Philippians 4:8
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
I don't know about you, but every day I fight a war with myself inside my mind. I love this verse in Philippians, and I try to remember it every time my thought life takes a dive (which is often, believe me); but it is quite hard to put into practice! When God speaks something to me and gives me a peace about a situation, it doesn't take long for me to forget that He did that for me and pick those thoughts back up again.
My mind doesn't just wander... it hitchhikes. And before I know it, it's on the back of a pickup truck headed for Tijuana! And I think to myself, "how did I get here? These cacti sure don't look familiar..." The point is, it's easy for our thoughts to get away from us. We have to endeavor to guard our thoughts at all times. And it's not easy! But when we let those negative thoughts creep in, and we begin to dwell on them, it isn't long before we've ventured into terrain we're unfamiliar with... somewhere we never intended to be, somewhere we weren't meant to go.
This especially true when it comes to judging our brothers and sisters in Christ. In Philippians 2, Paul writes,"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves." I was talking with my mom the other day about the fact that our judicial system has a stance when it comes to convicting someone of a crime: "innocent until proven guilty." An attorney has to bring enough evidence against a defendant to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the person did what he or she is being accused of. However when it comes to the body of believers and our opinions of each other, our stance seems to be "guilty until proven innocent." Brothers and Sisters, this should not be! The Bible says to esteem others as better than ourselves, not as worse! Yet, we often will be quick to believe the worst about someone because it makes us feel better about ourselves. That goes against what God wants for us- unity.
We are so much stronger when we are together; the enemy knows this. That's why he likes to plant the seeds of doubt and dissension and watch us flounder as we try to see just how many fingers we can point at everyone but ourselves. All because we let one negative thought creep in. Have I completely learned my lesson? No. And I probably never will... after all, I'm not perfect. But God has been teaching me four things over and over these past few weeks: 1. It doesn't matter in the light of eternity, 2. He's got it all under control anyway, 3. It's not my job to fix everyone's problems, and 4. Let it go!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Monday, May 5, 2008
Evidence of the Experience.
God is still speaking to me about what topic to write on this week. I took a break from the encouragement business last week, and for that I must apologize. I wasn't feeling very encouraged myself, and it was hard for me to dole it out to others. How very, very selfish of me! God can use me even when I'm being a cranky little brat... How often I forget that. So, until I post this week's blog, may I direct you to one of my personal heroes (and favorite singers), Bethany Dillon. This is a blog she posted on her myspace... and boy is it GOOD! Keep in mind, she is even younger than I am! I amazed at how God uses this girl in my life, and I've never even met her.
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=20956866&blogID=323691447&Mytoken=DF099C57-F8E1-4824-BF0E1E8CC847E8DB31731233
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=20956866&blogID=323691447&Mytoken=DF099C57-F8E1-4824-BF0E1E8CC847E8DB31731233
Friday, April 25, 2008
Don't Pull the Weeds!
Matthew 13:24-30
The Parable of the Weeds
24Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
27"The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?'
28" 'An enemy did this,' he replied. "The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?'
29" 'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. 30Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.' "
I wish I could claim this encouragement as from my own head- it's THAT good. But this little slice of wisdom comes from the mind of my amazing pastor (oh, and God's Word). I love the parable of the weeds. Granted, I didn't remember it until Wednesday night Bible study when Pastor read it; but now, it is definitely one of my favorite parables. The wheat in this parable are the believers and God is the Sower. The devil comes in the night to plant the weeds, the unbelievers who do his work. These weeds from biblical times are known as tares (in the KJV), or darnel.
From Wikipedia, "Lolium temulentum, typically known as darnel or cockle, is an annual plant that forms part of the Poaceae family and part of the Lolium genus. The plant stem can grow up to 1 meter tall, with inflorescence in the ears and purple grain. It grows plentifully in Syria and Israel. It usually grows in the same production zones as wheat and is considered a weed. The similarity between these two plants is so extensive that in some regions cockle is referred to as "false wheat." It bears a close resemblance to wheat until the ear appears. It is also gives its name to another edible grain, aquatic cockle, known as "false rice." The plant is mentioned in the Parable of the Tares in the Gospel of Matthew."
We learned this week that as wheat, it is not our job to point out the darnel in our field. Our only responsibilty is to grow as tall as we can and bear as much fruit for the Sower. I know I needed to hear that. I am one of those people who tends to be a litttle too self-righteous sometimes. I see people not conducting themselves "in a manner worthy of the gospel" (Phil. 1:27), and I am so quick to judge. But guess what? I'm not the harvester, so I have no right to pluck the weeds. It's not even my business to find out whether they are truly wheat or darnel. I am here to glorify the Father and Him alone.
I also noticed another interesting point here. Do you ever hear people say, "How could God let this happen?" or "Why is God doing this?" Does it ever just tick you off? God is not the planter of the weeds; He didn't cause the trouble in our lives. The devil came in the middle of the night, while we were all sleeping, and planted his seeds of envy, anger, destruction, despair. None of the struggles we have in our lives come from God. They are from the devil. God does let us walk through them, though... because it makes us stronger. The darnel doesn't harm the wheat. They grow and thrive together. I just love that picture!
So I'll leave you with one thought this week. Be wheat. Grow strong. Ignore the weeds!
The Parable of the Weeds
24Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
27"The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?'
28" 'An enemy did this,' he replied. "The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?'
29" 'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. 30Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.' "
I wish I could claim this encouragement as from my own head- it's THAT good. But this little slice of wisdom comes from the mind of my amazing pastor (oh, and God's Word). I love the parable of the weeds. Granted, I didn't remember it until Wednesday night Bible study when Pastor read it; but now, it is definitely one of my favorite parables. The wheat in this parable are the believers and God is the Sower. The devil comes in the night to plant the weeds, the unbelievers who do his work. These weeds from biblical times are known as tares (in the KJV), or darnel.
From Wikipedia, "Lolium temulentum, typically known as darnel or cockle, is an annual plant that forms part of the Poaceae family and part of the Lolium genus. The plant stem can grow up to 1 meter tall, with inflorescence in the ears and purple grain. It grows plentifully in Syria and Israel. It usually grows in the same production zones as wheat and is considered a weed. The similarity between these two plants is so extensive that in some regions cockle is referred to as "false wheat." It bears a close resemblance to wheat until the ear appears. It is also gives its name to another edible grain, aquatic cockle, known as "false rice." The plant is mentioned in the Parable of the Tares in the Gospel of Matthew."
We learned this week that as wheat, it is not our job to point out the darnel in our field. Our only responsibilty is to grow as tall as we can and bear as much fruit for the Sower. I know I needed to hear that. I am one of those people who tends to be a litttle too self-righteous sometimes. I see people not conducting themselves "in a manner worthy of the gospel" (Phil. 1:27), and I am so quick to judge. But guess what? I'm not the harvester, so I have no right to pluck the weeds. It's not even my business to find out whether they are truly wheat or darnel. I am here to glorify the Father and Him alone.
I also noticed another interesting point here. Do you ever hear people say, "How could God let this happen?" or "Why is God doing this?" Does it ever just tick you off? God is not the planter of the weeds; He didn't cause the trouble in our lives. The devil came in the middle of the night, while we were all sleeping, and planted his seeds of envy, anger, destruction, despair. None of the struggles we have in our lives come from God. They are from the devil. God does let us walk through them, though... because it makes us stronger. The darnel doesn't harm the wheat. They grow and thrive together. I just love that picture!
So I'll leave you with one thought this week. Be wheat. Grow strong. Ignore the weeds!
Monday, April 14, 2008
Perserverance > Procrastination
Philippians 3:13-14
"Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
Hebrews 12:1
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."
Well, it's appropriate that I was late on the devotion this week. I've had a request for the topic, and to be honest, I didn't want to do it. Mostly because I know it's something I need to hear most. Procrastination is something that many people deal with on a daily basis. But what are the reasons behind our unwillingness to do things? Or maybe it's not that we're not willing, but there is a hesitancy that lingers.
Thomas Jefferson once said, “Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.” Good advice, but for many it's hard to live by. The truth is, deep down we all know what we need to be doing and when it needs to be done. We make excuses and put things off because of the selfish nature or our flesh. We really don't want to do whatever the task is at all. We don't want to confront the nastier side of ourselves that the Holy Spirit is bringing to light. Because it's hard. It goes against everything our human nature wants. But it's also what's best.
When we persevere, the rewards are great. I know it's easy for me to say that, but we all know it's true. We have all reaped the benefits of trudging through something we didn't really want to do and seeing the end results. The best thing I can think of that would help is to visualize the goal and find something to motivate you. Talk yourself up, buck up, and do it! Sometimes we as Christians need to stop being whiny babies and "press on toward the goal." Jesus did it for us- can't we give it our best for Him?
"Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
Hebrews 12:1
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."
Well, it's appropriate that I was late on the devotion this week. I've had a request for the topic, and to be honest, I didn't want to do it. Mostly because I know it's something I need to hear most. Procrastination is something that many people deal with on a daily basis. But what are the reasons behind our unwillingness to do things? Or maybe it's not that we're not willing, but there is a hesitancy that lingers.
Thomas Jefferson once said, “Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.” Good advice, but for many it's hard to live by. The truth is, deep down we all know what we need to be doing and when it needs to be done. We make excuses and put things off because of the selfish nature or our flesh. We really don't want to do whatever the task is at all. We don't want to confront the nastier side of ourselves that the Holy Spirit is bringing to light. Because it's hard. It goes against everything our human nature wants. But it's also what's best.
When we persevere, the rewards are great. I know it's easy for me to say that, but we all know it's true. We have all reaped the benefits of trudging through something we didn't really want to do and seeing the end results. The best thing I can think of that would help is to visualize the goal and find something to motivate you. Talk yourself up, buck up, and do it! Sometimes we as Christians need to stop being whiny babies and "press on toward the goal." Jesus did it for us- can't we give it our best for Him?
Friday, April 11, 2008
Brokenness
Psalm 38
A psalm of David. A petition.
1 O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath.
2 For your arrows have pierced me, and your hand has come down upon me.
3 Because of your wrath there is no health in my body; my bones have no soundness because of my sin.
4 My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear.
5 My wounds fester and are loathsome because of my sinful folly.
6 I am bowed down and brought very low; all day long I go about mourning.
7 My back is filled with searing pain; there is no health in my body.
8 I am feeble and utterly crushed; I groan in anguish of heart.
9 All my longings lie open before you, O Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you.
10 My heart pounds, my strength fails me; even the light has gone from my eyes.
11 My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds; my neighbors stay far away.
12 Those who seek my life set their traps, those who would harm me talk of my ruin; all day long they plot deception.
13 I am like a deaf man, who cannot hear, like a mute, who cannot open his mouth;
14 I have become like a man who does not hear, whose mouth can offer no reply.
15 I wait for you, O LORD; you will answer, O Lord my God.
16 For I said, "Do not let them gloat or exalt themselves over me when my foot slips."
17 For I am about to fall, and my pain is ever with me.
18 I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin.
19 Many are those who are my vigorous enemies; those who hate me without reason are numerous.
20 Those who repay my good with evil slander me when I pursue what is good.
21 O LORD, do not forsake me; be not far from me, O my God.
22 Come quickly to help me, O Lord my Savior.
"Brokenness, brokenness is what I long for. Brokenness is what I need. Brokenness, brokenness is what You want from me." I love that song. But how often I forget the value of brokenness. This isn't one of my weekly devotions, but I have had a rough week emotionally. I'm not usually a "down" person- I'm generally good-natured and positive. This week, however, I have just been in a funk and a little depressed. That's when I remember that you don't have to always be happy. Sometimes God takes things from us because they get in the way of our relationship with Him. And it hurts... a lot. But we're always better off in the end. I just want to encourage anyone else who is going through a period of brokenness in their life: it will get better. And you will see the benefit of it later. Don't give up. Don't lose hope. Your Savior is coming quickly to help you.
A psalm of David. A petition.
1 O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath.
2 For your arrows have pierced me, and your hand has come down upon me.
3 Because of your wrath there is no health in my body; my bones have no soundness because of my sin.
4 My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear.
5 My wounds fester and are loathsome because of my sinful folly.
6 I am bowed down and brought very low; all day long I go about mourning.
7 My back is filled with searing pain; there is no health in my body.
8 I am feeble and utterly crushed; I groan in anguish of heart.
9 All my longings lie open before you, O Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you.
10 My heart pounds, my strength fails me; even the light has gone from my eyes.
11 My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds; my neighbors stay far away.
12 Those who seek my life set their traps, those who would harm me talk of my ruin; all day long they plot deception.
13 I am like a deaf man, who cannot hear, like a mute, who cannot open his mouth;
14 I have become like a man who does not hear, whose mouth can offer no reply.
15 I wait for you, O LORD; you will answer, O Lord my God.
16 For I said, "Do not let them gloat or exalt themselves over me when my foot slips."
17 For I am about to fall, and my pain is ever with me.
18 I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin.
19 Many are those who are my vigorous enemies; those who hate me without reason are numerous.
20 Those who repay my good with evil slander me when I pursue what is good.
21 O LORD, do not forsake me; be not far from me, O my God.
22 Come quickly to help me, O Lord my Savior.
"Brokenness, brokenness is what I long for. Brokenness is what I need. Brokenness, brokenness is what You want from me." I love that song. But how often I forget the value of brokenness. This isn't one of my weekly devotions, but I have had a rough week emotionally. I'm not usually a "down" person- I'm generally good-natured and positive. This week, however, I have just been in a funk and a little depressed. That's when I remember that you don't have to always be happy. Sometimes God takes things from us because they get in the way of our relationship with Him. And it hurts... a lot. But we're always better off in the end. I just want to encourage anyone else who is going through a period of brokenness in their life: it will get better. And you will see the benefit of it later. Don't give up. Don't lose hope. Your Savior is coming quickly to help you.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
People vs. God
Galatians 1:10
"Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ."
K. I. S. S. Keep It Simple, Silly. One of my high school teachers used to say that all the time. He was referring to math, but I think it can also apply to most things in life. Sometimes we try so hard to over-analyze verses that we miss the simple message. This week I picked a pretty straight-forward one. "Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God?" So take a moment and as yourself, "Who am I trying to please?"
It's easy to write it off and say, "Oh of course I live to please God... I'm a Christian." Many of us, though, strive for man's approval without even realizing it. There's nothing wrong with doing your best, but it's the motivations behind your actions that counts. We've all heard the saying "What's popular is not always right, and what's right is not always popular." Cliched? Maybe, but true nonetheless. And that's really all I have to say on the subject, because let's face it: we all know what we're doing wrong in our lives. And we're the only ones who can change that. So I just challenge you this week to ask yourself each time you do something, "Who am I doing this for?" And remember, the people around us may see a "do-gooder", but God looks at the heart (1 Sam. 16:7).
"Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ."
K. I. S. S. Keep It Simple, Silly. One of my high school teachers used to say that all the time. He was referring to math, but I think it can also apply to most things in life. Sometimes we try so hard to over-analyze verses that we miss the simple message. This week I picked a pretty straight-forward one. "Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God?" So take a moment and as yourself, "Who am I trying to please?"
It's easy to write it off and say, "Oh of course I live to please God... I'm a Christian." Many of us, though, strive for man's approval without even realizing it. There's nothing wrong with doing your best, but it's the motivations behind your actions that counts. We've all heard the saying "What's popular is not always right, and what's right is not always popular." Cliched? Maybe, but true nonetheless. And that's really all I have to say on the subject, because let's face it: we all know what we're doing wrong in our lives. And we're the only ones who can change that. So I just challenge you this week to ask yourself each time you do something, "Who am I doing this for?" And remember, the people around us may see a "do-gooder", but God looks at the heart (1 Sam. 16:7).
Sunday, March 30, 2008
God is my drug
Psalm 4:7
"You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound."
Addictions. We all have them. Some go to alcohol, some to sex, some to drugs, some to food. There are millions of things this world (and the enemy) has contrived to take us away from our first love. I love the old commercials that would show a teenager doing something he or she loved and would say "such and such is my anti-drug." I used to think God was my anti-drug. That my faith and my love for Jesus would keep me from doing the things that the "dregs of society" fall into. If this were true for all Christians, though, why do so many believers have the same addictions as the unsaved?
Anything can become a drug. In my opinion, obsession and addiction go hand in hand. Just as anything can become an idol if you let get in the way of your relationship with God, that same thing can become a drug if you let yourself become too dependent on it. In this light, even another person can be your drug. Dictionary.com defines addiction as "the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming... to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma." When someone is addicted to something, trying to leave that addiction causes withdrawal. Withdrawal is defined as "Discontinuation of the use of an addictive substance. The physiological and mental readjustment that accompanies such discontinuation." Withdrawal can be painful for addicts; they begin to crave their drug again and many times go back to using.
If you find yourself (as we all do) struggling with an addiction of any kind, instead of letting God be your anti-drug, why not let Him be your drug? I want to be addicted to God. I want to go through withdrawal when I don't spend time with Him. I want to need Him so badly to survive, to not be able to go a day without my "fix." It may seem unconventional, but Jesus wants every piece of us. If there's any empty space in us we're trying to fill with something else, He wants to fill it. God doesn't just want some, He wants all. So if you're going to be addicted to something, why can't it be God? The Skillet song "Better Than Drugs" says it this way,
Further reading: 1 Corinthians 10 (this whole chapter is amazing!)
"You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound."
Addictions. We all have them. Some go to alcohol, some to sex, some to drugs, some to food. There are millions of things this world (and the enemy) has contrived to take us away from our first love. I love the old commercials that would show a teenager doing something he or she loved and would say "such and such is my anti-drug." I used to think God was my anti-drug. That my faith and my love for Jesus would keep me from doing the things that the "dregs of society" fall into. If this were true for all Christians, though, why do so many believers have the same addictions as the unsaved?
Anything can become a drug. In my opinion, obsession and addiction go hand in hand. Just as anything can become an idol if you let get in the way of your relationship with God, that same thing can become a drug if you let yourself become too dependent on it. In this light, even another person can be your drug. Dictionary.com defines addiction as "the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming... to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma." When someone is addicted to something, trying to leave that addiction causes withdrawal. Withdrawal is defined as "Discontinuation of the use of an addictive substance. The physiological and mental readjustment that accompanies such discontinuation." Withdrawal can be painful for addicts; they begin to crave their drug again and many times go back to using.
If you find yourself (as we all do) struggling with an addiction of any kind, instead of letting God be your anti-drug, why not let Him be your drug? I want to be addicted to God. I want to go through withdrawal when I don't spend time with Him. I want to need Him so badly to survive, to not be able to go a day without my "fix." It may seem unconventional, but Jesus wants every piece of us. If there's any empty space in us we're trying to fill with something else, He wants to fill it. God doesn't just want some, He wants all. So if you're going to be addicted to something, why can't it be God? The Skillet song "Better Than Drugs" says it this way,
"You're better than drugs
Your love is like wine
Feel you comin' on so fast
Feel you comin' on to get me high
You're better than drugs
Addicted for life..."
Your love is like wine
Feel you comin' on so fast
Feel you comin' on to get me high
You're better than drugs
Addicted for life..."
Further reading: 1 Corinthians 10 (this whole chapter is amazing!)
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