Take Heart

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:16 NIV

I believe there are many lessons in this verse, at least 3. I'd like to focus on just one: do not lose heart. I needed this today before I knew I needed it and didn't realize God had provided before I needed it. My need is not yet met, but it will be. It's not time.

We've come to the point where my mother needs more care than she's currently getting. Care that is costly and like most aging seniors, the funds are limited. So we as a family must decide how best to take care of her needs without sacrificing our own future or current well being. That would help no one. I thought I'd found the answer yesterday only to be disheartened today when I got additional information. I did read this verse this morning but I focused on the latter half about being renewed in spirit even as we waste away physically.

But that wasn't the lesson I needed. God knew the information I would get today. He's reminding me he's got this, because frankly that's the only way I can face the decisions that we have to make. I have to believe he knows and he's going to provide for what we need, for what my mom needs.

So yes, many lessons but today I will take heart, not lose it. I will strengthen my spirit with his promise to provide for our needs. Thank you Lord. Amen.

Angry to Thankful

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34‭-‬35 NIV

Last night during the Country Music Awards show the theme of the night was love, unity and family. They honored those who lost their lives in the recent shootings and storms theybhave ravaged our country and shook our confidence to the core. Now is not the time for hatred or hopelessness. Now, more than ever, this verse is so timely.

I was reading an article today, and the person was talking about when he would start to feel anxious he would turn the thought around and say what he was thankful for. What an amazing little exercise! What if we all did that? What if, whenever we feel anxious or scared or angry, thar we turn the thought around and say what we are thankful for instead? Let's try: let's say you got angry at the repair shop because they overcharged you for an item they didn't repair. Instead of being angry, think about how thankful you are you have a car and the means to keep it running. Your attitude instantly changes and then you can work with the shop to get a refund. No fuss. No muss.

This is actively showing love to others. You may not have physical love for peiple, but God's love is shown in many ways. Living this concept is letting others know you follow Christ. So let's actively be thankful. You never know whose life you might touch.

The Sandbox Theory

Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin. Proverbs 13:3 NIV

In a world of social media and instant round the clock news coverage, this phenomenon is all too prevalent. I thought about it today while watching the construction of a new building out my window at work. I have watched for the last three weeks and really all I've seen them do is move dirt from one spot to another, load up dirt to remove from the site, and then dump a load of dirt in its spot. It looks like kids playing in a giant sandbox. Now I could take to social media and speculate that they do this to inflate construction costs or demonstrate how long it takes to justify bigger budgets, but that's all it would be...speculation. Those familiar with construction will know it takes a lot to prepare the site and if I took the time to ask, I'd probably learn a lot about why these big guys are playing in a giant sandbox. So it would do me no good to speak rashly or without thought.

It is too easy to assume what we see is what it is. If we don't know the full story or circumstances then we need to hold our thoughts. Commenting on photos or stories that we know nothing about only stirs up harsh feelings.

So the next time you think it's just kids playing in the sandbox, take the time to figure out the real story.

Look and Learn

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16‭-‬17 NIV

I've been learning a lot at my job,  doing something I've never done before. It's taking a lot of learning, correction and instruction...more than I care to get some days. But each day I learn a little more and it gets a little easier. And now that I've learned it I will use what I've learned next time and be able to get it right the first time. At least that's the plan. It's what it takes to be successful. Einstein and Edison made it look easy but they needed lots of instruction and correction too.

Like them, we need lots of good instruction and training. The world needs it, desperately. It needs God's love and his instruction. How can we ever be succesful doing God's work if we don't learn? And we won't learn if we don't try. And if we try we will certainly fail at times. Then we learn and move on.

Don't let the correction or instruction deter you. Soak up God's word and learn!

Faith and Sorrow

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 NIV

In light of today's events in Texas, I offer this as a prayer for peace. Those precious lives lost lived by faith, as evidenced by their attendance this morning, gathering with fellow believers, as we are encouraged to do. Some days it's not about the victory even though as Christians we like that part of the story. Some days we live with the hurt and sorrow and it takes every ounce of faith we have to walk through.

But God is always with us and it is time like these he will carry us. May God grant you all peace.

All The Faith

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. Romans 12:3 NIV

Although this verse makes an excellent point about humility, I focused in on the last part about faith. It says that God has already given us faith. He has distributed faith to each of us. So if that's true, then why do we think we need more faith? Hasn't God already given us what we need? Doesn't he know what we need and provide for us before we even ask? Yes! His word echoes that throughout. So now you know you have all the faith you need to believe. Believe in his son who died for you and me. Believe he can and will provide for your needs. Believe you can do all things he asks of you. Believe that you are on the perfect path for his purpose. He's already given you all the faith you need. You just need to put it into action

Good In, Good Out

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV

One of my all-time favorite films, "Steel Magnolias", has a lone everyone loves to repeat: 'If you don't have anything nice to say, come sit by me.' It's hysterical in context and be honest, you know someone this. We've been taught since we were little that if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. But no one ever said we couldn't think it. That is, unless they understood this verse.

Take captive every thought. So all those things we thought and knew we shouldn't say, yep, it's still not good. Would it be obedient to Christ? Would it be something he would say? Again be honest, probably not.

Keeping quiet sometimes is hard enough, but keeping your thoughts quiet? That's entirely something else. But as we see from this text, we must strive to make our thoughts also towards God. So use that mind for good. Put in good, get good out.