Verse of the Day - Colossians 3:23

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.
~ Colossians 3:23 (NIV)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I come from a hardworking family. My dad worked hard all his life in the mechanical engineering industry, and my mom in the clerical field until she retired. My step-dad worked in the appliance repair field until he retired, and both of my parents now still work hard in their golden years on their 10 acres in the Pacific Northwest. I have learned a good work ethic, and I believe that has filtered down to my children, who take their employment seriously and give a good effort on their jobs.

A strong work ethic is one of the most important things we can instill in our kids. But is that the same as "working as unto the Lord"? The Bible says that whatever we do, we should do it with all of our heart, as working for the Lord, and not men. How do we do that, exactly?

Our relationship with God is supposed to be 100% participation on our part -- we're to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5). Fully engaged, completely committed, nothing held back. And in work, we're to do it with all of our hearts, also. Sounds like a strong work ethic, doesn't it?

But I think Paul is teaching us to go beyond a strong work ethic, to reorienting our minds so that God is the boss, above and beyond our own self-interests or the interests of our employer. God's standards and agenda are higher than man's -- and they need to become our standards and agenda.

God,too, is a Father who teaches His children a strong work ethic. He is constantly working in the world, never lazy, never sleeping, always vigilant. And He calls us to that same work ethic. Beyond that, God's people are always on mission to reveal Him to the world. To shed light on His heart and His ways, so that others can know Him and their need for Him. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Sound familiar? If not, read Galatians 5:16-25 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=galations%205:16-25;&version=31; This is what the Holy Spirit produces in those who believe in Jesus. Can you imagine what the workplaces of the world would look like if all of God's people raised the bar and worked under God's standards and agenda? When is the last time kindness was the norm in your co-workers? How about patience? Faithfulness? See what I mean about God's people showing a difference?

Satan has duped the world into believing that greed is good, that stepping on others is a viable way to get to the top, that it's okay for the mice to play when the cat is away, to do just will get you by, to bend the rules when necessary to fly under the boss' radar. And when they listen to him, they're drawn further and further away from God, because He doesn't operate that way. So God sends in His troops to make a difference, to let the world know that Satan is a deceiver and a liar. That Satan's ways leads to destruction and death. That God's ways leads to life and peace.

When you show yourself to be dependable, hard-working, loving and kind on the job, you are living out God to your co-workers. So open the window wide, so they can see your Father as clear as day!

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - Romans 12:18

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
~ Romans 12:18 (NIV)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I love it in the movies when two men are fighting in mortal combat, the evil adversary against the noble hero, and the bad guy loses his weapon or his footing, and ends up with a blade at his throat or a gun to his head. He knows he's finished, done-for, a dead man. His enemy would be a fool not to finish him off. And yet, the good guy always lays down his weapon, and lets his adversary live. That's called grace and peace.

Evil can't comprehend the gestures of grace and peace, because it runs on a different set of rules...

~ Get all you can, no matter who you hurt...
~ Do unto others, before they do unto you...
~ Pay back evil for evil, for vengeance is mine, says me...

The destruction caused by self-promotion, retribution and vengeance can't be underestimated. It tears individuals, families, communities, and the entire world apart. When people, in their desire for wealth or happiness or revenge or control, take up evil weapons...pride, bitterness, malice, envy, greed, slander...there is no peace. It is war.

Jesus talked about peace. About laying down those evil weapons, refusing to pick up our carnal inclinations toward elevating ourselves and oppressing others. About allowing God to deal with those who seek to do us in. About using the bandages of love, instead of the blade of hate.

“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. Do to others as you would like them to do to you.

“If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.

“Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate. ~ Jesus, in Luke 6:27-36

In this world, there are going to be people you just can't get along with, people who just won't be peaceful with you. But as far as it is possible with you, be at peace with all men, by the power of God at work within you. Many frozen hearts have been melted by God's love when His people have demonstrated grace and peace in response to hardness and antagonism.

"God blesses those who work for peace,
for they will be called the children of God." ~ Matthew 5:9

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - 1 Thessalonians 5:16

Be joyful always. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16 (NIV)

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

If you think this verse is a tall order, read this in context, as originally couched, in one sentence...

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

Sometimes we look at Paul's instructions, and say, yeah, right...I just can't be Superman like you, Paul...

Life just seems too hard sometimes. So many worries and concerns. So many trials and tribulations. So many wars and rumors of wars. So many natural disasters and catastrophic tragedies. We wonder, be joyful always? How 'bout just being joyful now and then?!?! And praying continually? I'm praying 'til I'm blue in the face! I'm worn out with praying! Be THANKFUL in all circumstances? Now, I know you must be kidding with that one...

This seems esoteric...that is to say, for a select few. For those elite Super-Christians who don't have any problems and read their Bible fourteen hours a day. For nuns and monks locked away in convents and monasteries. For the Pope, or Billy Graham. But for the average Joe? These are TALL orders...

It is true that joy and happiness are different. How exactly, I can't quite separate in my own life. I realize that it is possible to have an inner joy in my heart, even when life is so full of junk. But I personally have a difficult time separating my inner from my outer...or my outer from my inner. When things seem to be in place in my life, I feel happy. Or is it joy? (kinda like trying to figure out the difference between soul and spirit :-\) When life gets tough, my heart gets burdened and I get sad. Is that a lack of joy? Tough questions to answer, huh?

But when we turn our heart toward God and keep our eyes on Jesus, things are different. God-consciousness changes our perspective, plain and simple. When we meditate on the miracle of our sins forgiven and the love of God coming to live in our hearts, how can we not rejoice?!? When we experience a day-to-day relationship with the God of the universe, how can we not have joy?!? When we see lives changed where once was bitterness, hatred, despair and hopelessness, how can we not shout with great joy?!?

Do you see how living with a God perspective changes our perspective? Thinking vertically allows joy as a reality in our hearts, instead of just wishing we were happy in this hell-hole called earth.

~ Being saved from sin by the grace of God is reason for joy!
~ Staying in touch with our Father is reason to pray!
~ Knowing that we're loved and cared for in His mighty hand is reason for thanksgiving!

When life gets hard, we need to stay close to our roots...our spiritual roots.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
~ Helen Lemmel, 1922

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - 1 John 4:18

Perfect love expels all fear. ~ 1 John 4:18 (NLT)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Here's a fuller portion of the passage...

We have seen and can testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God has God living inside, and that person lives in God. And so we know the love that God has for us, and we trust that love.

God is love. Those who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. This is how love is made perfect in us: that we can be without fear on the day God judges us, because in this world we are like him. Where God's love is, there is no fear, because God's perfect love drives out fear. It is punishment that makes a person fear, so love is not made perfect in the person who fears.
~ 1 John 4:14-18 (NCV)

We were talking in my Bible study group last week about God's wrath, while studying Ephesians 2:3, and how a lot of people who don't believe in God are afraid of Him. They have a pretty good understanding of His holiness and perfection, and they realize that they don't measure up. For them to step foot into a church could cause lightning to strike...or so they jokingly say. God's gonna punish them, and they're afraid.

And hell is a real place...they should be afraid. What they don't know is that they don't have to be afraid of God...Jesus changed all of that. He broke the never-ending cycle of fear and guilt from sin, and showed us the power of God's love. Perfect love.

If you're listening carefully during any given day, you will probably hear strains of fear from people...fearing God, fearing death, fearing hell. Maybe they speak with words, maybe they don't.

* Maybe they work like there's no tomorrow, to keep tomorrow from coming, trying desperately to hold back the sands of time...keeping fit and eating right, trying to keep from having that deadly heart attack or stroke...because what's on the other side is unknown and scary, and they are completely unprepared.

* Maybe they go through exhaustive religious rituals to try to appease a god that they can't begin to understand or trust, but it's the only way they've ever known, so they do their best and hope that it' good enough when they die...

* Maybe they understand the holiness gap between them and God just fine, and work and work and work to attain perfection, with a long list of do's and don'ts, but when they make a mistake, the fear comes rolling in like a flood, because they realize they aren't perfect after all, and what's God gonna do with them...?

The answer for all men's fears about God is in Jesus. "Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God has God living inside, and that person lives in God. And so we know the love that God has for us, and we trust that love."

If you know Him, you have the answer for them. Listen and be ready to share the reason for the hope that you have (1 Peter 3:15). His name is Jesus.

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - 2 Corinthians 3:3

You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. ~ 2 Corinthians 3:3 (NIV)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I had to re-ordered personal checks yesterday, and I splurged and got fancy. Yeah, call me reckless -- I do throw caution to the wind every now and then :-) Since I do so much automated banking these days, I write fewer and fewer checks, so I figure they will last me a long time (the last box lasted a year, I think!)

So, I ordered my checks with the Peanuts characters on them, because they just make me smile. And then I added a couple of options. I put a symbol in the upper left corner, of which they had many, many to choose from. I could've chosen anything from hobbies to patriotic messages to Christian sayings. I chose the word 'LOVE' in a block formation, and I also added a "one-liner" that goes above my signature, that says, "Loving, Caring, Sharing".

Yeah, I paid a little more for all of these extras, but they spoke to me. That's right. They spoke to me. Most people want other people to see their check personalizations, because it says something about them. But, most people who will receive my checks will never see or know me at all. No, these messages are for me . . . to remind me what my calling is from Jesus. To love. To care. To share.

Jesus said...

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." ~ John 13:34-35 (NIV)

...and this love is not just for your friends. Jesus made that very clear in Matthew 5:43-48...

"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemies.' But I say to you, love your enemies. Pray for those who hurt you. If you do this, you will be true children of your Father in heaven. He causes the sun to rise on good people and on evil people, and he sends rain to those who do right and to those who do wrong. If you love only the people who love you, you will get no reward. Even the tax collectors do that. And if you are nice only to your friends, you are no better than other people. Even those who don't know God are nice to their friends. So you must be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect." (NCV)

The reason love is the avenue of Christ is because that is the essence of His nature, the motivation for pursuing the hearts of men. Because it is the antithesis of the essence and nature of Satan, the prince of the air, the prince of this world, who is filled with hatred and destruction. Jesus says to us who believe in Him, Walk the avenue of love, pursue it and live it for the people around you, because they need to know there is another way. This world doesn't have to be about greed, hatred, distrust, betrayal, hurt, death. I have come to give LIFE! Live a life of love, with all of its sacrifice, to point them to Me, because I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

You are a letter from heaven, if you have chosen Jesus Christ...like a ticker tape parade!

Let people find you on the streets of their daily lives and read what's in your heart . . . may it be authentic love, the essence of our God!

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - Joshua 10:13-14

...The sun stopped in the middle of the sky, and it did not set as on a normal day. The LORD fought for Israel that day. Never before or since has there been a day like that one, when the LORD answered such a request from a human being. ~ Joshua 10:13-4 (NLT)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Prayer can such a touch thing to get our arms around sometimes. We know God knows everything, so we think, why pray? But, by praying, we acknowledge that God is God, and we are not. It helps us remember that we're dependent on Him for all things. And, we're supposed to have faith, so we pray for things to be accomplished through His power, and when they don't happen, we wonder what happened. Was my faith too small? Was my prayer out of His will? Is there sin in my life that is hindering my prayers? Is He just not listening?

I wonder what gave Joshua the idea to pray for the sun to stop in its tracks -- was that arrogant? Presumptive? Praying for great things is a bold move, and I have heard some great testimonies of God miraculously moving on behalf of those who prayed boldly for God's mighty hand. Jesus said in Matthew 17:20, “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible." So, then we wonder why Mrs. So-and-So from church dies after a car accident, even though many people were at her hospital bed praying 'round the clock---even the pastor was there!---and she still died. Too little faith? God's will to allow her to pass away?....questions, questions, questions.

God seemed to answer big prayers back in the Bible. The Red Sea stepping back to allow the Israelites to escape Pharaoh's army was BIG. Five loaves and two fish that fed 5,000+ hungry people with 12 baskets to spare was BIG. Stopping the sun in the sky for a whole day to help Joshua and his army to defeat his enemies was BIG. Where is our BIG?

Some would say we live in a different time, that God isn't choosing to work in the same way He did in Bible times. This may be true, because even though God never changes in nature and essence, He may work in many different ways at different times. Certainly His prerogative, don't you think? Do you think we pray small because we just don't think He'll answer BIG, "dumbing down" our prayers to match the times? Something to think about.

Prayer is a mystery. I don't understand it's complexities, but I do it. Why? Because God is my Father, and I ask for His wisdom and advice. Because He is my provider, and I seek Him for my needs and the needs of others. Because He is my defender, and I run behind His shield if I'm under attack. Because He is my friend, and I simply tell Him what's going on in my life. But I have been guilty of setting my sights short, of keeping my focus pretty narrow, when it comes to asking God to move, to intercede, to be radical. Whether God chooses to act or not, depending on His will, is not my concern. My part is to exhibit radical faith in a radical and mighty God---a BIG God---and to pray in that vein.

As we pray, God shapes us, by helping us understand His will and our motives. Don't stop seeking Him if you don't get what you ask for. Listen to the answers and ask for wisdom to change your heart desires to be in line with His. Let it be our prayer goals to be moulded into the image of Christ, to advance His reign on this earth, and to live a life witness that will draw others to His cross.

Pray BIG -- if He says 'no', He says 'no'. But if He says 'yes' - WHOA! I think the world can't help but stand up and take notice of the BIG God you serve. And isn't that where all things should lead, to His glory?

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - Colossians 4:5-6

Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.
~ Colossians 4:5-6 (NLT)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

winsome (n.) = sweetly or innocently charming; winning; engaging

When you're winsome, you win some...and you attract more bees with sugar than with vinegar. Paul says, don't just go out in the world and blast them with a gospel machine gun...you'll have people running for their lives! Be like an ice cream parlor, full of good things to eat, where people want to come and hang out!

(Okay, so Paul wouldn't know much about machine guns and ice cream parlors...but you get my point. :-)

No one wants to be around someone who's grouchy or in-your-face or condemning, especially if they're spouting religion. Whoa -- run the other way!...be afraid, very afraid...! It simply isn't palatable. It's gagging.

Paul tells us to be wise in the way we act toward those who don't believe in Jesus, making the most of every opportunity (NIV). Wisdom when living and breathing and sharing the message of Christ means that we are sensitive to those we meet, not using a cookie-cutter format to express our faith. Talking to your grandmother's roommate in the nursing home isn't going to be the same as talking to your college-age son's roommate. Completely different frames of life reference and life experience. Completely different language and thought processes. We need to learn the language and understand the life reference if we're going to speak wisely with people about Jesus.

We also need wisdom so that we don't judge those outside the faith. If you start up a conversation with a group of tattooed/pierced alternative youths at a Starbucks, and immediately throw out Scripture verses condemning their lifestyle as a way to "share the gospel", you just threw your witness in the trash. They're not going to want to have anything to do with you. Would you, if you were them?

Be winsome, my friends, to win some for the Lord. Love people without judgment. Be willing to listen to their story without mentally preparing all the Bible verses you'll slam on them as soon as they take a breath. Care about where they are in life and, at the right time, open up your story and show them how God has done a mighty work in your life. Sympathize with their humanity the way Jesus did.

Sugar, not vinegar...it's the way God made the bees, and it's the way God made the buzz of humanity.

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - Romans 14:13

Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way. ~ Romans 14:13 (NIV)


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
le·gal·ism /ˈligəˌlɪzəm/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[lee-guh-liz-uhm] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun

1. strict adherence, or the principle of strict adherence, to law or prescription, esp. to the letter rather than the spirit.
2. Theology.
a. the doctrine that salvation is gained through good works.
b. the judging of conduct in terms of adherence to precise laws.


If we think about this, we are probably all guilty of legalism toward others in one way or the other...

~ How we dress in church
~ What kind of movies we watch
~ How we vote
~ The issue of body modification

If people don't look and act the way we think they should in order to be a Christian, we can end up judging them. And when we put ourselves in the judgment seat, pride steps into our hearts and shoves love right out of the picture. It can alienate us from others, and cause those we judge to confuse the essence of the gospel.

I wrote about Brian Welch, former lead guitarist for the rock group, KoRn, a few days ago....



I haven't been able to get his image out of my mind. Why? Because he looks the antithesis of a "typical" Christian. You know what I'm talking about, don't you? Clean-cut, conservatively-dressed...mainstream. But Brian's background and style is not geared toward the mainstream. And although he has been rescued by Jesus and saved by God's amazing grace, his style has not changed. His tattoos are still there. And he doesn't make apologies for that. What shines through, to me, loud and clear is the change in his heart. It is radical. It is real. Just like his Jesus.

When are we going to give up our judgmental notions that you should wear a suit and tie to church, you shouldn't watch anything but "G"-rated movies, you should vote Republican, you shouldn't have tattoos or piercings....IF you want to be a good Christian boy or girl?

All I can say to this is that Jesus didn't think like this. He wasn't impressed with the Pharisees and their pious thoughts, dress and habits...He looked at their heart and saw dead men walking.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2023:23-28;&version=51;

If we desire to see non-believers come to true faith in the living God, we need to bag our legalistic baggage and understand the heart of God...the lover of all people, from every tribe, language and nation. Different people have different ways, but Jesus as Savior and Lord is the key...the essence of our faith. We need to stick to the basics and get off any pompous throne we're sitting on in judgment of others for the things that really don't matter.

Oh, Lord, forgive us when we set man's standards as Your standards, and cause us and others to stumble. Help us to remember the essence of Your gospel...salvation by faith through Your amazing grace and love. Help us to throw off all of the legalistic stuff we like to pile onto the Christian life. Help us, instead, to concentrate on what's important to you...to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with You, our God. Amen.


Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - Psalm 42:1

As the deer pants for streams of water, so I long for you, O God.
~ Psalm 42:1 (NLT)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Thirst is a condition that screams for satisfaction. I was thirsty yesterday at work, and I couldn't even concentrate on my tasks at hand...had to get some water! How often are we so thirsty for God that we just have to take a drink through prayer and reading the Word?

I confess that I'm not often that pursuant of the Lord...like, meet with Him, or die like the dehydrated deer in the desert. Yes, I study every morning in His word, and ponder spiritual application. Yes, I pray throughout the day, like talking to a close friend. But the burning desire to consume Him like a big glass of ice water on a 100-degree summer day isn't always there. Maybe you can relate.

I think we go through seasons of being thirsty and being satisfied. Hungry and then full. I don't think we need to beat ourselves up if we're not always at some saintly peak of thirst for God all the time. But -- if you never seem to thirst at all for God's presence, His comfort, His wisdom...then I think you need to consider why.

* Have you built for yourself such comfortable surroundings, that you are never in need?

* Have you filled your life with the things of the world so much, that you don't realize God's not a part of it anywhere?

* Have you gotten into such religious doldrums, where Sunday is your token nod to God and you're okay with that?

This video may be truer than we'd like to think...
http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=ea475033e1edc0b28783

I think we all would like to be more thirsty for God, to desire connection with Him more closely, more consistently. So, what do we do about that?

* Being in a Bible study group really helps. It gets you into God's word at least once a week, with group discussion to spur thought. Hopefully, you spend some time during the week thinking about what you've learned and discussed. God becomes more of a regular topic on your thought agenda.

* Stay connected to Him through regular prayer. When I say 'regular', I mean consistent and plain-and-simple. Regular. Just be 'regular' with God. When your relationship with Him becomes 'regular', you will desire His company more readily and with greater thirst than when you were just acquaintances.

* Ask God for the thirst. Don't pretend you have it if you don't. Don't think you can't have it if you don't. Just ask God to give it to you, a thirst for Him deep in your heart and mind. Do you think He would withhold that from you, if you were serious about it?

Steven Curtis Chapman wrote a song about this type of thirst, in a song entitled, Magnificent Obsession...

Lord, You know how much I want to know so much
In the way of answers and explanations
I have cried and prayed
And still I seem to stay
In the middle of life’s complications
All this pursuing leaves me feeling like I’m chasing down the wind
But now it’s brought me back to You
And I can see again

This is everything I want
This is everything I need
I want this to be my one consuming passion
Everything my heart desires
Lord, I want it all to be for You, Jesus
Be my magnificent obsession

So capture my heart again
Take me to depths I’ve never been
Into the riches of Your grace and Your mercy
Return me to the cross
And let me be completely lost
In the wonder of the love
That You’ve shown me
Cut through these chains that tie me down to so many lesser things
Let all my dreams fall to the ground
Until this one remains

You are everything I want
You are everything I need
I want You to be my one consuming passion
Everything my heart desires
Lord, I want it all to be for You
I want it all to be for You...

Our Magnificent Obsession...God can be that to us.

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - 1 Samuel 2:2

"There is no Rock like our God."
~ 1 Samuel 2:2

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Solid as a rock," the saying goes...

There's a lot in this world these days that isn't very solid. The 2008 Presidential primaries seem to be anyones guess, like trying to pick the winner of the Boston Marathon by looking at all the thousands of runners at the starting line. The housing market is very shaky, and many have lost their balance, and lost their homes. Marriage relationships seem to continue on the path of the "1-out-of-2" divorce rate...

We wonder if there is anything solid in this world, solid enough to stand on without crumbling under our feet.

I watched a GodTube video yesterday that was pretty awesome, the testimony of a man who had achieved his dreams in the rock band, Korn. But he'd built on a very shaky foundation, and his life came crumbling down. And then, Jesus stepped in and took ahold of this guy -- praise God! Watch for yourself...it's a little long, but what a mighty witness of the strength of God, our Rock! http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=4964280d596fe6a03193&page=2&viewtype=&category=tfw

Anyone who's tried building their lives on a foundation of self sooner or later finds out that self cannot support the weight of this world. Sooner or later, troubles come that shake them like an 8.0 on the Richter scale, and the walls come tumbling down. They can't figure out what happened, with all the beautiful mansions and strong fortresses they'd built. Everything seemed to be going so well! What happened? Simple -- their foundation was bad. Insufficient for the job. Unable to support the structures. Full of holes. Not solid.

God is the only Rock worth building on. His principles and His ways are solid, and what He says is true. When we choose to follow Him and model our lives after Jesus, His Son, our lives don't rock-n-roll with the seismic shifts of this life. We hold firm, because our foundation is The Rock.

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” ~ Jesus, in Matthew 7:24-27

God's ways are the right ways, the sure ways, the solid ways. Everything else is shifting sand. So, what are you going to build your life on?

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - 1 Peter 1:7

These [trials] have come so that your faith -- of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire -- may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
~ 1 Peter 1:7 (NIV)

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

When I was little, America was in the Cold War with Russia and other communist countries. Not only were there duck-and-cover drills in school for the threat of nuclear attacks, but as a Christian family, there was a perceived threat that, if invaded, we would be targeted for persecution and possible annihilation. I don't remember hearing my parents talk about it, but I they must've, because I had a dream during that time that was very scary and seemed very real to my child's mind. Military men with guns had stormed into our home, on the hunt for Bibles. If they found Bibles, they knew or presumed the family was Christian. And the guns they carried weren't fashion accessories...you knew you were dead if you were a Christian. I remember the chaos, and trying to hide...

As an adult, I've wondered how I would react if I was faced with death for my faith. And I had another dream....a dream that gave me hope that I would stand tall in the face of persecution. As I was being led by armed guards through a door and up a stairway, which presumably was leading me to my death, I was preaching the name of Jesus to them the whole way. I did not retreat or keep my mouth shut or beg for my life. My faith held.

Although those in other countries experience it regularly, most of us will probably never go through this type of extreme faith-testing. And yet, God provides tests of our faith every day. They can be big, like losing your job or fighting cancer...or little, like losing your wallet or fighting a cold. We are given opportunities to exercise our faith in God to work in and through us, or allow the flesh to govern our thoughts and decisions, which will lead us away from God, away from building our faith in Him.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take. ~ Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)

Faith says, I don't understand why this is happening. I don't understand how it can be fixed. But I believe that God is sovereign, and that His goodness never fails. I will choose to trust Him, to walk and talk in the confidence of Him who loves me...

Flesh says, I don't understand why this is happening. I don't understand how it can be fixed. Why is God doing this to me? I don't deserve these stinking problems! One way or another, I'm going to take care of myself. God obviously isn't interested...

Now, you tell me: Which scenario has the best chance of a good outcome? When you've chosen the 'flesh' way, how did it turn out for you? Did you ever choose the 'faith' way and were led astray?

Choosing faith in the Lord isn't easy. It takes laying down worry and fear. It takes picking up trust and peace. Difficult, very difficult. It takes practice, a lot of practice. But when you face a trial and choose faith, the next time trials come, faith is a little easier. Pretty soon, faith becomes the normal mode of operation, and the flesh is sittin' the bench.

How you deal with the big and little things is a mark of your belief system. And whether you operate in faith or the flesh, others are watching. So what kind of witness are you displaying, in the day-to-day testing you experience?

We also need to share with other believers in Jesus when we are victorious in the faith challenges we face. Testify to what it's like to rely on the Lord instead of our own devices. Let's help build up the body of Christ by encouraging others in their walk with the Lord, by sharing stories of faith in action!

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - Psalm 94:18

When I said, "My foot is slipping," your love, O LORD, supported me. ~ Psalm 94:18 (NIV)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Psalm 94 is mostly about the success of the wicked against the righteous, yet God's ability to set things right again in His time, and that He will never abandon His children. Then he says...

Who will rise up for me against the wicked?
Who will take a stand for me against evildoers?

Unless the LORD had given me help,
I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death.

When I said, "My foot is slipping,"
your love, O LORD, supported me.

When anxiety was great within me,
your consolation brought joy to my soul. ~Psalm 94:16-19 (NIV)

Whether he was sinking into the pit of despair, or slipping into vengeful and malice thought and intent, I'm not totally sure. The point is that he recognized God's spiritual intervention in his life. He sensed God's love for him and listened to the Father comforting His heart. He paid attention to God, and he was rescued...

The problem with mental spiraling is that we begin to listen to the devil and his lies instead of God and His truth. It's happened to me many times. Once I head down that slippery path of negative and self-destructive thought, the slope gets steeper and I slide faster into the pit. And the pit is filled with lies...

The Psalmist gives us a great example to follow. I believe he must've been very conversational with God. And he was honest in his dialogue. He told God he was slipping...not covering up his weakness. And he didn't wait until he'd sunk into the pit and wallowed in the filth of the devil for days...he reached out when he first recognized that something wasn't right within him. And in that reaching out to God in honesty, he reached out to the only real help he had. The only real help we have.

I pray that we can know the freedom of complete open and honest dialogue with God, holding His hand as we walk this life. If you begin to slip, don't let go of His grip from fear or guilt. Talk to Him -- be honest about where your heart and mind are going. And be ready to listen, because He is the Great Counselor, and He will feed you truth that will help you get your footing again. If you choose to let go of His hand, the slide into the pit will be swift and sure, and it's harder to hear His voice way down there.

So stay close to Him...stay connected...be real...be dependent.

Now just the other day I overheard a flower talking to the sky
He said you know that I would be nothing without You, oh, oh
He said you give me rain, you give the sun a place to shine
You're everything that my whole existence comes down to, oh, oh
And then the flower started singing a song
Before I knew it I was singing along
And we sang…

This is my declaration of dependence
This is my declaration of my need
This is my declaration of dependence
On the one who gave His life to me

Now, let me say that I'm the kind of guy who wants to do it all myself
Don't want to ask for help, don't like to stop for directions, oh, oh
But in reality I'm nothing on my own
It's by God's grace alone that I can make this confession
All that I am and all I'm hoping to be
Is all and only what He's given to me
So I say…

This is my declaration of dependence
This is my declaration of my need
This is my declaration of dependence
On the one who gave His life to me

And I know this is how my life was meant to be
I was made for this dependency
On the one who has created me
So I'll sing my declaration song
For the one I am depending on…
~ Declaration of Dependence, by Steven Curtis Chapman

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - 1 Corinthians 12:13

Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.
~ 1 Corinthians 12:13 (NLT)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I really don't know why race and socio-economic status are such divisive parameters, but they are...for so many people. Why does one race think they're better than another, and therefore, separate themselves? Why do some of the wealthy get a nosebleed from elevating themselves so far above the "common man"?

Where did we get this idea that the color of our skin or the bulk in our wallet has anything to do with superiority or inferiority?

For those who become a part of God's kingdom through their relationship with Jesus, the Holy Spirit is the great spiritual equalizer. He is the common denominator for all people under God's umbrella. This commonality provides freedom; yet, requires change. The oppressed and the privileged are granted equal standing. Distrust, fear, arrogance, and pride must all be laid at the foot of the cross of Christ. This change requires work on the part of both sides of the coin...in thought, word and deed.

God says, "You can live in unity because my Spirit makes you one, together. Together, as one, you can show the world what My kingdom is really like. The devil's way is prejudice and warring between races, of oppressing the poor and elevating the rich, of arrogance and hate, of retaliation and death. You are My people, with a purpose to show the world My way. My way is love, overarching love...peace, binding peace...joy, unmeasured joy...hope, miraculous hope. Go show the world My way."

As believers in Jesus, we need to be sure that our hearts and minds are free from prejudice, regardless of what side of the coin we think we're on. We've been given a mission of revealing Jesus to the world, and an unlevel playing field between people is just not a part of His picture. So, let's take a sober look at ourselves and see if there are bad attitudes and mindsets toward others that need correction from God. He wants so much for His children to imitate their Father.

One day, all who love God and His Son, Jesus, will see the fulfillment of true unity...

After this I saw many people. No one could tell how many there were. They were from every nation and from every family and from every kind of people and from every language. They were standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white clothes and they held branches in their hands. And they were crying out with a loud voice, "We are saved from the punishment of sin by our God Who sits on the throne and by the Lamb!" ~ Revelation 7:9-10 (NLV)

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - Psalm 102:7

I lie awake, lonely as a solitary bird on the roof. ~ Psalm 102:7 (NLT)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I have watched this weird phenomenon several times near my home, and it always happens at busy intersections. While waiting at a stop light, I've seen a large flock of birds (maybe pigeons) doing this weird corporate dance in the sky! They seem to fly in the same large square pattern, like the Box Step! It's just amazing to watch. They fly over or near an intersection, and I just wonder if all the traffic is driving them crazy (amen, brother!), and they just take to the sky to fly away their stress! Only they don't fly away, they just keep flying around and around, in the same pattern!

At other times at these same intersections, I see a string of pigeons sitting in a row on the telephone wires...just hangin' out like old guys at the barber shop. No where you gotta go, just hangin' out with friends, watchin' the world go by.




Although I'm not a formal bird watcher (I actually have a prejudice against them for their propensity to poop on people's heads, and a fear of them because they might peck me if I get too close! :-\), what I have seen is that these pigeons seem very communal, very group-oriented. They hang together. True also for migratory birds, as seen in the V-formations of geese.

Psalm 102 is anonymous, but the person who wrote it was very distressed over his enemies and the havoc they were wreaking. And he felt like a bird all alone on a roof. And from what I've observed, birds don't do that. They stick together...strength in numbers, ya know?

That's why the concept of small home groups is so great. It keeps people from being a solitary bird on a roof, feeling alone and overwhelmed by the trials of life. Being a part of a group provides friendship, support, and accountability. If you're struggling with a situation at work, or there's trouble at home, or you just feel like your life is not where it should be, you can share with your small group, and instantly, you're not on the roof alone! They can listen and encourage, providing comfort and wisdom from God's word, and keep you from wasting away in isolated oblivion. God uses small groups to keep us connected, so that we can fly with our friends in formation, or hang out and watch the world go by -- together.

I've said this before, and I'll say it again...people need people. Please don't give in to the temptation to retreat into yourself and hide under the proverbial covers. Become part of a small group through your church...be involved in community living. You'll develop friendships and grow spiritually, as you strive for commitment to God and His purposes.

And the beauty of God's family is that birds of a different feather can flock together! God has an amazing way of linking people together who come from different backgrounds and experiences to bond as family. That's because we're bound together by the same Holy Spirit...

Work hard to live together as one by the help of the Holy Spirit. Then there will be peace. There is one body and one Spirit. There is one hope in which you were called. There is one Lord and one faith and one baptism. There is one God. He is the Father of us all. He is over us all. He is the One working through us all. He is the One living in us all. ~ Ephesians 4:3-6 (NLV)

Are you flocking together, or sitting on the roof by your lonesome? If you feel like a lonesome dove, venture out and get connected to a flock. It's where you need to be...because that's how God made us. For family. For community. For connection. For action.

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - Acts 20:36

When [Paul] had finished speaking, he knelt and prayed with them. ~ Acts 20:36 (NLT)

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

How often do we say to people, sincerely, "I'll pray for you," and then walk away, or hang up, or press "send", and get sidetracked? I know I have. It's not that I don't care about that person or what they're going through...it's just that life intervenes, and my brain is only so big. :-) In fact, there was a time when I wouldn't say those words, because I didn't want to be a hypocrite.

Ever felt that way? Well, do I have the solution for you!

Pray in the now. Pray where you are. Don't wait for a "better time" -- there is no time like the present, as the saying goes. And pray with that person, if at all possible. Not only do you not forget to remember them to the Lord, but they are edified and lifted in spirit as you pray over them. It's help now, not later. If a friend were to cut themselves badly in the kitchen, would you say, "I'm in the middle of this TV show...I'll call '911' after the next commercial"...?

Yesterday, I met up with a friend who was going through a difficult time. I offered my arm of friendship, not knowing what more I could do. I said, "I'll pray for you," and actually said a quiet prayer immediately. When the meeting was over, I said, "I'd like to pray for you right now," and as we bowed our heads in the parking lot, I just thanked God for knowing all that goes on in our lives and for loving us, and to help my friend in whatever they're struggling with. That was it -- amen. Just a simple prayer over a friend who was hurting, but I believe it was the now thing to do, and was a ministering help to them.

To have someone pray for us specifically, by name, is very comforting when we're going through stuff. Why? Maybe it's just knowing that we're not going through it alone. Maybe because we're able to hear someone express to God what we want to say, but can't seem to say. Maybe it's because when we pray, we're drawn into God's presence...and that's a very soothing place to be, next to the Father who loves us.

Don't let an opportunity to be a minister pass you by. Pray in the 'now'. I've even prayed for people when I'm emailing them! Hey, why not? I've had people tell me how helpful that was, blessing their spirits as they read a prayer to God, for them. If King David, who was very conversational with God in his writings, can do it, so can we.

Don't wait for opportunity to knock. Opportunity is plopped in front of the TV with the remote in its hand, while someone needs major first aid in the kitchen! Call '911' now...pray to God in the 'now' when people need help.

P.S. prayer isn't just for when people need help. talk to God in the 'now' about anything! that's what friends do -- they share the little stuff, the silly stuff, the plain stuff. that builds and deepens the relationship as much, or more, than sharing the big stuff. so deepen your relationship with God by talking to Him...about everything -- in the 'now'.

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - James 1:27

Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for orphans and widows in their troubles, and refuse to let the world corrupt us. ~ James 1:27(NLT)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

We don't really understand the impact of this verse, of what it means to care for widows and orphans. Why? Because we live in the 21st century. Because many women work and aren't left empty-handed if their husband dies. Because we have a welfare system (albeit, broken in many ways) that provides for those without. There are food and health care programs to try to meet the needs of those in helpless conditions. The overloaded foster program works hard to give parent-less (not necessarily orphaned) kids some sort of family system to provide for their upbringing.

In Biblical times, the welfare system was you and me. There was no Medi-care and Medi-cal. No food stamps, no foster programs. People cared for people. In Deuteronomy 26, God gave people processes whereby those without means (foreigners, widows, orphans...even the priests, since they had no land to work) would be provided for. People had a responsibility not to pick clean their fields, orchards and vineyards...let the needy come after you and get what they can. There were also special offerings taken every third year to provide for those in need. People cared for people, because God cares for people. Those in need are especially close to His heart, and He takes their concerns very seriously...

For the Lord your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords. He is the great God, the mighty and awesome God, who shows no partiality and cannot be bribed. He ensures that orphans and widows receive justice. He shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing. ~ Deuteronomy 10:17-18 (NLT)

Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan. If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry. ~ Exodus 22:22-23 (NLT)

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.
God sets the lonely in families... ~ Psalm 68:5-6 (NLT)

God asked His people to put aside selfishness and personal gain, and take care of those in need. Let it be about others, not themselves. Let compassion rule their hearts, not greed and disdain.

God still asks that of His people. So we must ask ourselves: where are we on the compassion chart? Where are we regarding the things that matter to God?

Stop doing wrong, learn to do right!
Seek justice, encourage the oppressed.
Defend the cause of the fatherless,
plead the case of the widow. ~ Isaiah 1:16-17

We can memorize Scripture, we can attend church faithfully, we can sport Christian bumper stickers. But do we convert that faith into action? Do we really behave like children of our Father? He cares for people. Do we?

There are so many avenues for learning to act in compassion. Volunteer in a homeless shelter or crisis pregnancy center. Be a part of a "meals on wheels" program for shut-ins. Be a babysitter for a single mom who can't afford a sitter. Go to a retirement home and visit even one person who gets no visitors.

Be with people in need, and share their burden. You will never be the same again. God will make sure of that, 'cuz He has a funny way of changing us into the likeness of His Son, Jesus. :-)

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - Romans 8:31

If God is for us, who can be against us? ~ Romans 8:31 (NIV)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

People often joke about what it will be like at the "Pearly Gates", trying to make deals with St. Peter, who supposedly is the great ticket taker in the sky. Sounds comical when you put it that way. But judgment day is no laughing matter. It's an eternal life and death situation.

Maybe that's why people who don't have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ joke about it. It's either laugh or cry. So many don't know what will happen to them when they die. They're pretty sure they believe in a final judgment, but they don't know what will happen to them, since they know that God is holy and they're not. They hope that they've done enough good stuff here on earth to get them past the heavenly ticket taker and through the turnstile into Paradise. But they just don't know. I mean, a judge looks at the black-and-white...the law, right?. Break the law, go to jail. Break the holy law, go to hell. Isn't that how it goes? And so they write hokey songs and tell silly jokes about crossing over to the other side, but inside, they fear the gavel of the Judge.

Paul reminds us that if we have chosen to accept Jesus' sacrifice for our sins, if we choose to be under God's umbrella as His children, we can't be condemned by the Judge's gavel. The sentence is still "death" for sins (Romans 6:22-23), but Jesus mercifully stands up in our defense and says, "Your Honor, may I put into evidence Exhibit A...my blood. Death has been administered in accordance with the law. I have paid their price." God, in justice, accepts the sacrifice. "You are free to go...enter into Paradise," He says to the children of God.

If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. ~ Romans 8:31-34 (NLT)

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit. ~ Romans 8:1-4 (NLT)

Maybe you know someone who blows off Judgment Day like it was a game. My guess is that inside, they're scared to death, and don't want to admit it. You have the knowledge of the truth about Jesus, and they need to hear it. They need to know that they can have God for them, too...on their side...and not wonder and worry in uncertainty about those pearly gates.

Jesus is standing at the Judge's bench with Exhibit A for all people. We, the ransomed and freed, need to tell them, amen?

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - 2 Corinthians 4:8

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don't give up and quit. ~ 2 Corinthians 4:8 (NLT)

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + +

Have you ever seen those gizmos that's supposed to relieve stress by squeezing them? Maybe the stress relief is in squeezing the life out of something that's inanimate, I don't know. I saw one once that looked like nothing more than a water balloon with sand in it. (gee, I could do that and make millions... :-) When you squeeze it, the sand is displaced and the balloon gets contorted...but it doesn't burst. When you let go, the gizmo goes back to it's original shape.

So it is with being a Christ follower. When we choose to follow Him and be under His authority, the Holy Spirit of God comes into our being, and we are changed (2 Corinthians 5:17). No longer the walking dead...we are spiritually alive! But, there is a price to pay for this choice. We have an enemy who wants to squeeze the life out of us. And he uses any and every opportunity to get us to give up, to throw our faith in the trash. When relationships go bad, jobs are hard to come by, and the doctor has something to show you on the x-ray, Satan is right there to squeeze and contort your spirit, to bring doubts in your mind to question your God. When you're harassed for your faith by a superior who thinks this "Jesus stuff" is stupid...maybe a missed promotion at work or a poor grade in class...Satan wants to squeeze you til you burst.

So, are you a water balloon filled with sand that can handle squeezing, or a delicate glass ornament that shatters under the slightest pressure?

The more you test your faith, the stronger it becomes. Like working out at the gym, faith is like a muscle. Use it and you can bench press 200 lbs. of life thrown at you. Or it can get so flabby that 20 lbs. makes your spiritual arms quiver. The question is: how do we test our faith?

Try this: the next time something difficult comes your way (don't worry, it'll come sooner than you think), STOP. Don't panic, try to make it go away, or worry yourself sick. STOP. Think vertical. Think God-savvy. Think, How can I exercise my faith in this circumstance? How can I function in faith, rather than fear? How can I stand strong, and not give in to this pressure to doubt? And then, PRAY. Throw yourself at the altar of God and give Him all of your worries and cares, doubts and fears. Truly believe that He will work all things together for good through you, who love Him (Romans 8:28). What Satan uses for evil, God uses for good (Genesis 50:20). God always wins, don't ever forget that. And He is a good King, a loving Father, and a victorious Warrior. You can and should trust Him, because there is no other who can give you strength for the spiritual battles you face.

It is God who gives us the power to be flexible under the squeeze. So trust Him completely, and go be a water balloon!

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - 1 Peter 5:7

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. ~ 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In traditional circumstances, children are cared for by their parents. The moms and dads feed and clothe them, counsel them in doing the right thing, and teach whatever faith is practiced in the home. The kids learn responsibility by having chores, and take on more as they get older, with the intent of teaching them how to be on their own -- for a time when they won't be supported by their parents. The baby bird does fly away at some point to make its own nest, leaving the mama and papa bird with an empty nest.

We're raised with the concept that one day we will carry our own weight, fully responsible for ourselves and being our own boss. But with that mindset can come some heavy stresses, if we think we can't or shouldn't rely on others. Pluck and pride can get in the way of peace and contentment when we think we must carry life on just our own two little shoulders.

But God says that from an emotional and mental standpoint, He's not kicking us out of the nest! He doesn't want us to have to shoulder the world by ourselves. Those who try are usually crushed under its weight, because we were never meant to be our own boss, spiritually speaking. We were always meant to be under God's roof. He wants to be our Papa. And we need Him to be, because life is hard, and we can't bear it on our own.

God knows what's been on your mind, what's keeping you awake, what makes you cranky and nervous and depressed. Don't try to go this alone, please. Talk to Him. Pour out all of the stuff that's filling up your head and making your brain hurt...and making your heart hurt. Let it go...

The good thing about turning your worries and anxiety over to God is that He can handle it. Completely. He's God, remember? Or did you forget that He single-handedly created the universe, with all it's mind-boggling intricacies? He breathes and miracles happen...seas are parted, water becomes wine, sins are forgiven. He is more than capable of lifting your worries and giving you peace.

All who sail the sea of faith
Find out before too long
How quickly blue skies can grow dark
And gentle winds grow strong
Suddenly fear is like white water
Pounding on the soul
Still we sail on knowing
That our Lord is in control

[Chorus:]
Sometimes He calms the storm
With a whispered peace be still
He can settle any sea
But it doesn't mean He will
Sometimes He holds us close
And lets the wind and waves go wild
Sometimes He calms the storm
And other times He calms His child...

He has a reason for each trial
That we pass through in life
And though we're shaken
We cannot be pulled apart from Christ
No matter how the driving rain beats down
On those who hold to faith
A heart of trust will always
Be a quiet peaceful place.
~ Sometimes He Calms The Storm, by Scott Krippayne

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - Proverbs 12:25

An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up. ~ Proverbs 12:25 (NIV)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Yesterday morning, I was walking into the office from the corporate parking lot, on a street sidewalk that is frequented by employees going to work. I was deep in thought about something, while trying to avoid stepping on worms and snails and such. A guy passed me up on the sidewalk, and he passed by, he said, "Good morning!" That woke me out of my thoughts, and I quickly looked up and returned the "Good morning!" As I watched him leave me in the dust, I realized that I did not know him. A total stranger passing by and saying, "Good morning"? Somewhat unusual when no eye contact has been made, I thought (he coming up from behind me). What a nice gesture! It actually made me feel good inside. It perked me up . . . and I wasn't even down! It made me smile and gave me a lighter bounce to my walk. I was cheered.

As I continued my walk (it's a rather long walk...8-10 minutes, and I walk pretty fast), a woman was walking ahead of me, at a slower pace. I surveyed her, and realized I didn't know her either. So, as I passed her by, I said, "Good morning!" And her reaction was the same as mine. Pleasant surprise, and a cheery "Good morning!" return.

It made me think of the Liberty Mutual Insurance commercial(s), where a nice deed seen is a nice deed done is a nice deed perpetuated.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMwoexR1evo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iw97CfZtyGw


It's easy for us to get wrapped up in our own little world, where the worries of today and tomorrow, at home and abroad, are swirling around in our heads...

* Will I meet that project deadline this week?
* I hope my child does well on her mid-term...
* Mom hasn't said anything about her doctor visit last week. Is she afraid to tell me something?

Sometimes, our concerns are valid...sometimes they're just worry. But we can get so swirly in our heads with anxiety, that we swirl right into the ground...and we crash and burn.

If we're sensitive to people around us, it doesn't take us but a moment or two to see or hear someone who needs help with the 'crash and burn' syndrome. A cheery "Good morning!" with a smile can do wonders. Or better yet -- take the time to encourage someone on a job well done. Say "thank you" often...and mean it. How about taking the time to listen to someone who's had a bad day or is really hurting over an issue? You don't have to have all the answers, but it's amazing what a genuine "I'm so sorry you're going through this..." can do to lift someones burdens. People need people, and having someone there to listen can lift that one-ton brick of anxiety with a feather of compassion.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. ~ 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)

God has chosen you. You are holy and loved by Him. Because of this, your new life should be full of loving-pity. You should be kind to others and have no pride. Be gentle and be willing to wait for others. Try to understand other people. Forgive each other. If you have something against someone, forgive him. That is the way the Lord forgave you. ~ Colossians 3:12-13 (New Life Version)

So there you have it. God is the source of compassion, kindness and love. And we are called to imitate our Father in heaven, to be the outsource of His heart.



Be God's smiley face today!

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Pray continually. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NIV)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In college these days, you might see a room full of laptops, where once stood a sea of pens and notepads. Now it's notebooks, and I'm not talking about the spiral bound kind! I think it's great that kids can take notes on their computer, or even look up info for discussion. My daughter's campus is completely wireless, so that wherever she is, whether it's her dorm room, or the library, or at the cafe, she can connect to the internet at no cost, on the spot. And, although the professors are probably aware of this, kids instant message (IM) their friends right in the middle of class! They even IM those sitting in the same classroom, and chit-chat about how boring the lecture is! Technology is pretty amazing.

My pastor started a sermon series on prayer just last week, called "IMing with God". The idea is that prayer can and should be like instant messaging with God. Free-flowing, anytime, talk time with God. Like chit-chatting with friends.

Is that how you view prayer?

If Jesus has paved the way to God's throne in your life, it can be...

By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us—set us right with him, make us fit for him—we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that's not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God's grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise. ~ Romans 5:1-2 (The Msg)

A friend of mine was recently asked by one of his co-workers who doesn't know Jesus, "Why does God hate me? Why doesn't He answer my prayers?" My friend explained that God isn't like Santa Claus, where you just ask for things and He grants wishes. "It's about the relationship," he told her. And that is the main point about Christianity, in general. Relationship, not religion. And in relationship, people talk. Sometimes A LOT. (yeah, I know...I'm a talker. I just think God made me that way. Don't hate, appreciate. :-)

So, if we have a relationship with God through Jesus, prayer should just flow easily, right? Some of you may be thinking, wrong. Why is it that the communication breaks down or gets stale? Or maybe it never gets past the formal "Our Father Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name..." type of prayer.

Relationship. It's all about the relationship. How you view God will have alot to do with how you talk to Him.

~ If He's the Judge, you'll be swearing on a Bible, and calling Him "your honor", hoping not to anger Him and be held in contempt of court.

~ If He's the Genie in a bottle, you'll summon Him when you want something, and send Him back into the bottle when you're done.

~ If He's your Father, you'll plop on the couch next to Him, tell Him about your day, get some advice, tell Him you love Him...and ask to borrow the car. :-)

See how the relationship drives the dialogue?

If your prayer life seems stiff and awkward, instead of honest dialogue between two friends, I hope that you will seek God for more. Just be honest with Him. Ask Him to change your concept of the relationship, to give you a desire to communicate with Him on a moment-by-moment basis. And then just talk...and listen. About anything. About everything...

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - Romans 12:5

We belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others. ~ Romans 12:5 (NLT)

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

This past year, I got together with several friends from church to start a "prayer crew". We met together on Sunday evenings to pour out our hearts to God, to lift up our church in prayer, and be open to how God could speak to us during that time. Out of that group developed our current "small group" that meets weekly in one of our homes, for Bible study, prayer, fellowship, and service. We have grown closer as friends, and it's been a huge blessing to all of us. We've become more attached...connected...together.

Jesus designed His body for connectedness, both for edification and service. Collectively, we are on mission for God. And He gives us all gifts, abilities, and passions to accomplish His work in the world. There are arms, legs, ears, eyes, etc., to His "body", and each works with the others to operate. That is, if we're willing to work together. Sometimes, either low self-esteem or inflated egos keep Christ's body from being the well-oiled machine it should be.

Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
~ 1 Corinthians 12:14-26 (NIV)

Thinking less of yourself or too highly of yourself can sabotage the body of Christ. You will pull away and detach, either because you just don't think you have anything worthwhile to contribute, or you think you're too good to hang with a bunch of lame-o "misfits". And a detached eyeball is a little hard on the eyesight, don't you think?

We like to measure ourselves against other people, don't we? I don't know why we do, because it's really a destructive habit, but we do. Usually we end up feeling bad about ourselves, because there's always someone who can do "it" better. Sometimes, we get lofty in our own minds and think we do "it" better than the next guy. Talk about auto immune disease! No better way for a body to turn on itself in self-destruct mode than to rate ourselves on the basis of how others are made and what they're doing.

God made you to be you. Not me, not your pastor, not Billy Graham or Mother Teresa. You. And you have a place, a fit, in the body of Christ. Do not discount in any way the vital role you play in the lives of others and in the life of Christ. Can you imagine what your local church would look like if each member latched onto the amazing, liberating knowledge that they belong and can contribute to create beauty, God's beauty, in the lives of others?!?

Do you see construct in the abstract? Do you see beauty in the chaos? Don't worry, God does. He knows exactly what He's doing. God's canvas is vast, and He uses His entire palette for His glory and His purposes. So if you're a purple, be all the purple you can be -- shades of violet, lavender, even periwinkle! If you're a red, splash across the sky with crimson, rose and brick!

God has called you to be a member of His body, a color on His palette -- you are a vital part of Him and other fellow believers. I pray you can embrace your place and your part in His body and on His canvas, because we all need each other to fulfill God's purposes.

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - Proverbs 27:2

Don't praise yourself; let others do it! ~ Proverbs 27:2 (NLT)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Let's face it. We all like to hear that we've done a good job! We all like the proverbial pats on the back, to hear from someone that we're good at something, or at least that our efforts are recognized. Something. Please, someone notice me...

But people who brag about themselves usually defeat their own purposes. They want someone to pay attention to them, and so they brag about what they do or what they've said, hoping to make a good impression. But it's usually not a good impression. And it's usually obvious to a listener, but the bragger seems oblivious to his self-aggrandizement. We just want to turn these people off.

Bragging is distasteful to most, because human nature just doesn't recognize a person's lofty words about themselves. It doesn't have any real weight. That's like someone creating a test, and then taking the test and giving themselves an "A". What does that prove about their smarts? Not much.

Does he/she really think they're "all that" when they monopolize the conversation about this deal they made, or that vacation they went on, or that they were all the talk around the business table last week, or . . . ? Or is it possible that they're afraid of rejection, just wanting to be accepted, and feeling very small on the inside?

My guess is the latter.

So, what part do we play in all this? To just turn people off and talk behind their backs later at the water cooler? Or can we help improve someones self-esteem with a few kind words spoken?

Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. ~ Proverbs 16:24 (NIV)

Please don't be stingy with encouragement! If you admire a job well done, let that person know. Don't just walk away and say to yourself, that was pretty awesome. If you see strength of character displayed, encourage them by acknowledging it to them. When you water a seed, it will grow. But parched ground without moisture only produces a field of dust.

Do we struggle with the fine line between self-esteem and ego-inflation? Perhaps. Some people have the mindset that you don't want to praise people because that's not God-honoring, that it exalts people and not God. But if we are not to judge our efforts by our own yardstick, then others need to pull out their yardstick and give the marks. God desires that we give our best in all that we do...other people help us measure that. And if there are some who are giving themselves glory, that is an opportunity for us to remind them gently of God's blessing on them, that it is God who gives us talent and energy, that He is the one who deserves our corporate praise for all He does in and through us.

So go out there today and encourage someone . . . God knows that our frail spirits need the lift!

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - Ecclesiastes 7:3

Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us. ~ Ecclesiastes 7:3 (NLT)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

It's amazing how much we'll go through to avoid being sad, huh? Tell jokes, watch a funny movie, do anything to keep from sinking into sadness. Nobody wants to go there, and we don't want to see anyone else go there, either. Sadness is just so...well, sad.

We like it on the surface of gladness, where everyone smiles and seems like there isn't a care in the world. It feels good, and we just want to stay there. Maybe that's why we latch onto Christmastime, a time that seems suspended in space, where goodness and laughter are all that we see and hear and experience. We just want to float on this sea of gladness forever. We don't want to experience emotional hurt, sometimes seemingly more painful than a bullet or a blade.

But the reality of life, with its bitterness of conflict and tragedy of death, is so very close under this slippery surface of gladness. Ever wonder why we think it's more tragic to lose a loved one in December, rather than, say, in April? Why is that? Why do we think that December should live in a plastic bubble? Because we want to escape from life, real life down deep where people fight and people die and we get sad, so very sad. Yes, it can be more painful than a bullet or a blade.

But, what do we miss out on by avoiding sadness, huh? What spiritual dimension are we sidestepping?

This verse says that sadness has a refining influence on us. Can you testify that this has ever happened in your life? Did sadness ever cause you to ponder God, and life, and your life deeper? Did it ever cause you to really take stock of your life, to weigh your goals and aspirations against eternity? Did it ever cause you to cry out to God with complete abandon, not being concerned with convention or appearance, exhausting yourself to Him in tears? I'm sure it did. Sadness has a way of getting to the deep things in our heart and mind that gladness has no intention of touching. And we really need to get down to the deeper parts of ourselves, the part that acknowledges the serious side of life with soberness.

As hard as it is to bear the pain of grief and loss and sadness, God has plans for us through it all. One of them is called sympathy. Sympathy is defined, in part, as "the fact or power of sharing the feelings of another, esp. in sorrow or trouble; fellow feeling, compassion, or commiseration." We can't really sympathize unless we have been there. We can try, but until we've gone through the fire of deep trials, our heart sits just under the surface of gladness feeling sorry for people, pitying them but not being able to sympathize, to commiserate. And we all need others who can commiserate with us -- the misery all around us demands it.

And Jesus is our supreme commiserator. Please read Isaiah 53 and allow His sacrifice of embracing sorrow to wash over you...

Who has believed our message? To whom has the Lord revealed his powerful arm? My servant grew up in the Lord’s presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. He was despised and rejected-- a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care.

Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.

He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. Unjustly condemned, he was led away. No one cared that he died without descendants, that his life was cut short in midstream. But he was struck down for the rebellion of my people. He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man’s grave.

But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands. When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among the rebels. He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels. ~ Isaiah 53 (NLT)

Jesus didn't run away from sorrow...He allowed it to wash over Him, for us. He felt every emotional pain that we feel from grief, humiliation, rejection, abandonment. He went to the deep parts of the soul where sadness lives. Willingly. For us. And we can never say to Him, "...You just don't know what it's like for me...", because He does. Every bit of it.

There have been times in my life where I have allowed the emotional pain of sadness to wash over me, not trying to cover it up, or ignore it. To just allow it. It caused me to think deeper about life, to seek after God more diligently, to re-evaluate my priorities, to look for something more than just what lives on the surface. God used it for good in my life, and I'm not the same as I was for allowing it.

Are you willing to go deeper? If so, please remember that Jesus has been there, and He goes with you. Don't be afraid -- you two can walk through the valley together, and you'll come out on the other side a person that God can use in ways He otherwise could not.

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - James 1:16-17

So don't be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. Whatever is good and perfect comes to us from God above. ~ James 1:16-17 (NLT)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

It's an interesting description James uses in describing God..."The Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows..." (James 1:17b, NIV). I like how the New Century Version expands this passage:

Every good action and every perfect gift is from God. These good gifts come down from the Creator of the sun, moon, and stars, who does not change like their shifting shadows.

Our reference for character is so tainted by watching people, isn't it? We see so many people change like the shadows of the sun. One day they love you, the next day they've moved on to someone else. One day a politician thinks one thing, the next day they think something else. So many shifting shadows all around us...it's hard to think that anything in this world is constant.

We see the sun rise and set. We see the moon go from new to full and back again. But God stays proverbially stationary, while the heavenly lights go back and forth, creating the shadows on earth. He doesn't go back and forth, being good today and evil tomorrow. He doesn't think, Hmm, today I think I'll give Jimmy a temptation to make Him fall. And tomorrow, I'll bandage him up with a dose of grace. Gee, what fun it is to play with this human chess board!

James reminds us in the previous few verses that we can't accuse God of tempting us when temptations come. Evil can't tempt God, nor does God tempt anyone. We fall into our own trap when situations arise (Satan tempts so that we'll do evil, God tests so that we'll grow strong in the good) and we want what we want when we want it, in our own way, and we fall into sin. We can't blame that on God. He doesn't work like that -- totally out of His character.

Everything good and perfect in our lives comes from God. He's in the business of building us up, not tearing us down -- of desiring good things for us, not creating a mess. Let's give Him the glory for who He is and all that He provides for us, and not water down His character in our minds by accusing Him of things He could no more do than we could walk on water.

We will celebrate
and praise you, LORD!
You are good to us,
and your love never fails. ~ Psalm 106:1 (NCV)

Love,
Joelene