The other morning I was laying in bed , thinking how I should get out of bed and go spend time with God, read the Bible, pray. You know, all the things that I know will bring me closer to God and make me more like Christ. All the things that will guide me on the path that He has prepared for me so that I may fulfill the purpose for which He created me.
So what do I do? Roll Over.
After dozing for another twenty minutes, the thought strikes me again: Get up, spend time with the Lord. It’s what you truly desire. So what do I do? Roll Over.
Ten minutes later, my cell phone rings. What do I do? Spring from the bed.
Now isn’t that sad. Why don’t I wake up in the morning with excitement and wonder for the Lord of our creation, why don’t my feet hit the floor ready to go for the Maker of the universe? Why does it take some cheesy cell phone ring to send me running when God himself is knocking at my door?
Because I’m selfish, and stubborn, and lazy. Because I live in a world of instant gratification. Because I put my desires before His. Sad isn't it.
I wonder how many opportunities to experience His undeniable love I've missed because of my selfishness, stubbornness, or laziness. I pray the Holy Spirit continues to work in me, continues to make me more like Christ. I pray I am able to remove myself long enough for that to happen.
I pray we choose to experience His love undeniable rather than feed our selfish desires.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Be like a duck
Today as I was standing in the Starbucks line to get my grande chai tea latte, the man in front of me ordered a venti soy latte. Apparently the Barista didn’t hear the SOY part so the cashier repeated “You got that SOY right?” The Barista responded…."Next time he needs to specify.” Before you know it, the customer loudly, and quite defensively, responded, “I said SOY with my order….I did specify.” It was quite bizarre really, and sad. The grown man customer sounded more like a whiny small child.
It made me wonder….what’s going on inside of him that the customer felt the need to so quickly respond and with such a defensive tone? How is it that something as innocent, and I think enjoyable, as getting a coffee can become a negative experience, and so early in the morning? Imagine the mood that set for his day. What about for the barista’s day? Already the barista was facing a long line of waiting customers and then this guy snaps at him. Granted the issue would have been avoided if the barista simply complied with the request and not responded. Of course the customer could have ignored the barista’s comment as well. Sadly, two opportunities to avoid the conflict were blatantly ignored.
While this may seem like a simple conflict, how often do we witness or even participate in simple conflicts that mount into bigger conflicts. Recently in my community, 9 people were injured and 1 killed in an altercation that ended with gunshots. I can't help but wonder if this wasn't caused by a build up of simple conflicts. How many opportunities to avoid the conflict were ignored?
So what lesson did I learn from this Starbucks experience? The need to be like a duck. Have you ever watched as a duck plays in water? The water simply rolls off the duck’s back. Perhaps we should strive to be more like that duck and just let rude comments, ungrateful responses, odd looks, unpleasant tones, and the like simply roll of our back. After all, is this not what the Bible calls us to do in Matthew 5:39 “But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” And again in Luke 6:29 “If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic.”
I pray each one of us may be diligent in allowing the troubles of the day, the negatives, and the frustrations to flow off our backs like water on a duck. Isn't this truly setting the example of Christ? Isn’t this sharing His love undeniable with those around us?
It made me wonder….what’s going on inside of him that the customer felt the need to so quickly respond and with such a defensive tone? How is it that something as innocent, and I think enjoyable, as getting a coffee can become a negative experience, and so early in the morning? Imagine the mood that set for his day. What about for the barista’s day? Already the barista was facing a long line of waiting customers and then this guy snaps at him. Granted the issue would have been avoided if the barista simply complied with the request and not responded. Of course the customer could have ignored the barista’s comment as well. Sadly, two opportunities to avoid the conflict were blatantly ignored.
While this may seem like a simple conflict, how often do we witness or even participate in simple conflicts that mount into bigger conflicts. Recently in my community, 9 people were injured and 1 killed in an altercation that ended with gunshots. I can't help but wonder if this wasn't caused by a build up of simple conflicts. How many opportunities to avoid the conflict were ignored?
So what lesson did I learn from this Starbucks experience? The need to be like a duck. Have you ever watched as a duck plays in water? The water simply rolls off the duck’s back. Perhaps we should strive to be more like that duck and just let rude comments, ungrateful responses, odd looks, unpleasant tones, and the like simply roll of our back. After all, is this not what the Bible calls us to do in Matthew 5:39 “But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” And again in Luke 6:29 “If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic.”
I pray each one of us may be diligent in allowing the troubles of the day, the negatives, and the frustrations to flow off our backs like water on a duck. Isn't this truly setting the example of Christ? Isn’t this sharing His love undeniable with those around us?
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Words to live by...
"Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret--it leads only to evil." Psalm 37:1-8 (NIV)
He will make the justice of my cause shine like the noonday sun. I love this verse....nothing shines brighter than the noonday sun. The justice of my cause is my passion, what God created me for, my purpose, and He will make it shine like the noonday sun....
IF.....I don't fret because of evil men...so as I see those not walking with the Lord achieve what the world considers success , I will stand firmly planted on my narrow path.
IF.....I trust in the Lord and do good. Notice it doesn't say 'do good when you feel like it'. If we are to be like Christ we must continuously put the needs of others before us.
IF.....I dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. God has given us everything we need for a rich and spiritually successful life through His Word. If we dwell in the narrow path and abide by His Word, we will enjoy safe pasture, which is not to say that we won't have hardships but as the Word promises, we can take heart for Christ has overcome the world.
IF.....I delight in the Lord. Our God is mighty to save, awesome in His works, and wondrous in His character. How often throughout the day do I take the time to truly thank Him? To delight in His beauty, His grace, His magnitude? The earth, the sky, the butterfly are all examples of His love for us. As I delight in Him, we will grant me the desires of my heart. What a loving Father!
IF....I commit my way to the Lord and trust in Him. Through all things may my life honor Him and bring Him glory. He knows the ultimate plan for my life since He created it therefore, I am free to trust in Him always.
IF....I am still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him. Stillness and waiting are two things this world does not encourage. We are constantly bombarded with information, constantly moving, constantly doing. God calls us to be still, to wait, and to allow Him to work.
IF....I refrain from anger and turn from wrath. We are responsible for our emotions. Fortunately, God knows how hard it is for us at times so He sent us a helper. We can rely on the Holy Spirit to ease our anger; we can turn our cares over to Him, seek His shelter and His comfort, and pray for peace.
Finally, three times the verses in Psalm 37 say 'do not fret'. Verse 37:8 says fretting leads to evil. Isn't that contradictory to what society tells us? Besides the 'Don't Worry Be Happy' guy, most of the world tells us we should worry, we should be in the mix of solving our own problems, but the Bible tells us differently. It says don't fret. Look at some of the definitions for 'fret' from dictionary.com:
1. to feel or express worry, annoyance, discontent, or the like
2. to cause corrosion; gnaw into something:
3. to make a way by gnawing, corrosion, wearing away, etc.
4. to become eaten, worn, or corroded
5. to move in agitation or commotion, as water
6. to torment; irritate, annoy, or vex
7. to wear away or consume by gnawing, friction, rust, corrosives, etc.
8. to form or make by wearing away a substance
9. to agitate (water)
None of these sound good. Fretting can have the same result as acid: corrosion, gnawing away. Worry in our lives can have the same affect. So lay your burdens down at the foot of the cross, trust in the Lord to carry them, and GO live the life God has called you to. Then, the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.
Won't you join me in following these words to live by. Won't you join me in experiencing His love undeniable.
He will make the justice of my cause shine like the noonday sun. I love this verse....nothing shines brighter than the noonday sun. The justice of my cause is my passion, what God created me for, my purpose, and He will make it shine like the noonday sun....
IF.....I don't fret because of evil men...so as I see those not walking with the Lord achieve what the world considers success , I will stand firmly planted on my narrow path.
IF.....I trust in the Lord and do good. Notice it doesn't say 'do good when you feel like it'. If we are to be like Christ we must continuously put the needs of others before us.
IF.....I dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. God has given us everything we need for a rich and spiritually successful life through His Word. If we dwell in the narrow path and abide by His Word, we will enjoy safe pasture, which is not to say that we won't have hardships but as the Word promises, we can take heart for Christ has overcome the world.
IF.....I delight in the Lord. Our God is mighty to save, awesome in His works, and wondrous in His character. How often throughout the day do I take the time to truly thank Him? To delight in His beauty, His grace, His magnitude? The earth, the sky, the butterfly are all examples of His love for us. As I delight in Him, we will grant me the desires of my heart. What a loving Father!
IF....I commit my way to the Lord and trust in Him. Through all things may my life honor Him and bring Him glory. He knows the ultimate plan for my life since He created it therefore, I am free to trust in Him always.
IF....I am still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him. Stillness and waiting are two things this world does not encourage. We are constantly bombarded with information, constantly moving, constantly doing. God calls us to be still, to wait, and to allow Him to work.
IF....I refrain from anger and turn from wrath. We are responsible for our emotions. Fortunately, God knows how hard it is for us at times so He sent us a helper. We can rely on the Holy Spirit to ease our anger; we can turn our cares over to Him, seek His shelter and His comfort, and pray for peace.
Finally, three times the verses in Psalm 37 say 'do not fret'. Verse 37:8 says fretting leads to evil. Isn't that contradictory to what society tells us? Besides the 'Don't Worry Be Happy' guy, most of the world tells us we should worry, we should be in the mix of solving our own problems, but the Bible tells us differently. It says don't fret. Look at some of the definitions for 'fret' from dictionary.com:
1. to feel or express worry, annoyance, discontent, or the like
2. to cause corrosion; gnaw into something:
3. to make a way by gnawing, corrosion, wearing away, etc.
4. to become eaten, worn, or corroded
5. to move in agitation or commotion, as water
6. to torment; irritate, annoy, or vex
7. to wear away or consume by gnawing, friction, rust, corrosives, etc.
8. to form or make by wearing away a substance
9. to agitate (water)
None of these sound good. Fretting can have the same result as acid: corrosion, gnawing away. Worry in our lives can have the same affect. So lay your burdens down at the foot of the cross, trust in the Lord to carry them, and GO live the life God has called you to. Then, the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.
Won't you join me in following these words to live by. Won't you join me in experiencing His love undeniable.
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