Dear Lord,
I've been carrying around a pretty heavy load lately. I have a lot of worries, a lot of happenings and a lot of people that I have to deal with and frankly, I'm not doing a very good job with all of it. I read in Matthew 6:27 that you can't add a single hour to your life by worrying, so I took all my worries and packed them in this pretty gigantic box. There's nothing I can accomplish by holding on to these worries and they are blocking my line of sight that leads to You.
And then I had all these "events" happening and they are more than I can handle. My burdens are great and I am weary. Then I read in Matthew 11:28 that You said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Here I am. I packed all those burdens in that box as well and I've brought it to You. I shall put my trust in You, Lord. I see how you care for the lilies of the field and the small sparrows in the sky. I saw what you said about my worth in Matthew 10:31. You said, "So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." So, I went ahead and packed my fears into that box as well.
There's still a lot of people out there, though, and I sometimes get frustrated and annoyed and lost my patience with them. Then I read what Paul said in 1 Timothy 4:16. "But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life." 2 Peter 3:9 reminds me of God's patience. It says, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." I will remember that our goal is to get to heaven.
I will leave my box with you and I will fix my eyes on You. I will run the race and not give up. I choose the narrow way.
As Ever,
Me
I challenge you to pack your own box. Get a box and write down all your worries, fears and anything that takes your eyes off of the cross and put it in the box. Tape it shut. Cut a slit in the top so you can always add more when needed, but you can't take anything back out. Write Jesus on the box because all of it belongs to Him. Remember, Jesus said in Matthew 11:30, "For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Carry only His yoke.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Monday, March 11, 2013
The Strength of Gentleness
Society often looks down on quiet, meek-seeming people as if their nature showed weakness. A quick-temper and flapping tongue boasts of strength, but it is nothing more than a flashy show of childishness. A soft-spoken person is anything but weak. It requires a great deal of strength and self-control to maintain a spirit of gentleness. A calm person is not complacent, but rather in control of their body and their actions. They are firm and unyielding in their dealings with other people.
My former boss carried such a beautiful, quiet and gentle spirit with her everywhere she went and I'll never forget her soft, yet non-negotiable voice. Every so often the ladies would organize a "Ladies Night Out" and we'd meet at a restaurant around town for dinner. On one particular evening, we had chosen a little, quaint Italian restaurant. Our party must have had near twenty guests and the waiter began to explain that he had to put everything on one check and that he could not split it for each of us. Without batting an eye, she replied, "No. You can split it and you will." Our waiter, slightly flabbergasted, attempted to tell her he could not split the checks and started spouting off computer reasons. She offered a small smile and repeated herself. "You can split it." He sputtered and gestured and again attempted to make a speech about being unable to split the check. She looked him straight in the eye and said, "You can split the check. You will split the check. Do not worry, you will get your tip; split the check."
Not once did she ever raise her voice. Not once did she lose her small smile. She never gave a hint of annoyance, nor did she complain about the waiter or the check. Her tone was so matter of fact that you simply could not argue with her, because she didn't argue. She made a simple statement and repeated it over and over. What composure! I remember feeling frazzled and frustrated with the waiter and panicking about how we were going to pay our bill correctly with so many ladies eating out together. She simply did not take no for an answer, nor did she let it ruin her evening. She maintained her cheerful disposition throughout the entire exchange.
And yes, our waiter did split our check.
1 Peter 3:4 says, " . . . the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight." You see, God cares about how we conduct ourselves and how we treat other people. Self-control and kindness are just two of the fruits of the Spirit, and these two are essential to maintaining a gentle and quiet spirit. This, then, is how we ought to live. Colossians 3:12 says, "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."
Use your ears and listen to your voice. Think on your actions and what you do with your hands and your facial expressions. Does the world see the gentleness of Christ in you?
My former boss carried such a beautiful, quiet and gentle spirit with her everywhere she went and I'll never forget her soft, yet non-negotiable voice. Every so often the ladies would organize a "Ladies Night Out" and we'd meet at a restaurant around town for dinner. On one particular evening, we had chosen a little, quaint Italian restaurant. Our party must have had near twenty guests and the waiter began to explain that he had to put everything on one check and that he could not split it for each of us. Without batting an eye, she replied, "No. You can split it and you will." Our waiter, slightly flabbergasted, attempted to tell her he could not split the checks and started spouting off computer reasons. She offered a small smile and repeated herself. "You can split it." He sputtered and gestured and again attempted to make a speech about being unable to split the check. She looked him straight in the eye and said, "You can split the check. You will split the check. Do not worry, you will get your tip; split the check."
Not once did she ever raise her voice. Not once did she lose her small smile. She never gave a hint of annoyance, nor did she complain about the waiter or the check. Her tone was so matter of fact that you simply could not argue with her, because she didn't argue. She made a simple statement and repeated it over and over. What composure! I remember feeling frazzled and frustrated with the waiter and panicking about how we were going to pay our bill correctly with so many ladies eating out together. She simply did not take no for an answer, nor did she let it ruin her evening. She maintained her cheerful disposition throughout the entire exchange.
And yes, our waiter did split our check.
1 Peter 3:4 says, " . . . the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight." You see, God cares about how we conduct ourselves and how we treat other people. Self-control and kindness are just two of the fruits of the Spirit, and these two are essential to maintaining a gentle and quiet spirit. This, then, is how we ought to live. Colossians 3:12 says, "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."
Use your ears and listen to your voice. Think on your actions and what you do with your hands and your facial expressions. Does the world see the gentleness of Christ in you?
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Got Your Checklist?
If you're going to get everything done that needs to be done, you have to keep a to-do list, a checklist and a calendar. People used to carry around little booklets and calendars as planners. Nowadays, most of us use some sort of smartphone and the internet to keep up with our schedules. These things come in handy when you are keeping up with bills or making out your grocery list. They can help keep your organized at work so you complete your projects in a timely manner. Yet, we've become so dependent upon using such lists, that we take them places they ought not to go. And where is that?
Let's consider the Pharisees who constantly plotted against Jesus. The constantly "checked" his actions and those of his disciples. They became angry when Jesus healed on the Sabbath and when his disciples did not wash their hands before eating. They asked him questions not to gain knowledge but to try and trap him in contradicting the Law. They had their little check lists and went around evaluating everyone they could find. They were so intent on finding sin that they lost sight of the purpose of the Law.
Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?
The very question shows a lack of love and it shows the the coldness of heart that these Pharisees had. Jesus had the perfect answer for them. Matthew 12:12 ". . . therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath." Other times the Pharisees asked Jesus, "Why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?" Mark 2:27 says "Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath." The checklist of accusatory questions continues with topics such as fasting and hand washing. They condemn him for eating with "tax collectors and sinners." They ask about paying taxes. They even bring an adulterous woman to him and demand that she be stoned as the Law commands. Did Jesus stone her? No. He said, "“Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” John 8:7.
So, before you pull out your checklist, take a good look at yourself. Matthew 7:1-5 says it quite well. "“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye."
How quickly we condemn each other, but our Lord is compassionate and shows mercy. He didn't even wait for us to repent before sacrificing his only Son. Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Put your checklist away. Forgive each other. Show mercy and praise God for ". . . there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, . . ." Romans 8:1.
Let's consider the Pharisees who constantly plotted against Jesus. The constantly "checked" his actions and those of his disciples. They became angry when Jesus healed on the Sabbath and when his disciples did not wash their hands before eating. They asked him questions not to gain knowledge but to try and trap him in contradicting the Law. They had their little check lists and went around evaluating everyone they could find. They were so intent on finding sin that they lost sight of the purpose of the Law.
Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?
The very question shows a lack of love and it shows the the coldness of heart that these Pharisees had. Jesus had the perfect answer for them. Matthew 12:12 ". . . therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath." Other times the Pharisees asked Jesus, "Why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?" Mark 2:27 says "Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath." The checklist of accusatory questions continues with topics such as fasting and hand washing. They condemn him for eating with "tax collectors and sinners." They ask about paying taxes. They even bring an adulterous woman to him and demand that she be stoned as the Law commands. Did Jesus stone her? No. He said, "“Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” John 8:7.
So, before you pull out your checklist, take a good look at yourself. Matthew 7:1-5 says it quite well. "“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye."
How quickly we condemn each other, but our Lord is compassionate and shows mercy. He didn't even wait for us to repent before sacrificing his only Son. Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Put your checklist away. Forgive each other. Show mercy and praise God for ". . . there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, . . ." Romans 8:1.
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