Love Always Perserves by Rev Jonathan Riddle
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."
C.S. Lewis remarked within hours after losing his wife to bone cancer, "Why love if losing hurts so much?"
I suppose the reason why losing hurts deeply is because we love deeply. The scriptures teach us that loving is as much about us as it is about the other person. The reason we love others is to know that we're not alone. Lewis wrote, "I can teach now of costly love because of my own personal experience ... personal experience is the brutal teacher."
I write this column to share from my heart as a Christian, as a pastor and from my own personal experience. My older brother has struggled on and off with drug addiction for as many years as I can remember. It is hard to put into words watching someone you love slowly killing themselves in front of you. Most of my family has cut themselves off because it is too painful to stay engaged.
I suspect I would follow the same pattern if I fail to remember my own story of Jesus raising my life from out of the ashes. Believe me, I'm not strong and I'm not brave, and yet I know that I am a Christian with a burden to carry and a message to share. That is no matter how far someone falls, no matter how deep the pit, we must tell them that "no pit is so deep that God's love is not deeper still."
As Christians, we are called to stay engaged even at great cost to ourselves, because this is exactly what our master did for us, He laid down His life that we might have it, and no servant is greater than his master.
Since SouthPoint's beginning just over two years ago, one of the great lessons I'm learning is that everybody has a story. Every story is different and yet they're all somewhat familiar, asking the same questions, how do you love someone, how do you stay engaged, when it hurts so much?
Recently I watched again, one of my favorite movies, "A River Runs Through It." Norman Maclean's (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Maclean) great American novel has touched so many because it depicts the emotions of those who've risked to love and suffered because of it. He shares of his experience listening to his father's last sermon on costly love shortly before his death.
"Each one of us today will at one time in our lives look upon a loved one who is in need and ask the same question: We are willing help Lord, but what, if anything, is needed? For it is true we can seldom help those closest to us. Either we don't know what part of ourselves to give or, more often than not, the part we have to give is not wanted. And so it those we live with and should know who elude us. But we can still love them - we can love completely without complete understanding."
Friday, December 19, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Mission Statement
I will not let anything I attempt to do in honor of God come between me and God or become bigger to me than God.
I will not let myself be defined by any one thing other than God.
I will not tolerate idols in my life even if they appear to me as seemingly good things. Anything other than God in which you invest too much of your time, money & mental resources is an idol. Do not let even the best things in your life get out or proportion; all things in moderation.
Do not think you have the power to throw anything in the devil's face other than God. Any victory over satan is not yours and not come from any power of yours...to God be the glory!
Eliminate anything that is the source of your anger with God.
Do not tolerate negative self talk.
I will stop wearing abstinence around like some Christian badge of honor, like some special thing I have or am. BULLSHIT!
Just be liberated and free now that you don't have a ten foot wall around you dooming all your relationships to failure "for God" and then blaming Him for it.
I will not let myself be defined by any one thing other than God.
I will not tolerate idols in my life even if they appear to me as seemingly good things. Anything other than God in which you invest too much of your time, money & mental resources is an idol. Do not let even the best things in your life get out or proportion; all things in moderation.
Do not think you have the power to throw anything in the devil's face other than God. Any victory over satan is not yours and not come from any power of yours...to God be the glory!
Eliminate anything that is the source of your anger with God.
Do not tolerate negative self talk.
I will stop wearing abstinence around like some Christian badge of honor, like some special thing I have or am. BULLSHIT!
Just be liberated and free now that you don't have a ten foot wall around you dooming all your relationships to failure "for God" and then blaming Him for it.
Monday, August 04, 2008
Good Steward
Tithing: Giving 10% of my gross income to the Church.
10% doesn't sound like much at first, until you put it into practice and find yourself writing a check every two weeks for that 10%. You start thinking about all the things you could buy with that money: the extras you are doing without, the unexpected expenses it would cover, the trips you could take, the exam materials for your job you could buy, etc.
You even find yourself saying, well I would like to contribute money to the insurance program at my former college and since that is charitable giving, I can just not tithe that particular paycheck and use that money for the insurance program. God won't mind; it's a good cause. It's an all too familar little voice, and it belongs to the devil. While it's true, that is a good cause, it's not "kindgom building" money. The professor of that program does not even believe in Jesus Christ. She thinks Buddha is the end all and be all. She wonders why life is so hard and why she is unhappy and she still thinks the Buddha she wears around her neck (that idol) has any power to make her life any better, any more fulfilled, any more peaceful. Sad.
The major point is that tithing is one of the easiest ways to find out what people believe about God. Do they really have faith? Do they really trust Him to provide for them when they give up all that additional money every month? Do they really believe that God will bless that money and that its use will be better than anything they could do with it? Do they really believe He will bless their efforts tenfold as He promises to do?
Look at what people spend their money on and you will see what kind of person you are dealing with. Is it all about the latest technology? the fanciest cars? the nicest houses? Is it all about cheap thrills on a Friday night?
Or is it about making the lives of others better, easier? Simplifying: appreciating more and having less? Learning to be satisfied with less stuff to bless the lives of others more?
I recently started my adult career in January and have just very recently started tithing. One of the hardest things I've ever done in my walk with God is writing that check and dropping that money in the collection plate every two weeks when I get paid. It is a perpetual dying to one's self and choosing God and His ways above my own. When you start talking money with people, you are hitting them where they live. I've never even considered myself to be a materialistic, money-grubbing sort of person so I've been surprised at how difficult I've found this to be.
What I try to do is remind myself that this money is not mine. It has never belonged to me. It's always been God's money and for me to withhold it from Him is to steal from the Kingdom of God. When I take my last breath here and go back home, I do not want to explain to Him why it is I decided to steal from the Kingdom of God. I don't want to say, well, God, you see: I needed those books for my professional designation, and I needed to fly to Chicago to visit my friend, and I had to get work done on my car, and I had to have my fillings replaced, and I needed a new TV, and I wanted a bike so that's why the missionaries didn't get sent and that's why the children weren't fed, and that's why X number of people perished without ever knowing you.
He will say that is why you had more and enjoyed less and that's why your faith couldn't move mountains and why you never experienced true peace. That's why you never really experienced the intimate relationship with me I intended you to have. You didn't trust me with your everything, so there is no way I could give you the abundant life I came to earth and died on the cross that you might enjoy.
The truth is that every monetary benefit I experience is a direct result of the blessings which God bestows upon me. The reason why I'm as financially stable as I am is solely because God has seen fit to bless me. God tells us that those who can be trusted with little will be given much and those who cannot be trusted with little, even what they have will be taken from them. That doesn't mean that some months you won't be scraping by. I promise you, you will. It simply means that your Heavenly Father will provide for you and always has your best interests at heart. Your needs will always be met, even if you don't always think they are. After all, God has a really different perspective than we do on what we need. The difference is he actually knows what we need.
If you really believe that giving 10% of your income to God is going to break you financially, you might want to re-evaluate where the other 90% is going.
10% doesn't sound like much at first, until you put it into practice and find yourself writing a check every two weeks for that 10%. You start thinking about all the things you could buy with that money: the extras you are doing without, the unexpected expenses it would cover, the trips you could take, the exam materials for your job you could buy, etc.
You even find yourself saying, well I would like to contribute money to the insurance program at my former college and since that is charitable giving, I can just not tithe that particular paycheck and use that money for the insurance program. God won't mind; it's a good cause. It's an all too familar little voice, and it belongs to the devil. While it's true, that is a good cause, it's not "kindgom building" money. The professor of that program does not even believe in Jesus Christ. She thinks Buddha is the end all and be all. She wonders why life is so hard and why she is unhappy and she still thinks the Buddha she wears around her neck (that idol) has any power to make her life any better, any more fulfilled, any more peaceful. Sad.
The major point is that tithing is one of the easiest ways to find out what people believe about God. Do they really have faith? Do they really trust Him to provide for them when they give up all that additional money every month? Do they really believe that God will bless that money and that its use will be better than anything they could do with it? Do they really believe He will bless their efforts tenfold as He promises to do?
Look at what people spend their money on and you will see what kind of person you are dealing with. Is it all about the latest technology? the fanciest cars? the nicest houses? Is it all about cheap thrills on a Friday night?
Or is it about making the lives of others better, easier? Simplifying: appreciating more and having less? Learning to be satisfied with less stuff to bless the lives of others more?
I recently started my adult career in January and have just very recently started tithing. One of the hardest things I've ever done in my walk with God is writing that check and dropping that money in the collection plate every two weeks when I get paid. It is a perpetual dying to one's self and choosing God and His ways above my own. When you start talking money with people, you are hitting them where they live. I've never even considered myself to be a materialistic, money-grubbing sort of person so I've been surprised at how difficult I've found this to be.
What I try to do is remind myself that this money is not mine. It has never belonged to me. It's always been God's money and for me to withhold it from Him is to steal from the Kingdom of God. When I take my last breath here and go back home, I do not want to explain to Him why it is I decided to steal from the Kingdom of God. I don't want to say, well, God, you see: I needed those books for my professional designation, and I needed to fly to Chicago to visit my friend, and I had to get work done on my car, and I had to have my fillings replaced, and I needed a new TV, and I wanted a bike so that's why the missionaries didn't get sent and that's why the children weren't fed, and that's why X number of people perished without ever knowing you.
He will say that is why you had more and enjoyed less and that's why your faith couldn't move mountains and why you never experienced true peace. That's why you never really experienced the intimate relationship with me I intended you to have. You didn't trust me with your everything, so there is no way I could give you the abundant life I came to earth and died on the cross that you might enjoy.
The truth is that every monetary benefit I experience is a direct result of the blessings which God bestows upon me. The reason why I'm as financially stable as I am is solely because God has seen fit to bless me. God tells us that those who can be trusted with little will be given much and those who cannot be trusted with little, even what they have will be taken from them. That doesn't mean that some months you won't be scraping by. I promise you, you will. It simply means that your Heavenly Father will provide for you and always has your best interests at heart. Your needs will always be met, even if you don't always think they are. After all, God has a really different perspective than we do on what we need. The difference is he actually knows what we need.
If you really believe that giving 10% of your income to God is going to break you financially, you might want to re-evaluate where the other 90% is going.
Beam me up Scotty
I feel like an alien here, but God promised me I would.
Try telling people what you believe about living the life of a Christian, and they look at you like you have more than a few screws loose, even other Christians.
People closest to you will tell you that you aren't being realistic and living that way is not even practical.
Is it any wonder they say this? Let's revisit the first sentence: God promised us we would be aliens here. Besides that, God told us that we are not the ones being rejected. We are rejected because they first rejected Him.
This is not your home so don't live here like you are all cozy and wallow around in the slum and sin of the world.
Our Heavenly Father said, "If you love me, obey my commands." That's what I'm striving to do; I'm not always successful and I fail time and again, which is why I thank God for His grace and His mercy. However, what matters to God is that we adopt the attitude of Paul. We have to fight the good fight, we have to finish the race, and above all we have to keep the faith.
Faith is what you makes you willingly live a life contrary to all the lives around you, whatever it costs you here. I may not ever fully experience all the pleasures of this world, but what I do know is that any earthly sacrifice is nothing in comparison with the joy and fullness of a life lived for something greater than yourself, something so much greater than the superficial "happiness" of a life lived for things that are perishing and people who are but a breath.
I'm living my life for a Heavenly Father who is eternal and unshakeable. It is for this that I'm not willing to risk that which lasts forever on that which, at best, lasts 70 years but that could most likely disappear in the blink of an eye.
It all comes down to what you believe. I would be one of the top sinners indulging in the flesh if I did not believe that I have an eternal soul that is going one of two places after this earthly body fades away. Rather than a life of eternity in hell with shame and pain and "knashing of teeth," I choose a life of eternal holy joy and peace with my Father in Heaven.
Accepting the sacrifice of Jesus Christ is the way to get there. It's a catch 22 though because having accepted that sacrifice for the gift it is I cannot help but devote my life to Him. Through it all, I find peace here, amidst the schemes and whiles of the devil because try as he might to discourage me and make me believe that Jesus Christ is not all He claims to be, the devil has no dominion over me. I belong to Jesus Christ and my name is in the Book of Life. :)
Try telling people what you believe about living the life of a Christian, and they look at you like you have more than a few screws loose, even other Christians.
People closest to you will tell you that you aren't being realistic and living that way is not even practical.
Is it any wonder they say this? Let's revisit the first sentence: God promised us we would be aliens here. Besides that, God told us that we are not the ones being rejected. We are rejected because they first rejected Him.
This is not your home so don't live here like you are all cozy and wallow around in the slum and sin of the world.
Our Heavenly Father said, "If you love me, obey my commands." That's what I'm striving to do; I'm not always successful and I fail time and again, which is why I thank God for His grace and His mercy. However, what matters to God is that we adopt the attitude of Paul. We have to fight the good fight, we have to finish the race, and above all we have to keep the faith.
Faith is what you makes you willingly live a life contrary to all the lives around you, whatever it costs you here. I may not ever fully experience all the pleasures of this world, but what I do know is that any earthly sacrifice is nothing in comparison with the joy and fullness of a life lived for something greater than yourself, something so much greater than the superficial "happiness" of a life lived for things that are perishing and people who are but a breath.
I'm living my life for a Heavenly Father who is eternal and unshakeable. It is for this that I'm not willing to risk that which lasts forever on that which, at best, lasts 70 years but that could most likely disappear in the blink of an eye.
It all comes down to what you believe. I would be one of the top sinners indulging in the flesh if I did not believe that I have an eternal soul that is going one of two places after this earthly body fades away. Rather than a life of eternity in hell with shame and pain and "knashing of teeth," I choose a life of eternal holy joy and peace with my Father in Heaven.
Accepting the sacrifice of Jesus Christ is the way to get there. It's a catch 22 though because having accepted that sacrifice for the gift it is I cannot help but devote my life to Him. Through it all, I find peace here, amidst the schemes and whiles of the devil because try as he might to discourage me and make me believe that Jesus Christ is not all He claims to be, the devil has no dominion over me. I belong to Jesus Christ and my name is in the Book of Life. :)
Sunday, March 30, 2008
If I can see the speck in your eye it is because I have less than a speck of love in my heart
Jesus? Who is Jesus? Jesus is our savior who walked this earth preaching love, grace, and forgiveness. He spoke of hope and salvation for all sinners, not saints alone. He spoke of love covering over a multitude of sins. He spoke of correcting our brothers and sisters in Christ for not loving one another enough, for not building each other up, for not serving one another.
I know sin is all the same to God, but with my human mind and heart and soul it seems like one of the worst sins of all is to live a life devoid of true love for others-a life you spent sitting in negative judgement and criticism of others. A life of picking specks of sawdust from the eyes of others, despite the plank in your own eye.
A person of genuine warmth and kindness and friendliness who welcomes strangers and makes them feel like home is with us, the body of believers, the followers of Christ is who I want to be. I want to be someone who inspires peace and hope and confidence in others. I want to be someone who makes others believe first of all in our Savior and secondly in themselves. I don't want to inspire doubt and fear and confusion or self pity or hoplessness.
Okay so I'm a sinner; one who drinks and cusses and has sexually impure thoughts who fails to be as giving of my time as I should, who fails to have a servant's heart, and who fails to have a heart of true repentance the way I ought.
What do I not do? I don't fill the world up full of my judgement of its behavior. It's not my job! Or my right. It's my Father's job and he didn't delegate that duty to me. I don't critize and I don't make others feel bad, not for the things they don't accomplish or for their appearance and I don't make others feel like nothing, like they aren't special and they aren't valuable and they shouldn't be heard or that I don't want them around or that I feel sorry them.
I've met some people recently that represent the kind of person I want to be. They welcome new people into their group with open arms, like old friends. They get to know them just to shine the light of God into their lives. They find ways to include others in fellowship and they find ways to use their time and talents to serve God and teach to others to do the same, because he says "when I was hungry, you fed me. When I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink. When I was naked, you clothed me." They understand that as they do these things for one another, they do them unto God.
I cannot live a life of perfection on this earth. Of that, I have no doubt. But I will not live a life of misery doing what I can to make those around me miserable by constantly verbally belittling and berating them for the mistakes in their lives, pretending that because I do not drink and do not cuss and have never had a night of lust and I do not have piercings and tatoos and children out of wedlock or landed in prison for DUI or dropped out of college or gone bankrupt or smoked pot or what not that I'm the superior and ultimate Christian who gets to judge those who have done any or all those things.
I do not have that right! Neither do you! No one on this earth does. That is the business of Heaven! Besides, I would prefer any and all the sins on that list to having a hardened and calloused heart trying in vain to observe the law like a Pharisee paying lip service to God and all the while hating my brethen, his very children.
What do you accomplish if you have not love? You have nothing, you gain nothing. We were meant to point the lost to Jesus. Jesus is so much more love than he is judgment. Love saves people. Judgment is reserved even by God until the very end. Only when we are beyond saving are we are judged and condemned, never before that. God doesn't do it because he knows that until the very end there is hope for us and that judgment inspires and saves no one. Judgment is nothing more than the exclamation point of dissatisfation on a life lived without God. Judgment is not about a life full of mistakes. Unlike human beings God forgives failures and flaws.
You fail God only when you refuse to let him do for you what you cannot do for yourself. You cannot save yourself. You cannot follow the law. You can only follow Jesus. Take your sins and your imperfections and cover over their multitude with the love of Christ and pour it all out into the world of sinners. Love the evil in your heart out and love it out of others.
Don't judge others but remind and encourage your brothers and sisters in Christ to love another with the love Christ has shown us.
I know sin is all the same to God, but with my human mind and heart and soul it seems like one of the worst sins of all is to live a life devoid of true love for others-a life you spent sitting in negative judgement and criticism of others. A life of picking specks of sawdust from the eyes of others, despite the plank in your own eye.
A person of genuine warmth and kindness and friendliness who welcomes strangers and makes them feel like home is with us, the body of believers, the followers of Christ is who I want to be. I want to be someone who inspires peace and hope and confidence in others. I want to be someone who makes others believe first of all in our Savior and secondly in themselves. I don't want to inspire doubt and fear and confusion or self pity or hoplessness.
Okay so I'm a sinner; one who drinks and cusses and has sexually impure thoughts who fails to be as giving of my time as I should, who fails to have a servant's heart, and who fails to have a heart of true repentance the way I ought.
What do I not do? I don't fill the world up full of my judgement of its behavior. It's not my job! Or my right. It's my Father's job and he didn't delegate that duty to me. I don't critize and I don't make others feel bad, not for the things they don't accomplish or for their appearance and I don't make others feel like nothing, like they aren't special and they aren't valuable and they shouldn't be heard or that I don't want them around or that I feel sorry them.
I've met some people recently that represent the kind of person I want to be. They welcome new people into their group with open arms, like old friends. They get to know them just to shine the light of God into their lives. They find ways to include others in fellowship and they find ways to use their time and talents to serve God and teach to others to do the same, because he says "when I was hungry, you fed me. When I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink. When I was naked, you clothed me." They understand that as they do these things for one another, they do them unto God.
I cannot live a life of perfection on this earth. Of that, I have no doubt. But I will not live a life of misery doing what I can to make those around me miserable by constantly verbally belittling and berating them for the mistakes in their lives, pretending that because I do not drink and do not cuss and have never had a night of lust and I do not have piercings and tatoos and children out of wedlock or landed in prison for DUI or dropped out of college or gone bankrupt or smoked pot or what not that I'm the superior and ultimate Christian who gets to judge those who have done any or all those things.
I do not have that right! Neither do you! No one on this earth does. That is the business of Heaven! Besides, I would prefer any and all the sins on that list to having a hardened and calloused heart trying in vain to observe the law like a Pharisee paying lip service to God and all the while hating my brethen, his very children.
What do you accomplish if you have not love? You have nothing, you gain nothing. We were meant to point the lost to Jesus. Jesus is so much more love than he is judgment. Love saves people. Judgment is reserved even by God until the very end. Only when we are beyond saving are we are judged and condemned, never before that. God doesn't do it because he knows that until the very end there is hope for us and that judgment inspires and saves no one. Judgment is nothing more than the exclamation point of dissatisfation on a life lived without God. Judgment is not about a life full of mistakes. Unlike human beings God forgives failures and flaws.
You fail God only when you refuse to let him do for you what you cannot do for yourself. You cannot save yourself. You cannot follow the law. You can only follow Jesus. Take your sins and your imperfections and cover over their multitude with the love of Christ and pour it all out into the world of sinners. Love the evil in your heart out and love it out of others.
Don't judge others but remind and encourage your brothers and sisters in Christ to love another with the love Christ has shown us.
Sunday, March 02, 2008
BLESSED BEYOND MEASURE
I am so blessed.
My arms bend at the elbow.
My legs are the same length.
I can feed, dress, and bathe myself.
I can walk, talk, breathe and use the restroom without the aid of man or machine.
I can hear and see.
I speak without a lisp, only a Southern accent.
I have food to spare, even if it does show a little about my waist.
I have no diet restrictions, no allergies to food.
I am not required to take presciption medicines.
I have a comfy, warm, and clean bed to sleep in.
I have clean water to bathe in and to drink.
I have family and friends who love me.
I have a job in a nice environment, and I have a car that gets me there.
I have plenty of clothes in my closet.
I live in a country founded in freedom and democracy, even if I'm not fond of the political candidates this go round.
I can worship my Lord and Savior whenever, wherever, and however I please, free of persecution or danger.
I have a past full of happy memories, and a future of hope.
I am blessed beyond measure.
I do not have problems, only mere annoyances.
Again I say, I'm blessed beyond measure.
Perhaps, you are too, despite your arguing yourself to the contrary.
My arms bend at the elbow.
My legs are the same length.
I can feed, dress, and bathe myself.
I can walk, talk, breathe and use the restroom without the aid of man or machine.
I can hear and see.
I speak without a lisp, only a Southern accent.
I have food to spare, even if it does show a little about my waist.
I have no diet restrictions, no allergies to food.
I am not required to take presciption medicines.
I have a comfy, warm, and clean bed to sleep in.
I have clean water to bathe in and to drink.
I have family and friends who love me.
I have a job in a nice environment, and I have a car that gets me there.
I have plenty of clothes in my closet.
I live in a country founded in freedom and democracy, even if I'm not fond of the political candidates this go round.
I can worship my Lord and Savior whenever, wherever, and however I please, free of persecution or danger.
I have a past full of happy memories, and a future of hope.
I am blessed beyond measure.
I do not have problems, only mere annoyances.
Again I say, I'm blessed beyond measure.
Perhaps, you are too, despite your arguing yourself to the contrary.
Saturday, March 01, 2008
FOR BAD NEWS
The hardest thing to learn?
This life will have misery, no matter how we live it.
However, suffering as a Child of God has purpose and it is a sweet suffering, a suffering borne of faith, hope, and love.
Suffering without salvation in Jesus Christ is total misery encased in hopelessness and worthlessness.
We draw close to God-we pray, we read our Bibles, and we go to Church.
What do we find?
We still struggle. Life is still hard.
Why, God, why is it hard?
It's hard because Satan hates that you're trying to be close to your Heavenly Father.
Plus, Satan knows what your greatest, deepest, darkest, most hideous, shameful and embarassing weaknesses are, and he bombards you with them daily. It's different for all of us. Some of us struggle with self-confidence others with pride and self love. Some of us love those on this earth too much and some of us don't love them enough. Some of us love material possessions too much and some make money an idol. Some of us hate our lives and do not have peace and joy but nothing more than the self pity and depression that come when you don't have a life filled with the peace and unbroken heart that only faith in our Lord Jesus Christ can give you. Some of us break every law in the Bible with no consideration of the consequences and others of us are so legalistic that we drain out every ounce of love that Jesus breathed into the Bible. Did you not see the verses that say that "Love covers over a multitude of sin." That's not a metaphor!!
You are in a war, you Christian Soldier! Bad things are going to happen to you. You are a human being and that is the human experience on this earth. This earth is run and controlled by demons and it has been infiltrated with the evil of Satan. Make no mistake about it: All evil is of Satan and all good is of God.
Can God can make sure evil and hard times never befalls you? Absolutely! But why would He? Think about this. If you are never attacked and you never feel the depth of your own weakness, you will also never find your source of strength in God.
With every trial and tribulation in your life that you take right back to God and lay at the foot of the cross and say, "I can't carry this with my own strength. It has to be you working through me. You have to stand for me because I can't," stengthens your testimony and shines the Glory of God into the world, which is what it so desperately needs!
You don't show the light and the love of God by reacting to pain and suffering and disaster and catastophe and betrayal and the heinous acts of others by crumbling like the world, by wringing your hands. You can only glorify God when you learn that happiness is not conditional. It is doing the will of God no matter what that means, no matter the sacrifice, no matter what you lose on account of it. It is that little voice at the end of the day, that says, "yes, Lord, yes yes Lord! I will forever trust and follow after you." It is Lot saying, "yes, Lord, I have lost everything of this world that meant anything to me, but I still belong to you. My heart is still yours!"
I want that to be what rings in eternity for me. I want that to be what I leave behind. I don't care what happens to me on this earth, what my experience is, what the cross I carry is, what the thorn in my side is. I want the message that rings in all eternity for me to be: "LORD, MY HEART IS STILL YOURS!"
After all, Satan is going to take some of the things that you love from you. The only way you can rob him back is to smile through the tears and take it to God. Run it back to the stronghold!
You know why you are special? The only thing that makes you special is belonging to God. His ownership, his blessings, his love, his mark, his suffering make you all the special you will ever need to be. The biggest loser on this earth that belongs to God is better off than anyone who doesn't, regardless of the trappings of wealth or success of this world.
Be fearless on this earth. Know that your confidence, your heart, your soul and the way in which you define yourself can never be broken, diminished or destroyed because it's all about the way God loves you, and that love is eternal and unforsakeable.
All you can do is glorify the One who has given you everything, and give others just a little bit of that peace and a little bit of that love.
Live outward. Focus on others and how you can serve them and lead them to God. How can you lighten their burden? If that's your focus, you will find you are carrying your burdens without feeling their weight.
Be prepared to serve God even when you're not too jazzed about it. I was in a young women's Bible study one time and one of the girl's said, "I don't think I could handle being single for a lifetime." The woman leading the Bible study said, "can you handle being single today?" That's the point: God's grace is sufficient for today, every single day.
Live in today. Do the best you can with what you have where you are, and take everything else to God. I am fearless, bold, outgoing, ambitious, intelligent, focused, and driven because God is to the right of me and to the left of me, he is beneath and above me. He is behind me and in front of me and within me. God surrounds me! I'm protected and blessed beyond all measure. I am His and he lets himself be mine-my Father, my portion, my peace, my fortress, strongold, and protector, healer, my everything!
This life will have misery, no matter how we live it.
However, suffering as a Child of God has purpose and it is a sweet suffering, a suffering borne of faith, hope, and love.
Suffering without salvation in Jesus Christ is total misery encased in hopelessness and worthlessness.
We draw close to God-we pray, we read our Bibles, and we go to Church.
What do we find?
We still struggle. Life is still hard.
Why, God, why is it hard?
It's hard because Satan hates that you're trying to be close to your Heavenly Father.
Plus, Satan knows what your greatest, deepest, darkest, most hideous, shameful and embarassing weaknesses are, and he bombards you with them daily. It's different for all of us. Some of us struggle with self-confidence others with pride and self love. Some of us love those on this earth too much and some of us don't love them enough. Some of us love material possessions too much and some make money an idol. Some of us hate our lives and do not have peace and joy but nothing more than the self pity and depression that come when you don't have a life filled with the peace and unbroken heart that only faith in our Lord Jesus Christ can give you. Some of us break every law in the Bible with no consideration of the consequences and others of us are so legalistic that we drain out every ounce of love that Jesus breathed into the Bible. Did you not see the verses that say that "Love covers over a multitude of sin." That's not a metaphor!!
You are in a war, you Christian Soldier! Bad things are going to happen to you. You are a human being and that is the human experience on this earth. This earth is run and controlled by demons and it has been infiltrated with the evil of Satan. Make no mistake about it: All evil is of Satan and all good is of God.
Can God can make sure evil and hard times never befalls you? Absolutely! But why would He? Think about this. If you are never attacked and you never feel the depth of your own weakness, you will also never find your source of strength in God.
With every trial and tribulation in your life that you take right back to God and lay at the foot of the cross and say, "I can't carry this with my own strength. It has to be you working through me. You have to stand for me because I can't," stengthens your testimony and shines the Glory of God into the world, which is what it so desperately needs!
You don't show the light and the love of God by reacting to pain and suffering and disaster and catastophe and betrayal and the heinous acts of others by crumbling like the world, by wringing your hands. You can only glorify God when you learn that happiness is not conditional. It is doing the will of God no matter what that means, no matter the sacrifice, no matter what you lose on account of it. It is that little voice at the end of the day, that says, "yes, Lord, yes yes Lord! I will forever trust and follow after you." It is Lot saying, "yes, Lord, I have lost everything of this world that meant anything to me, but I still belong to you. My heart is still yours!"
I want that to be what rings in eternity for me. I want that to be what I leave behind. I don't care what happens to me on this earth, what my experience is, what the cross I carry is, what the thorn in my side is. I want the message that rings in all eternity for me to be: "LORD, MY HEART IS STILL YOURS!"
After all, Satan is going to take some of the things that you love from you. The only way you can rob him back is to smile through the tears and take it to God. Run it back to the stronghold!
You know why you are special? The only thing that makes you special is belonging to God. His ownership, his blessings, his love, his mark, his suffering make you all the special you will ever need to be. The biggest loser on this earth that belongs to God is better off than anyone who doesn't, regardless of the trappings of wealth or success of this world.
Be fearless on this earth. Know that your confidence, your heart, your soul and the way in which you define yourself can never be broken, diminished or destroyed because it's all about the way God loves you, and that love is eternal and unforsakeable.
All you can do is glorify the One who has given you everything, and give others just a little bit of that peace and a little bit of that love.
Live outward. Focus on others and how you can serve them and lead them to God. How can you lighten their burden? If that's your focus, you will find you are carrying your burdens without feeling their weight.
Be prepared to serve God even when you're not too jazzed about it. I was in a young women's Bible study one time and one of the girl's said, "I don't think I could handle being single for a lifetime." The woman leading the Bible study said, "can you handle being single today?" That's the point: God's grace is sufficient for today, every single day.
Live in today. Do the best you can with what you have where you are, and take everything else to God. I am fearless, bold, outgoing, ambitious, intelligent, focused, and driven because God is to the right of me and to the left of me, he is beneath and above me. He is behind me and in front of me and within me. God surrounds me! I'm protected and blessed beyond all measure. I am His and he lets himself be mine-my Father, my portion, my peace, my fortress, strongold, and protector, healer, my everything!
Friday, February 08, 2008
Corporate Life
TV Shows often portray the bad sucky corporate sent person who comes into the work environment and messes everything up for everyone else.
I've never thought about it until just recently but that sucks.
I feel like I was brought in by corporate since I was handpicked by the CEO of this company to come in and slide in above people who have been there forever.
It sucks because secretly these people are jealous of you and some of them may even despise you and all of them most likely secretly hope you screw up.
It's not like TV portrays it. I'm not wretched and I have worked my ass off to get where I am.
Maybe it's just TV because everyone seems nice, but having people train you so you can move in above them is more than just a little uncomfortable.
I've never thought about it until just recently but that sucks.
I feel like I was brought in by corporate since I was handpicked by the CEO of this company to come in and slide in above people who have been there forever.
It sucks because secretly these people are jealous of you and some of them may even despise you and all of them most likely secretly hope you screw up.
It's not like TV portrays it. I'm not wretched and I have worked my ass off to get where I am.
Maybe it's just TV because everyone seems nice, but having people train you so you can move in above them is more than just a little uncomfortable.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Walking on Broken Glass
Satan is kicking my ass, but I'm not losing.
Last night I came home from Walmart, and I could not find a place in my complex to park.
I ended up parking in East Buddha and then carrying all of my groceries up three flights of stairs in several trips.
Today, I went to have my fingerprints done at the Prometric Testing Center so I can convert my insurance producer's license from Alabama to Texas. I left 30 minutes before the appointment and the place is not far away.
However, I drove down the road the place is located on in the wrong direction. I didn't discover this until the address numbers on the block randomly changed from 9700 to 4500. Then, I stopped at a gas station to ask for directions where I encountered a Chinese gas station attendant, who could not understand me. Thankfully, there was also a sweet older English speaking woman there who revealed to me I had driven about 10 miles in the wrong direction.
Needless to say, I was late for the appointment. I finally arrived and realized there was no parking spaces in front of it. The Prometric Center's patrons have to park on the third level of a garage, which I had trouble finding. However, I finally parked and went in and a sweet black lady did my fingerprints. Upon leaving, however, I discovered that the door I had left the garage from was locked so I had to walk up the ramp I had driven up to get to my car.
After the appointment, I decided to have a late lunch at Burger King and then catch a matinee movie. The place across the street from BK shows older movies for a buck. I saw Fred Clause because it's what was playing when I got there.
I thoroughly enjoyed my $1.00 movie and came out of the theatre in good spirits. As I approached my car, I saw that the passenger side window had been shattered and was in a million pieces all over my front seat. Seeing that and realizing it had actually happened was quite surreal and traumatic. I saw that a note had been left on my car from the Plano Police Deparment. I called to find out that someone saw the two guys who had broken the window and were in my car trying to steal the radio. The guy apparently ran them off and called the cop who had come out and done a report, complete with a picture of the damage. He said they had a partial plate on perpetrators' car.
When I got home, I called some auto repair guys who said they are coming out tomorrow to fix the damage. Luckily, it's only going to cost about $150 and they can do it tomorrow, so it won't interfere with work.
I decided I would be disciplined and go to the gym and run and try to shake it all off. As I was pulling my hair back, I dropped my brush in the commode.
When I got to the gym in my apartment complex, it's closed all weekend for remodeling. Perfect! The weekend is the best time for me to run since I have a long weekend and I don't get off of work until seven every night.
While fixing myself some supper, I ate some carrots and ranch dressing, so naturally I dropped the bowl of them on my kitchen floor.
Today has definitely been an eventful day off. The important thing though is that I did what I wanted to do today despite the bumps along the road and that Satan, despite his obvious and desperate attempts, to rob me off my happiness has failed miserably. I am still full of the love and peace of my Lord and Savior.
What have I proven if when the going gets tough I curse my luck and sob, "Why me?" "Why do bad things always happen to me?" Nothing! I cannot call myself a follower of Christ unless I seek Him and praise His name in the good times as well as the bad.
Loving the Lord and defeating Satan is about smiling when Satan punches you in the face. It's about navigating this life, with all its hardship, with God's grace. Allowing anger or misery or sadness to infiltrate you is what destroys you. The things on the outside of the body cannot harm us. Only the things that we allow to pentrate us, to settle in our souls can do that.
Did I have a bad afternoon? Absa-freaking-loutely! But it's a wonderful night!
Last night I came home from Walmart, and I could not find a place in my complex to park.
I ended up parking in East Buddha and then carrying all of my groceries up three flights of stairs in several trips.
Today, I went to have my fingerprints done at the Prometric Testing Center so I can convert my insurance producer's license from Alabama to Texas. I left 30 minutes before the appointment and the place is not far away.
However, I drove down the road the place is located on in the wrong direction. I didn't discover this until the address numbers on the block randomly changed from 9700 to 4500. Then, I stopped at a gas station to ask for directions where I encountered a Chinese gas station attendant, who could not understand me. Thankfully, there was also a sweet older English speaking woman there who revealed to me I had driven about 10 miles in the wrong direction.
Needless to say, I was late for the appointment. I finally arrived and realized there was no parking spaces in front of it. The Prometric Center's patrons have to park on the third level of a garage, which I had trouble finding. However, I finally parked and went in and a sweet black lady did my fingerprints. Upon leaving, however, I discovered that the door I had left the garage from was locked so I had to walk up the ramp I had driven up to get to my car.
After the appointment, I decided to have a late lunch at Burger King and then catch a matinee movie. The place across the street from BK shows older movies for a buck. I saw Fred Clause because it's what was playing when I got there.
I thoroughly enjoyed my $1.00 movie and came out of the theatre in good spirits. As I approached my car, I saw that the passenger side window had been shattered and was in a million pieces all over my front seat. Seeing that and realizing it had actually happened was quite surreal and traumatic. I saw that a note had been left on my car from the Plano Police Deparment. I called to find out that someone saw the two guys who had broken the window and were in my car trying to steal the radio. The guy apparently ran them off and called the cop who had come out and done a report, complete with a picture of the damage. He said they had a partial plate on perpetrators' car.
When I got home, I called some auto repair guys who said they are coming out tomorrow to fix the damage. Luckily, it's only going to cost about $150 and they can do it tomorrow, so it won't interfere with work.
I decided I would be disciplined and go to the gym and run and try to shake it all off. As I was pulling my hair back, I dropped my brush in the commode.
When I got to the gym in my apartment complex, it's closed all weekend for remodeling. Perfect! The weekend is the best time for me to run since I have a long weekend and I don't get off of work until seven every night.
While fixing myself some supper, I ate some carrots and ranch dressing, so naturally I dropped the bowl of them on my kitchen floor.
Today has definitely been an eventful day off. The important thing though is that I did what I wanted to do today despite the bumps along the road and that Satan, despite his obvious and desperate attempts, to rob me off my happiness has failed miserably. I am still full of the love and peace of my Lord and Savior.
What have I proven if when the going gets tough I curse my luck and sob, "Why me?" "Why do bad things always happen to me?" Nothing! I cannot call myself a follower of Christ unless I seek Him and praise His name in the good times as well as the bad.
Loving the Lord and defeating Satan is about smiling when Satan punches you in the face. It's about navigating this life, with all its hardship, with God's grace. Allowing anger or misery or sadness to infiltrate you is what destroys you. The things on the outside of the body cannot harm us. Only the things that we allow to pentrate us, to settle in our souls can do that.
Did I have a bad afternoon? Absa-freaking-loutely! But it's a wonderful night!
Sunday, January 20, 2008
On the Wings of an Eagle
Everyone I meet when they find out I moved out here from Alabama keeps asking, "Do you have family out here? Do you have friends out here?" I simply say, "nope," and I can tell they think I'm bold or adventurous or extremely independent or something like that. Many people back in Alabama seem to think the same thing.
The truth is: I did not move out here by myself. I'm a coward, and I never would.
The only reason I'm able to move halfway across the United States is because my Heavenly Father is with me. No matter where I go or what I do, he is always with me. He will never leave me or forsake me. He is always my source of comfort and peace and love and hope, which is why when the demons whisper lies in my ear:
"You are all alone out here. You have no friends and no family. You are in over your head. You are never going to make it. You are lonely. You are scared. In fact, you are not even going to be good at your job, and your bills are piling up."
I can look Satan in the face and call him the liar he is. This war that rages everyday between the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of Chaos is a lot easier when you realize what's going on. I can see all my fear and doubt for what it is....lies. Today I'm not getting my ass kicked because God is allowing me to see the enemy trying to work in my life. After all, you can't fight what you can't see. "I once was blind, but now I see."
I'm living on faith and hope. I will make friends out here. I will be good at my job. I will be happy and make myself a home in Texas. I will do it by God!
How do I know?
Because my Lord and Savior promised it. He promised he had plans to prosper me and not to harm me. He promised me the abundant life. He promised me that if I asked for anything in his name I would have it.
And guess what?
He never renigs on a promise. He is the embodiment of truth.
Again with my favorite quote: God asked them to step out into the darkness where they could not see, and they did, knowing that either there would be something solid to stand on or they would be taught how to fly.
When changes in life push us out of our comfort zones, let us always remember that while there might not be anything solid to stand on, we are being taught how to fly.
Isaiah 40:31 tell us that "those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint."
Am I fearless, courageous, bold, independent? Hell No! I'm using the biggest crutch of all...Jesus Christ! I'm using His eagle's wings!
Jeremiah 9:23, 24 and 1 Corinithians 1:31 say, "Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord." I'm boasting at the top of my virtual lungs! I could not be more proud to understand and know that the "Lord excercises kindness, justice, and righteousness on this earth."
It's your life, and it's your battle. You don't have to fight with the weapons which God has given you...his word of truth (Bible) and prayer, but the battle will rage on either way, and you are going to take hits no matter what. Don't just stand there...sock Satan in the face! You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
I thank God, for his Holy Spirit which dwells in me, has me fired up and all I can think about Satan is: Let me at him!
The truth is: I did not move out here by myself. I'm a coward, and I never would.
The only reason I'm able to move halfway across the United States is because my Heavenly Father is with me. No matter where I go or what I do, he is always with me. He will never leave me or forsake me. He is always my source of comfort and peace and love and hope, which is why when the demons whisper lies in my ear:
"You are all alone out here. You have no friends and no family. You are in over your head. You are never going to make it. You are lonely. You are scared. In fact, you are not even going to be good at your job, and your bills are piling up."
I can look Satan in the face and call him the liar he is. This war that rages everyday between the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of Chaos is a lot easier when you realize what's going on. I can see all my fear and doubt for what it is....lies. Today I'm not getting my ass kicked because God is allowing me to see the enemy trying to work in my life. After all, you can't fight what you can't see. "I once was blind, but now I see."
I'm living on faith and hope. I will make friends out here. I will be good at my job. I will be happy and make myself a home in Texas. I will do it by God!
How do I know?
Because my Lord and Savior promised it. He promised he had plans to prosper me and not to harm me. He promised me the abundant life. He promised me that if I asked for anything in his name I would have it.
And guess what?
He never renigs on a promise. He is the embodiment of truth.
Again with my favorite quote: God asked them to step out into the darkness where they could not see, and they did, knowing that either there would be something solid to stand on or they would be taught how to fly.
When changes in life push us out of our comfort zones, let us always remember that while there might not be anything solid to stand on, we are being taught how to fly.
Isaiah 40:31 tell us that "those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint."
Am I fearless, courageous, bold, independent? Hell No! I'm using the biggest crutch of all...Jesus Christ! I'm using His eagle's wings!
Jeremiah 9:23, 24 and 1 Corinithians 1:31 say, "Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord." I'm boasting at the top of my virtual lungs! I could not be more proud to understand and know that the "Lord excercises kindness, justice, and righteousness on this earth."
It's your life, and it's your battle. You don't have to fight with the weapons which God has given you...his word of truth (Bible) and prayer, but the battle will rage on either way, and you are going to take hits no matter what. Don't just stand there...sock Satan in the face! You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
I thank God, for his Holy Spirit which dwells in me, has me fired up and all I can think about Satan is: Let me at him!
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