's invitation leaves us in a very dangerous place, though. All will be shaken, but will all stand? Only those who have their lives built upon a solid foundation will be unshakeable. Do you have an unshakeable mind and heart? 

"Keep your feet on the ground, but let your heart soar as high as it will. Refuse to be average or to surrender to the chill of your spiritual environment." (Arthur Helps) Is your heart soaring as high as possible? That ability comes only when we give ourselves to Christ. We may think we are 'flying high' above life's miseries and problems but trust me on this one - we don't have any idea how high we can soar until we take wings with Christ at the controls!

Too many times we choose to 'surrender to the chill of our spiritual environment' - allowing our hearts to grow cold and our minds be swayed by the emerging thoughts of the day. Allow Christ to take control of your heart and what will emerge may not be the 'latest trend or fad', but a living hope and some very well-grounded actions. Some believe they will never be shaken, but ALL will be shaken. How will you stand when all around you is shaking? Just asking...

Time to get up

The feelings I get when I see the high mountain ranges—stirrings of desire, longings for the heights—remind me of you, and I’m spoiled for anyone else! Your beauty, within and without, is absolute, dear lover, close companion. (Song of Solomon 7:5-6)

If you have ever been "in love", you might just understand this intense longing just to enjoy the "presence" of the one you love so dearly. When separation occurs - whether by choice or because of something out of your control - the longing builds. What many describe as "stirrings" for the presence of their loved one is really similar to how God feels about each of us - longing to just hold us close, gently stroking our backs with the tenderness of his hand, and then encompassing us with the warmth and protection of his full presence. How long has it been since you have experienced the "stirrings" in your heart for the presence of your "first love" - God himself?

It could be we need to "stir" these feelings back to life, finding they have "waned" a little in intensity. Begin by remembering just how much God loves us and with what intensity he directs his attentive care over our lives. God's words to us: "I am spoiled for anyone else!" In other words, no one else will bring such intensity of response, nor fulfillment to the heart of God other than you! If you have ever been in a relationship with another, you know that this would be the most "ideal" feeling someone could express to you. The thought of no one else being able to fill the place your love fills in their life is almost electrifying, isn't it? Now, transition your thoughts to God - your life, in his hands, electrifies him! He is magnificently touched when we are near.

Take inventory of the things which have gotten in the way of having this intensity of longing for him. The things which separate only serve to build the intensity, not shut down the pursuit. The things which block us from each other, even for a little while, are not going to "stunt" love, but cause love to be magnified and ignited until our desire to be together causes us to get past those blockades. The distracting influences are nothing in comparison to the magnificence of love - don't "settle" for anything less than the presence of God. When we find things or people getting "in the way" of our times with Jesus, it is time to begin to use those things to heighten our awareness of the "lack of his presence" and then to drive us forward from our present position. They will not stop one whose eyes are fixed on Jesus!

Consider where it is we find our passion ignited. Some of the most trying times have fully ignited passion afresh in my life. Times of retreat and refreshing may do the trick. Each of us have different ways we connect with Jesus, but no one way is the "right" way to find this connection and to build upon this intimacy. ANY and ALL avenues which lead us into his arms are pathways toward his grace. Passion grows when the separation occurs - after all, absence is touted as making the heart grow stronger, is it not? We might just want to "capitalize" on those times when we feel the stirrings of "absence" within our hearts - for these tiny stirrings are the very things which will fan into flame the embers of the fullness of love.

We can "settle" for the absence - becoming content to simply remember the good times we experienced at the feet of Jesus. No amount of "remembering" will fan the flames of our first love, though. We have to get up from our places of slumber, points of compromise, and positions of comfort in order to come face-to-face with the one and only love of our lives that will truly satisfy our every longing and stoke the fires of our heart once again. Just sayin!

A bigger hole

Thomas Fuller reminds us: "One that would have the fruit must climb the tree." I would say the one that would have the fruit must first have a good root! Without proper rooting, the tree may grow for a while, but the fruit will be lacking. The tree will not withstand the winds that actually challenge its footing.

And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. (Colossians 2:6-7)

Fuller also reminds us it is possible to miss the mark simply by aiming too high or too low. Where is your aim today? At what (or may I ask at whom) are you aiming? If you are to have deep roots, you must aid them in growth. 

I have planted trees in my hard Arizona soil. Before I could sink those trees deep into the harder soil, they had to take root in rich, easily tended soil. They had to be grown, well-rooted, with roots ready to make their way in this hard soil.

I had to prepare the soil - digging a much bigger hole than the tree roots required right now. Then I added all manner of nutrients and rich mulch to the hole. Why? To give the roots the greatest chance to take hold. 

God does much the same with us. He lets us take root in 'safety' and 'security', then as he 'transplants' us into the place where we will one day flourish and bear fruit, he does so with absolute care to ensure our 'roots' grow deep and our footing is sure.

You may feel like being 'transplanted' is scary, but chances are when God is ready to bring forth great fruit in your life, it will require a 'bigger hole' for those roots to take hold! Just sayin!

Kept in flight

So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet. (James 4:7-10)

Does this sound close to what we are seeing today in our world: Wars, quarrels, wanting our own way, lusting for what we don't have, but probably also don't need? If you said "yes", you are probably observing some of the same things I am. The problem begins with the "war within" each of us - wanting things we really don't need or things which will eventually be our undoing. Life deals us all kinds of options - learning how to sort through those options is imperative to living well. 

Getting so close to the things this world has to offer can actually lead to us straying dangerously close to the line of compromise all the time. As Christians, we are to be controlling the temperature of the culture around us, not being thermometers who just "adjust" to the temperature the culture affords. Are we bringing society into alignment with the principles God desires, or are we adjusting our beliefs, principles, and morals to what society declares to be the "norm" of the day? If we are just adjusting all the time, we end up flirting with the things of this world every chance we get, and this will ultimately end in us being enemies of God. Something I don't think any of us really desires!

How do we accomplish this "living in the world" without becoming just "like the world"? We let God work his will in us. We don't just "give God permission" to work his will in us - we LET him actually do it. We do a lot of giving God permission - as when we pray "change me", "create this or that anew in me", but we also do a whole lot less of the "letting" God do what it is he wants to do in us.

Letting God do his will in our lives is something akin to stepping back, yielding control of the reins, and then allowing the direction of our lives by the expert. As a teen, a friend of the family would take me up in his small plane and as soon as we were airborne, he'd turn to me and say, "take the controls". To say the least, I never learned how to fly that plane - I just learned how to keep the nose of the plane headed in the right direction! I know the truth - he still was operating everything from the pilot's seat. He remained the expert pilot - I was only "playing" at being in control. At best, we all play at being in control of our lives - I think we might just want to consider how fortunate we are to actually have someone still truthfully in control!

When we turn our back on the sin and focus instead on the one who desires to take control (Jesus), we no longer see the sin in front of us. We see the Lord - and when we see him - we don't have room for the sin in our view! God tells us to determine our focus - HIM. Then choose to remain consistent in that focus - not dabbling in the things of this world one day, and then the heavenly the next. Whenever we dabble, we don't have a determined focus.

In the world, but not of it? In the world, and having a hard time leaving it behind? Get your focus redirected. Our eyes fixed on Jesus yields someone in control who actually knows how the controls work together to keep us in flight! Just sayin!

Will it really matter in the long run?

Are you easy to get along with? The "characters" within the groups we interact with each day make it a little harder for us to score a perfect ten in this "getting along" category at times. According to what James tells us, a holy life is characterized by getting along with others. Uh oh - now I have gone to meddling! If we can 'get along' consistently, it must be because we are embracing this life of God's wisdom, and not living by the whim or fancy of our mood or someone else's attitude! 

Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor. (James 3:17-18)

"Getting along" with others doesn't mean we always go along with what the other person proposes, following along in a subservient manner, does it? No, but it does mean we work together for the common good and strive to reduce the "points of friction" within our relationships as much as possible - even when it means we give a little on the things which really don't matter in the long run. Notice I did not say we "give a little" on the things which make up the minimum standards of right living God requires - such as adhering to the truth, keeping Christ at the center, and denying self. 

There are some "grey areas" we can agree to spend less time fretting about, though. For example, one of the controversies in the teen population vs. parents and pastors might be the topic of tattoos. Try as I might, I could not find any specific passages that actually dealt with tattoos. There were vague passages about not defiling the body, and of course, treating it as a temple of the Holy Spirit. We could go back to the Levitical Law and see that Israel was instructed not to make any cuts in their body or tattoos on their body. So, scripture did declare tattoos off-limits for Israel - because they were part of ancient cultic practices, not because they were tattoos. It was related to a practice of the times linking the marking of one's body as a sign of your allegiance and dedication to a cult. Today's tattooing practices may not have the same significance. My daughter has one - my son several. Did I really approve of them having them? No, but could I compromise on their desire to have this artwork on their body? Yes. Why? They weren't doing it to mark themselves for Satan or some cultic leader. Would I get one myself? I really don't think so, simply because I don't like pain!

I knew their heart wasn't to mark themselves for demonic practices - so holding hard and fast to some Old Testament rule would be going against the principles of grace Christ proclaimed in the New Testament. Did I delight in their tattoos? No, but I delighted in the kids and valued the relationship with the kids above all. This seemed to be what God wanted me to understand and hold onto when this subject came up in our own home - so although it would not have been my choice, I wouldn't allow a wedge to be driven between us because it was theirs. Sometimes we know something is clearly wrong and that is when we take a stand. On those other areas where we sense there is not really any danger of this "thing" they desire moving them away from God, I think we would do well to "not sweat it".

I think this is what God has in mind for us in treating each other with dignity and respect. As long as the choices aren't compromising truth, we can allow them. God doesn't care if we eat pork, beef, or are vegan. He doesn't care if we worship on Saturday or Sunday. He doesn't fret about whether we wear dresses to church or jeans. He doesn't care if we read the original King James Version of the Bible or a paraphrase. He DOES care about us knowing truth, adhering to it, engaging with our brothers and sisters in Christ, and doing everything to help each other grow. Maybe some of the stuff we stress about, which ultimately makes us a little less than agreeable with each other, is really not worth the stress! Just sayin!

Open to change

Begin to be now what you will be hereafter. 

(William James)

As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died. It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. (Galatians 6:14-15)

What will you be when you grow up? Do you remember being asked that question so many times as a kid? I have been asked that question several times as an adult, so I guess I haven't 'grown up' sufficiently for some! I have a different way to ask this question today: What will you be when Christ is fully done with you?

Each and every day is another opportunity for Christ to work within our lives - transforming us into this 'new creation' he has in mind for each of us. As he moves across our lives, we are transformed, renewed, and almost 're-engineered'. We may still see ourselves one way, but God sees us as becoming exactly as we are in his eyes. It is this transformation process that we often resist - not because we don't want to see this new creation, but because all change is hard.

While Mr. James was a philosopher of sorts, his words ring true to each of us. We begin today to be what we will become tomorrow. All of life is about change. As I am now in the sixth decade of my life, I would say change comes rapidly at times. When I was in my second decade of life, I would have told you change didn't happen fast enough. Why is there such a difference? I guess it is because I have become much more 'accustomed' to change.

Instead of resisting what God is doing, might you choose to embrace it? It could just be the door that opens to becoming what we will be. We are 'made right' through Christ, but each day presents opportunities for us to begin to 'be right' (live right). We cannot ignore that all of life presents change - we must be open to God's leading when 'what we are becoming' is his main focus for us today. Just sayin!