Crunch Time
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 NIV
I went to a local department store to purchase a leather club chair and ottoman. My wife added a ‘50’s style lamp to our purchase. At the check out, the cashier scanned the two tickets for my furniture and the box for my lamp. The bill came to $73. I looked at the cashier, then to the large boxes, then back to the register dollar amount. Then, in paranoia I scanned the exit doors for security. I paid the $73 and walked over to my wife. I showed her the receipt and her eyes grew to the size of saucers. I loitered at the end of the register for a few moments… deciding. I spoke to my wife and said, “I can’t do it. If I am really following God, I can’t take this furniture.” I turned to the cashier and had her examine my bill and charge me the correct amount.
I think that the strong misconception is that knowing about God is good enough. I’ve read the Bible from cover to cover, in different translations. I have a reasonably good idea as to what it says. But doing what it says is an entirely different animal. When you have the opportunity to live God’s word instead of just reading and repeating it, what will you do? For me, crunch time presented itself with some free furniture. But be sure, crunch time will come again, and again and again. We must always do our part to present ourselves to God as someone who correctly handles the word of truth.
I am ashamed that it took me so long to decide to do the right thing. I am ashamed that I had to decide at all. Doing the right thing should have been an automatic response. I still don’t understand why I have to try so hard to do what the scripture says. I guess this little episode is proof that I am still in need of a savior and that salvation really does need to be worked out daily (Philippians 2:12-13). On the other hand, I see that though I have a tendency to lean in favor of sin, God always reminds me of whom I belong to. And if I am His, then I need to pursue behavior befitting that of a child of the King.
Friday, June 28, 2013
Friday, June 21, 2013
Sudden Impact
Sudden Impact
Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 The Message
Not long ago I was driving home from work. My brother called and we began talking about ‘The Faith’. Just as Jerome started to tell me about God's goodness, BAM! A pickup truck hit the side of my car. Don't you think it is ironic to literally be in a conversation about the goodness of God and get sideswiped? But what might be just as ironic is that a few weeks earlier my friend Becky was on her way to church with her daughter. Becky was singing a Christian song and BAM! A deer darted out in front of her. Becky and Jasmine are fine. But the deer destroyed the entire front of Becky’s car.
I think there are times when life gives us an unexpected jolt. There you are, worshiping the Lord and BAM! - Your spouse wants a divorce, or the doctor delivers bad news or we are gripped by any other of life’s afflictions. I think that the sudden and unexpected impact of troubles force us into a choice. Troubles will either push us away from or toward God. On the one hand you may question as to why a believer who is worshiping God should have to face such a severe and sudden impact of trouble. Then you have to remember that we have been warned that will have to face many trials (James 1:6-7).
The hard truth of the matter is that we are supposed to experience trouble. Even though you are doing and saying the right (godly) things, you will have troubles. In fact, if you are doing the will of God you should expect a little more trouble than normal. I do not think that God causes our pain and suffering. But I do know that He will use it to test us and to work patience and maturity in to those that love Him. He may allow the fender benders of life in order to work salvation in to those that trust Him.
As long as I have to suffer, I am thankful that it is at the hands of God. He knows how much I can stand. Even though I may have to suffer, at least I am in the security of his nail scarred hands.
Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 The Message
Not long ago I was driving home from work. My brother called and we began talking about ‘The Faith’. Just as Jerome started to tell me about God's goodness, BAM! A pickup truck hit the side of my car. Don't you think it is ironic to literally be in a conversation about the goodness of God and get sideswiped? But what might be just as ironic is that a few weeks earlier my friend Becky was on her way to church with her daughter. Becky was singing a Christian song and BAM! A deer darted out in front of her. Becky and Jasmine are fine. But the deer destroyed the entire front of Becky’s car.
I think there are times when life gives us an unexpected jolt. There you are, worshiping the Lord and BAM! - Your spouse wants a divorce, or the doctor delivers bad news or we are gripped by any other of life’s afflictions. I think that the sudden and unexpected impact of troubles force us into a choice. Troubles will either push us away from or toward God. On the one hand you may question as to why a believer who is worshiping God should have to face such a severe and sudden impact of trouble. Then you have to remember that we have been warned that will have to face many trials (James 1:6-7).
The hard truth of the matter is that we are supposed to experience trouble. Even though you are doing and saying the right (godly) things, you will have troubles. In fact, if you are doing the will of God you should expect a little more trouble than normal. I do not think that God causes our pain and suffering. But I do know that He will use it to test us and to work patience and maturity in to those that love Him. He may allow the fender benders of life in order to work salvation in to those that trust Him.
As long as I have to suffer, I am thankful that it is at the hands of God. He knows how much I can stand. Even though I may have to suffer, at least I am in the security of his nail scarred hands.
Friday, June 14, 2013
Social Dyslexia
Social Dyslexia
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
Proverbs 25:21 NIV
There is a learning disorder named Dyslexia. Dyslexia is not an intellectual disability, it is considered to be a receptive language-based learning disability. It can show itself with letters being written backwards or the use of the wrong choice of words. Dyslexic individuals are never cured, they are taught techniques on how to process information whether it is writing, reading or even arithmetic. There have been many times that I believed myself to be Dyslexic, though I have never been diagnosed. One such issue is what I will call Social Dyslexia. I get nervous in large crowds and about meeting new people. As a result, I clam up; I am at a loss for words. The only way I get through the social awkwardness is to have assistance from a nearby person I trust or to learn by examples from people that are adept at social situations.
My brother Scott helped me with an awkward social situation. We had a family member that got himself drunk and did some crazy things. Those crazy things landed him in the local jail. Scott called me at work. He asked me to get the crazy family member some clothes and cigarettes and deliver them to jail. I believe that Scott was unwittingly used by God to teach me something about how to respond to the unwise behaviors of people. The person I helped was by no means my enemy, but he had done some bad things. I learned from Scott that I could respond with kindness instead of condemnation. The bars were an obvious punishment for his dubious behavior. But I believe my purpose was to deliver hope, help and compassion where it wasn't deserved.
What may seem like a backwards response to trouble is, in God's mind, the appropriate response. When I get myself into trouble, God's response is forgiveness when I ask for it. And if I have received this "inappropriate" response from God, shouldn't I do the same for others?
If I have any sort of social dyslexia (if such a thing exists), I am thankful for it. While it is difficult and sometimes embarrassing, without it I would not have the lessons that God teaches me.
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
Proverbs 25:21 NIV
There is a learning disorder named Dyslexia. Dyslexia is not an intellectual disability, it is considered to be a receptive language-based learning disability. It can show itself with letters being written backwards or the use of the wrong choice of words. Dyslexic individuals are never cured, they are taught techniques on how to process information whether it is writing, reading or even arithmetic. There have been many times that I believed myself to be Dyslexic, though I have never been diagnosed. One such issue is what I will call Social Dyslexia. I get nervous in large crowds and about meeting new people. As a result, I clam up; I am at a loss for words. The only way I get through the social awkwardness is to have assistance from a nearby person I trust or to learn by examples from people that are adept at social situations.
My brother Scott helped me with an awkward social situation. We had a family member that got himself drunk and did some crazy things. Those crazy things landed him in the local jail. Scott called me at work. He asked me to get the crazy family member some clothes and cigarettes and deliver them to jail. I believe that Scott was unwittingly used by God to teach me something about how to respond to the unwise behaviors of people. The person I helped was by no means my enemy, but he had done some bad things. I learned from Scott that I could respond with kindness instead of condemnation. The bars were an obvious punishment for his dubious behavior. But I believe my purpose was to deliver hope, help and compassion where it wasn't deserved.
What may seem like a backwards response to trouble is, in God's mind, the appropriate response. When I get myself into trouble, God's response is forgiveness when I ask for it. And if I have received this "inappropriate" response from God, shouldn't I do the same for others?
If I have any sort of social dyslexia (if such a thing exists), I am thankful for it. While it is difficult and sometimes embarrassing, without it I would not have the lessons that God teaches me.
Friday, June 7, 2013
Testing from the Father
Testing from the Father
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Psalm 139:23 NIV
One of the things I have come to love about God is that He has searched me, He knows me and in spite of knowing me thoroughly, He is still committed to me. I can just imagine what the outcome would be if I told someone everything that popped into my mind, they would surely be disgusted. But the Lord sees me differently. He not only sees my condition, but He also sees where He will bring me. He sees me in a glorified state because of the blood of Christ.
Even though God is fully acquainted with us, He tests us. One might be tempted to think that if God knows us intimately, why does He need tests? But those tests are not for Him, they are for us. God uses the tests to show us our own condition. But even more so, He tests us to encourage growth (maturity). My thought is that these tests and trials are actually God’s classroom for life. And I think that God expects us to put that training to work. We put His lessons to work in how we manage our thoughts, how we care for our families, how we manage our finances, how we work and how we worship Him.
In a way, the testing we go through, even though it may be difficult, is a blessing. Think of the old axiom, “God loves me as I am. But He loves me too much to leave me the same.” God always corrects those He loves (Proverbs 3:12).
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Psalm 139:23 NIV
One of the things I have come to love about God is that He has searched me, He knows me and in spite of knowing me thoroughly, He is still committed to me. I can just imagine what the outcome would be if I told someone everything that popped into my mind, they would surely be disgusted. But the Lord sees me differently. He not only sees my condition, but He also sees where He will bring me. He sees me in a glorified state because of the blood of Christ.
Even though God is fully acquainted with us, He tests us. One might be tempted to think that if God knows us intimately, why does He need tests? But those tests are not for Him, they are for us. God uses the tests to show us our own condition. But even more so, He tests us to encourage growth (maturity). My thought is that these tests and trials are actually God’s classroom for life. And I think that God expects us to put that training to work. We put His lessons to work in how we manage our thoughts, how we care for our families, how we manage our finances, how we work and how we worship Him.
In a way, the testing we go through, even though it may be difficult, is a blessing. Think of the old axiom, “God loves me as I am. But He loves me too much to leave me the same.” God always corrects those He loves (Proverbs 3:12).
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