Anyway

 

In his sermon on Sunday, our Senior Pastor used one of my favorite quotes from Mother Teresa:

“People are often unreasonable and self-centered.  Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives.  Be kind anyway. If you are honest, people may cheat you.  Be honest anyway. If you find happiness, people may be jealous.  Be happy anyway. The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow.  Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough.  Give your best anyway.  For you see, in the end, it is between you and God.  It was never between you and them anyway.”

This quote reminds me of one of my favorite scripture passages, found in Galatians 6:9-10: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

I like that verse 10 says “as we have opportunity” not “as we feel like it.”  Sometimes doing good can be tiring.  It can require us to love others when we don’t want to, get up early or stay late to help out, or befriend someone who is different from us.  God gives us opportunities to “do good” all of the time… but I know that my eyes are not always open to those opportunities, and that sometimes I purposely ignore them. There are times in my life where I have purposefully prayed for God to open my eyes to the opportunities He presents, and I have always been blessed by these moments to “do good,” even when they required me to step out of my comfort zone or my personal plan for the day.

Who has God placed in your path that needs to experience God’s love this week?  How have you demonstrated God’s love this week?  Share a time when you have “done good” when you didn’t necessarily feel like it – how did you feel afterwards?

Being Fully Present

In a world of smartphones and technology, I often find myself pulling out my iPhone.  To check the time, to look at Facebook while I’m waiting in line at Target, to see the newest pictures my friends have uploaded on Instagram… lately, I have found myself pulling out my phone when I am spending time with people. 

In his book, A Mile In My Shoes: Cultivating Compassion, author Trevor Hudson says the following:

“BEING PRESENT involves letting go of our constant preoccupations, immersing ourselves in the here and now, and giving ourselves wholeheartedly to whatever is at hand. … It’s about becoming more aware, alert, awake to the fullness of the immediate moment. If we are with another person, it means engaging with him or her with all of our heart, our mind, our soul, and our strength. Such wholehearted attention requires patience, time, and disciplined effort. And it is one of the greatest gifts that we can give to those around us.”

Reading this left me convicted – instead of valuing that relational time and being fully present, I’ll slyly check Facebook, or the newest text message I have received. I find myself reaching for my phone, even though I care for the person who I am spending time with.  The same can be true with my relationship with God.  I make excuses, saying “I’m too busy” or “I don’t have time,” yet I spend 30 minutes on Facebook, and somehow have time to read my Twitter feed.

My iPhone can sometimes be a stumbling block in my journey with God and my relationship with others.  How about you?  Is there something that distracts you from being fully present in your time with God and with those who you love?  What are some steps we can take to be fully present in our time with God?  What about steps to be fully present with those we love?

Becoming living proof of God’s love, one person at a time…

 

“Becoming living proof of God’s love, one person at a time.”  is the mission statement of our church.

What does “becoming living proof” mean to you?

One of the greatest joys of my week is meeting with my four questions group.  We meet each Monday, and answer the four questions below:

1. Where have you seen God’s love at work this week?
2. How are you growing in God’s love this week?
3. Who has God placed in your path that needs to experience God’s love this week?
4. How have you demonstrated God’s love this week?

This group challenges me to become living proof of God’s love, one person at a time – whether it be stopping to actually talk (and listen) to the Kroger employee at check out, holding the door for someone with their arms full, providing a meal for a family in need, or smiling at a stranger in passing.  These small and often looked over moments can change someone’s day or make an impact for a lifetime.  We never know how God will work through us, but we do know that God uses us to show His love to others.

Think of one person in your life who needs to experience God’s love this week – then, make a special effort to spend time with them and show them God’s love. Be intentional this week about becoming living proof of God’s love, one person at a time!

T.H.I.N.K.

“Think before you speak.”

“Put your brain in gear before you put your mouth in action.”

“Be sure to taste your words before you spit them out.”

“It’s not always what you say, it’s the way you say it.”

“Words can only be forgiven, not forgotten.”

Above are some popular sayings about our words. Let’s see what God has to say about the things we say.

Psalm 34:13 says, “Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking lies.” When I was little, we listened to old school Steve Green’s “Hide ‘Em In Your Heart” on audio cassette. Steve put Scripture to music for children to sing, and he had a song for this verse as well. On the second time through, Steve’s voice would interrupt the music to tell us to grab out tongues with our fingers while we sang again. Riding along in the car, my brother, sister and I would hold our tongue in our fingers while clumsily singing. Keep your tongue…from evil…keep your tongue!

In Psalm 19:14, David prays “May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable to you, Lord.” Our words are important. They can build others up, or tear them down. They can reflect a joyful, peaceful heart… or they can reveal pain, bitterness or envy.

•  What do your words reflect?
• Are you keeping your tongue from evil, do the words you speak please God? Or is there some hurt or anger that is keeping you from speaking joyful words?

If your words are not as kind, loving or joyful as you would like, try praying David’s prayer in Psalm 19:14. The Lord knows our hearts!

Be Still and Know…

Psalm 46:10 is a verse of scripture I hold very close to my heart : “Be still and know that I am God.”  I must confess that even though I hold it close to my heart, I’m not always the best at putting it into practice.  The times I spend truly “still” are often few and far between – unless you count sleeping.  But, God calls us to be still and KNOW that He is God.  To know that in the crazy busy parts of my day, God is there.  In the happiest moments and hardest moments, He is there.  Right there.  Wanting to spend time with me, wanting me to share everything with Him, and also wanting me to take time to simply be still and know that He is God.  In a world of technology and incredibly busy schedules, it’s easy to neglect taking time to be still. But, I find that when I start my day spending time being still and talking to God, or pausing in the middle of a stressful day to know that God is right there, longing for me to rely on His strength instead of my own.

There is a coffee shop I often retreat to when I need times of stillness.  Some people find it funny – coffee shops are often loud, with lots of people going in and out.  But, the majority of the people don’t want or need anything from me.  Sometimes I take my journal and my Bible, and sometimes I take nothing at all.  But, I have to set the time aside and guard it from the busyness of life.

• On a scale of 1-10, how hard is it for you to simply be still?
• Can you commit to setting time aside daily, even just a few minutes, to be still in God’s presence?
• Where is some place you go when you need to be still?

A Child’s Prayer

“In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait.”
Psalm 5:3

DevoZine is a devotional published by The Upper Room, specifically for teens.  Inside, there are devotions written for young people by young people.  I enjoy flipping through them on occasion, and this one particulary struck me.  It is a prayer written by a 19 year old girl.

“Dear God,

Today is a brand new day; and I pray that in all I do, my words, my thoughts, and my deeds will truly glorify you.   I give thanks for your love, and I pray for patience and courage to live out that love today.  When I begin to wander, I pray that your word will guide my feet back to you.  Help me to know my worth in your eyes, to feel how special I am when seen through your love.
O, God, the vastness of your power exceeds my comprehension.  I thank you with all my heart for the amazing world you have given us.  Amid the hubbub and fuss of this day, help me to appreciate your wonderous creation… and God, when I sin, as I know I will, I pray that I will repent and kneel before you.  You are my Savior and my friend ever true, so I’ll give this new day to you.

Love,
Your Child”

 

What a beautiful prayer. Take a moment to reflect on the words.  In the midst of the busyness of everyday life, what are you thanking God for?  Where have you seen God’s love at work this week?

We Are..

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)

 

This passage of Scripture is one of my favorites.  It is the basis for the song, We Are, by Kari Jobe.  Here are a few of the lyrics:

“We are the light of the world
We are the city on a hill
We are the light of the world
We gotta, we gotta, we gotta let the light shine”

I have found these words running though my head many times the past few weeks. Each time I am forced to reflect on my own life. Do my words and attitude glorify God, or do I choose negativity instead?  Am I a city on a hill that brightly shines God’s love to all who are around me, or do I hide that light (or allow it to be hidden?) 

• What does “letting your light shine” look like in your life?
• What are the things in your life that threaten to “hide” your light? How do you deal with these things?
• How have you demonstrated God’s love this week?