You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. ~ Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)
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We have an old Easter egg story that runs in our family about my older sisters when they were little, one being about year-and-a-half younger than the other. While my oldest sister ran around finding all the eggs, the younger sister ran right behind her, crying that she couldn't find any. Ya think? :-) I'm sure you all have your own funny Easter egg stories, too!
How many times do kids just look on the surface for those pretty-colored treasures at Easter? They often don't dig deep AT ALL! It's like they want them handed to them on a silver platter. Hmm . . . is that how people are with God?
God says if we are serious about finding Him, we will find Him. But so many just aren't serious. They "dabble" in God. They might read a Christian book if it ends up on the best-seller list . . . they might go to church once in a great while -- you know, weddings or funerals . . . they try to read the Bible but it gets boring fast . . . they pray maybe if they end up on the side of the road with a flat tire. Lots of dabbling, no searching.
But look at the archaeologist. Now there's a searcher for you! He painstakingly digs and digs and digs for the antiquities of the past. Or the deep-sea divers on the ocean floor who search for treasure amidst sunken ships. They use every ounce of technology they have available and with all the energy they have to find buried treasure! And God, Who is the treasure beyond all treasure, is worth more than all the earthly treasure we could ever uncover! But He's not interested in dabblers. He wants searchers.
And here's the reason. See, He wants our whole heart -- not just part of it. He wants "all in", not just "part in". Why? Because finding God and taking Him for yourself is a commitment. A long and deep commitment. So, people who are in 100% won't turn back when the going gets rough. But the dabblers will probably turn tail and run at the first sign of difficulty.
So, God makes the choice to make Himself somewhat hidden. Those who are truly interested in finding Him will find Him -- those who aren't, won't.
So, are you a dabbler, or a searcher? If you are ready to take the challenge to find God and know Him on a personal level, start digging. Ask God to open your spiritual eyes to His truth and start reading His word, the Bible. As the deep-sea diver heads into murky waters, believing he will find treasure, so you must dive into the word of God that sometimes seems difficult to grasp, believing that God will reveal Himself. If you are serious, He'll be serious with you.
And if you're a dabbler, my question would be: Why? Why is God just an accessory to you, instead of someone essential to your life? That's a serious question that needs answering. All I can say to you is that, although you don't think you need Him, you absolutely do. And one of these days, that reality will become very, very clear to you. So I challenge the dabblers to take a second and third and fourth look at their lives and see if they can't see the hand of God, working on their behalf. See yourself as you really are -- in great need of God's mercy and forgiveness. See God as He really is -- ready and able to extend that mercy and forgiveness.
I pray that even those who know God on a personal level will rethink their searching of Him. Has the search gone cold? Do you just look for God on the surface, not taking the time to be in serious prayer and Bible study? Do you just give Him a surface look and say, "I can't find any eggs...."? God says, Be serious about Me! I'm not an Easter egg you can take or leave -- I'm buried treasure that will change your life! Don't treat me casually, please. I didn't treat you casually when I sacrificed my Son for you on the cross...
Serious stuff, my friends.
Be a digger, not a dabbler where God is concerned. I know that if you search for Him, you won't come up empty-handed.
Love,
Joelene
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Verse of the Day - Mark 4:9
Then Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." ~ Mark 4:9 (NIV)
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Selective hearing was quite the theme of God in the Old Testament, the fact that people had ears to hear, yet did not hear God's word to them...
You have seen many things, but have paid no attention; your ears are open, but you hear nothing. ~ Isaiah 42:20 (NIV)
Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear: Should you not fear me?" declares the LORD. ~ Jeremiah 5:21-22 (NIV)
Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people. ~ Ezekiel 12:2 (NIV)
Let's face it -- we hear what we want to hear, and don't hear what we don't feel like listening to. We do it with people, and we do it with God. Although it seems like a dumb statement to tell people to hear if they have an ear (don't most people have an ear....two, in fact?), the fact is that we can close our ears without ever putting our fingers in them or using ear plugs. We close off the mind that closes off the ears.
I wonder if the other rabbis talked the way Jesus did, telling them to hear if they had an ear. Did the words of the prophets of old ring in their ears when He spoke like that? Did they get the sense that this was God speaking because He sounded just like the God of the Old Testament?
I kind of hear Jesus saying, My point is that if you have an ear, this message is for you. So, look in the mirror and tell me if you have an ear attached to the side of your head. You do? Good. Then what I have to say applies to you. Don't turn around wondering if I'm talking to the guy behind you. No, I'm talking to you. You have an ear -- two, in fact. So listen to what I'm telling you, because it's for you to hear and believe and act on...
And His words echo in the Book of Revelation over and over in chapters 2 and 3, when He says through John, "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches..." I can't help but believe that the people reading this revelation of Jesus Christ would link this phrase back to the Jesus they'd seen and heard while on earth.
God knows that our rebellious hearts give us selective hearing. But we only damage ourselves when we put our proverbial fingers in our ears and say to God, "Lalalala....not listening....I can't HEAR you..." It sounds funny, but in reality, it's tragic. Those who choose to turn a deaf ear to the word of God are opening themselves up to a world of hurt. You know it, and I know. Because we've been there. We can testify to the harsh consequences of selective hearing with God. It's not pretty, is it?
Yet, today is a new day, and with the Spirit, we have new life. We have the ability to say to God, "Yes, I choose to listen to you, because I know that what you say is good and right and best for me. Yes, Lord, I choose to listen and obey..."
He who has ears to hear, let Him hear...
Love,
Joelene
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Selective hearing was quite the theme of God in the Old Testament, the fact that people had ears to hear, yet did not hear God's word to them...
You have seen many things, but have paid no attention; your ears are open, but you hear nothing. ~ Isaiah 42:20 (NIV)
Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear: Should you not fear me?" declares the LORD. ~ Jeremiah 5:21-22 (NIV)
Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people. ~ Ezekiel 12:2 (NIV)
Let's face it -- we hear what we want to hear, and don't hear what we don't feel like listening to. We do it with people, and we do it with God. Although it seems like a dumb statement to tell people to hear if they have an ear (don't most people have an ear....two, in fact?), the fact is that we can close our ears without ever putting our fingers in them or using ear plugs. We close off the mind that closes off the ears.
I wonder if the other rabbis talked the way Jesus did, telling them to hear if they had an ear. Did the words of the prophets of old ring in their ears when He spoke like that? Did they get the sense that this was God speaking because He sounded just like the God of the Old Testament?
I kind of hear Jesus saying, My point is that if you have an ear, this message is for you. So, look in the mirror and tell me if you have an ear attached to the side of your head. You do? Good. Then what I have to say applies to you. Don't turn around wondering if I'm talking to the guy behind you. No, I'm talking to you. You have an ear -- two, in fact. So listen to what I'm telling you, because it's for you to hear and believe and act on...
And His words echo in the Book of Revelation over and over in chapters 2 and 3, when He says through John, "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches..." I can't help but believe that the people reading this revelation of Jesus Christ would link this phrase back to the Jesus they'd seen and heard while on earth.
God knows that our rebellious hearts give us selective hearing. But we only damage ourselves when we put our proverbial fingers in our ears and say to God, "Lalalala....not listening....I can't HEAR you..." It sounds funny, but in reality, it's tragic. Those who choose to turn a deaf ear to the word of God are opening themselves up to a world of hurt. You know it, and I know. Because we've been there. We can testify to the harsh consequences of selective hearing with God. It's not pretty, is it?
Yet, today is a new day, and with the Spirit, we have new life. We have the ability to say to God, "Yes, I choose to listen to you, because I know that what you say is good and right and best for me. Yes, Lord, I choose to listen and obey..."
He who has ears to hear, let Him hear...
Love,
Joelene
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Verse of the Day - Mark 8:35
He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him, and said, “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.” ~ Mark 8:35 (NLT)
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Jesus really knows how to zero in on human nature, doesn't He?
In our kingdom, we put ourselves first. We want front row seats, first in line, and the best cut of meat. We don't want to defer to someone else in a conversation when we want to talk. We like people to wait on us, doing for us what we don't want to (or don't think we should have to) do for ourselves. We don't want to let a merger in the merge lane merge. Not only to we want to elevate ourselves, but in our sinful nature, we sometimes even get some malicious pleasure in knowing that we lowered someone else on the ladder. At our core, we are selfish beyond measure!
But God's kingdom and God's subjects are radically different than our fleshly kingdom. Turning us upside down, Jesus says we must put ourselves on the bottom and put others on the top rung. We need to be the ones who hold the proverbial ladder while others rise up. So, how do we do that? How do we put ourselves in God's kingdom perspective, when all the world (and our inner selves) say, "Be first!"...?
I believe we must first submit our will fully to God before we can lay down our ego and pride and submit to other human beings. Beyond that, when we allow God's love to infiltrate our hearts and minds, He reaches out to others through us, and our godly compassion will, by God's prompting, take the servant position.
(NOTE: Being a servant of all does not mean "be a doormat of all". Please understand that. Do not confuse humility with humiliation. Subjecting yourself to abuse by others is not at all what Jesus is asking of you. If you are doing this voluntarily, I pray you can recognize the difference and seek God's help to remove this thinking from your mind. And if you feel trapped involuntarily in an abusive situation, I pray you can reach out to someone -- anyone -- for help, to stop the abuse and get healing.)
God's kingdom has no place for ego. His kingdom is built on principles of self-sacrifice and love, as demonstrated so magnificently by Jesus on the cross. If we are His students, then we need to take notes and learn. And as He said in Scripture, "No student is above his teacher..." (Matthew 10:24)
Self-sacrifice goes against our self-promoting nature, but it's God's way of thinking. It's God way of living. So, let's tune our hearts to God's heart and be about God's way of living, where we lift up others above ourselves, taking the position of a loving servant. Once we get over ourselves, we find that being selfless like Jesus is a blessed way to live -- much better than trying to puff ourselves up like a blow fish. :-)
Love,
Joelene
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jesus really knows how to zero in on human nature, doesn't He?
In our kingdom, we put ourselves first. We want front row seats, first in line, and the best cut of meat. We don't want to defer to someone else in a conversation when we want to talk. We like people to wait on us, doing for us what we don't want to (or don't think we should have to) do for ourselves. We don't want to let a merger in the merge lane merge. Not only to we want to elevate ourselves, but in our sinful nature, we sometimes even get some malicious pleasure in knowing that we lowered someone else on the ladder. At our core, we are selfish beyond measure!
But God's kingdom and God's subjects are radically different than our fleshly kingdom. Turning us upside down, Jesus says we must put ourselves on the bottom and put others on the top rung. We need to be the ones who hold the proverbial ladder while others rise up. So, how do we do that? How do we put ourselves in God's kingdom perspective, when all the world (and our inner selves) say, "Be first!"...?
I believe we must first submit our will fully to God before we can lay down our ego and pride and submit to other human beings. Beyond that, when we allow God's love to infiltrate our hearts and minds, He reaches out to others through us, and our godly compassion will, by God's prompting, take the servant position.
(NOTE: Being a servant of all does not mean "be a doormat of all". Please understand that. Do not confuse humility with humiliation. Subjecting yourself to abuse by others is not at all what Jesus is asking of you. If you are doing this voluntarily, I pray you can recognize the difference and seek God's help to remove this thinking from your mind. And if you feel trapped involuntarily in an abusive situation, I pray you can reach out to someone -- anyone -- for help, to stop the abuse and get healing.)
God's kingdom has no place for ego. His kingdom is built on principles of self-sacrifice and love, as demonstrated so magnificently by Jesus on the cross. If we are His students, then we need to take notes and learn. And as He said in Scripture, "No student is above his teacher..." (Matthew 10:24)
Self-sacrifice goes against our self-promoting nature, but it's God's way of thinking. It's God way of living. So, let's tune our hearts to God's heart and be about God's way of living, where we lift up others above ourselves, taking the position of a loving servant. Once we get over ourselves, we find that being selfless like Jesus is a blessed way to live -- much better than trying to puff ourselves up like a blow fish. :-)
Love,
Joelene
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Verse of the Day - Psalm 130:3-4
Lord, if you punished people for all their sins, no one would be left, Lord. But you forgive us, so you are respected.
~ Psalm 130:3-4 (NCV)
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This is such an amazing truth -- a holy God not wiping out the planet because of our constant sinful, selfish rebellion. A holy God being able to see the value in us beyond the grime and stench of our sin because we are made in His image and He loves us. Wow...is that amazing grace, or what?
Yet, do all people turn to him in gratitude and fear/revere/respect/worship Him because of His kindness? Do all acknowledge the condition of their sinful heart and mind and take the gift of God, which is eternal life through Jesus Christ, for the wages of their sin, which is death? (Romans 6:23)
No, unfortunately, many turn their backs on God's kindness, on the free gift. It doesn't make sense to followers of Jesus Christ, but sin and his advocate, the devil, are powerful masters. So many are bound in the chains of resistance to God, despite His care for them. It's like hating your parents -- who did all they could to nurture you, care for you, feed and clothe you -- and wanting nothing more than to get as far away from them as you can. It just makes no sense.
Here's a link to the story of the "Prodigal Son" in Luke 15... http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%2015:11-32;&version=76;
I'm so thankful that our God is a loving Father who waits and waits and waits for those He created and loves to "come to their senses" and come back to Him. Those who have journeyed to God and know the forgiveness and new life He offers can testify to the joy of restoration and reconciliation. Those who still travel in the foreign land of life without God don't really know what they're missing. But God still waits...and watches...and speaks to them.
I pray today that, if you know the Lord Jesus and are His follower, you take some time to ponder the miracle of God's forgiveness of your sin. Though you could've been wiped out, God's love covered your sin, through faith in Jesus. It is amazing and awesome and should inspire you to worship the God who loves you! If you've never decided that your sin is real and can't be covered or erased on your own in front of a holy God, I pray you can see your sin for what it really is and reach out for God's hand of forgiveness. Your life will never be the same, and you'll never regret turning your back on your life of self -- guaranteed.
We are all in the same boat. Like the psalmist said, if God counted our sins and called us to account, you'd hear nothing on this planet but a dead calm, like wind in the desert. But His forgiveness is real and available for all who choose Him and His ways over sin and its ways. That's amazing grace, my friends . . . amazing grace.
Love,
Joelene
~ Psalm 130:3-4 (NCV)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is such an amazing truth -- a holy God not wiping out the planet because of our constant sinful, selfish rebellion. A holy God being able to see the value in us beyond the grime and stench of our sin because we are made in His image and He loves us. Wow...is that amazing grace, or what?
Yet, do all people turn to him in gratitude and fear/revere/respect/worship Him because of His kindness? Do all acknowledge the condition of their sinful heart and mind and take the gift of God, which is eternal life through Jesus Christ, for the wages of their sin, which is death? (Romans 6:23)
No, unfortunately, many turn their backs on God's kindness, on the free gift. It doesn't make sense to followers of Jesus Christ, but sin and his advocate, the devil, are powerful masters. So many are bound in the chains of resistance to God, despite His care for them. It's like hating your parents -- who did all they could to nurture you, care for you, feed and clothe you -- and wanting nothing more than to get as far away from them as you can. It just makes no sense.
Here's a link to the story of the "Prodigal Son" in Luke 15... http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%2015:11-32;&version=76;
I'm so thankful that our God is a loving Father who waits and waits and waits for those He created and loves to "come to their senses" and come back to Him. Those who have journeyed to God and know the forgiveness and new life He offers can testify to the joy of restoration and reconciliation. Those who still travel in the foreign land of life without God don't really know what they're missing. But God still waits...and watches...and speaks to them.
I pray today that, if you know the Lord Jesus and are His follower, you take some time to ponder the miracle of God's forgiveness of your sin. Though you could've been wiped out, God's love covered your sin, through faith in Jesus. It is amazing and awesome and should inspire you to worship the God who loves you! If you've never decided that your sin is real and can't be covered or erased on your own in front of a holy God, I pray you can see your sin for what it really is and reach out for God's hand of forgiveness. Your life will never be the same, and you'll never regret turning your back on your life of self -- guaranteed.
We are all in the same boat. Like the psalmist said, if God counted our sins and called us to account, you'd hear nothing on this planet but a dead calm, like wind in the desert. But His forgiveness is real and available for all who choose Him and His ways over sin and its ways. That's amazing grace, my friends . . . amazing grace.
Love,
Joelene
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Verse of the Day - Isaiah 41:13
For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. ~ Isaiah 41:13 (NIV)
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Remember the scene in "The Wizard of Oz" when Dorothy and the others finally make it into the Emerald City and into the Wizard's palace?
Scared to death, Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion locked their hands together as they walked down the long, menacing corridor to meet the Wizard. They faced their fears together, hand in hand.
Or remember this famous photograph?
What could be more daunting than living in the White House spotlight for a small boy? But when you have a big, strong daddy to hold your hand, what's to be afraid of?
God says, Hold My hand tight, little one. I am walking with you down the scary corridors of your life experiences. I am holding your hand in the daunting places you live and breathe in. Do you trust Me? Do you believe that My hand is big enough to carry you through the tough and scary times?
Going it alone is never a safe place to be. Going it with someone is always better. And going it with God is the best. He is available and willing and able. Completely able. So, will you hold His hand and know the security of His love, or stand alone with teeth chattering and knees clanking, afraid to move a muscle?
Take the daily challenge to walk hand in hand with God, trusting Him to care for you. Long corridors and big palaces don't seem nearly so scary when you have a loving Friend and Father to hold hands with.
Love,
Joelene
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Remember the scene in "The Wizard of Oz" when Dorothy and the others finally make it into the Emerald City and into the Wizard's palace?
Scared to death, Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion locked their hands together as they walked down the long, menacing corridor to meet the Wizard. They faced their fears together, hand in hand.
Or remember this famous photograph?
What could be more daunting than living in the White House spotlight for a small boy? But when you have a big, strong daddy to hold your hand, what's to be afraid of?
God says, Hold My hand tight, little one. I am walking with you down the scary corridors of your life experiences. I am holding your hand in the daunting places you live and breathe in. Do you trust Me? Do you believe that My hand is big enough to carry you through the tough and scary times?
Going it alone is never a safe place to be. Going it with someone is always better. And going it with God is the best. He is available and willing and able. Completely able. So, will you hold His hand and know the security of His love, or stand alone with teeth chattering and knees clanking, afraid to move a muscle?
Take the daily challenge to walk hand in hand with God, trusting Him to care for you. Long corridors and big palaces don't seem nearly so scary when you have a loving Friend and Father to hold hands with.
Love,
Joelene
Monday, January 26, 2009
Verse of the Day - Colossians 3:23-24
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
~ Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)
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What does it mean to do something "with all your heart"?
Does it mean to give all your mental energy and focus? All your physical strength? All your passion and devotion? All of the above? I think so.
Can you imagine going to work every day, being amp'd up and staying amp'd up like that all day? Sounds exhausting...
I know that I often go to work with less than a "with all my heart" mentality. I don't often think about serving Jesus when I answer phones, fill out paperwork, check 43,001 emails, and try to figure out why the trash didn't get dumped again last night. I do go and try to do a good job, but "with all my heart"? According to my definition of that phrase, I have some work to do in the mindset department.
Our motivation for "giving it our all" is supposed to be the knowledge that Jesus is our master, our Lord, our boss. And that reward is in store. Hmm . . . who says incentive plans don't work? :-)
Maybe God's not opposed to the "treat" idea. Bark and you get a dog treat. Clean your room and you get a cookie. Do all that you do on this earth "with all your heart" and you get . . . what? Only God knows what that reward will be. The text does seem to indicate that our "treat" will be after this life is over.
Maybe it'll be gorgeous sunsets for a 100 years. Maybe it'll be 1,000 walks in a green meadow. Maybe it'll be His smile when He looks at you. Whatever it is, He treats those of His children who work hard -- with all their heart -- in this life, with Him as their motivation.
When your boss is watching your work, you work hard, don't you? When a cop is watching, you do the speed limit, don't you? When the crowd is watching and the clock is running, you race as fast as you can or play the game as hard as you can, don't you? So, knowing that Jesus is watching us, how do we work? How do we obey rules? How do we play the game?
Living "with all your heart" for the Lord may be exhausting at times, but His pleasure is worth it! Jesus is your boss, so give today all you have -- every ounce of strength and desire and courage and enthusiasm! Fall in bed exhausted, but happy, knowing you served your Master well. And then tomorrow, get up and do it again!
Hey, maybe living the Christian life "with all your heart" will be the next weight-loss exercise craze...! I don't know about you, but I think I may be burning a few calories as I burn in my heart for Jesus. :-)
Love,
Joelene
~ Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What does it mean to do something "with all your heart"?
Does it mean to give all your mental energy and focus? All your physical strength? All your passion and devotion? All of the above? I think so.
Can you imagine going to work every day, being amp'd up and staying amp'd up like that all day? Sounds exhausting...
I know that I often go to work with less than a "with all my heart" mentality. I don't often think about serving Jesus when I answer phones, fill out paperwork, check 43,001 emails, and try to figure out why the trash didn't get dumped again last night. I do go and try to do a good job, but "with all my heart"? According to my definition of that phrase, I have some work to do in the mindset department.
Our motivation for "giving it our all" is supposed to be the knowledge that Jesus is our master, our Lord, our boss. And that reward is in store. Hmm . . . who says incentive plans don't work? :-)
Maybe God's not opposed to the "treat" idea. Bark and you get a dog treat. Clean your room and you get a cookie. Do all that you do on this earth "with all your heart" and you get . . . what? Only God knows what that reward will be. The text does seem to indicate that our "treat" will be after this life is over.
Maybe it'll be gorgeous sunsets for a 100 years. Maybe it'll be 1,000 walks in a green meadow. Maybe it'll be His smile when He looks at you. Whatever it is, He treats those of His children who work hard -- with all their heart -- in this life, with Him as their motivation.
When your boss is watching your work, you work hard, don't you? When a cop is watching, you do the speed limit, don't you? When the crowd is watching and the clock is running, you race as fast as you can or play the game as hard as you can, don't you? So, knowing that Jesus is watching us, how do we work? How do we obey rules? How do we play the game?
Living "with all your heart" for the Lord may be exhausting at times, but His pleasure is worth it! Jesus is your boss, so give today all you have -- every ounce of strength and desire and courage and enthusiasm! Fall in bed exhausted, but happy, knowing you served your Master well. And then tomorrow, get up and do it again!
Hey, maybe living the Christian life "with all your heart" will be the next weight-loss exercise craze...! I don't know about you, but I think I may be burning a few calories as I burn in my heart for Jesus. :-)
Love,
Joelene
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Verse of the Day - John 15:5
I am the vine. You are the branches. If anyone remains joined to me, and I to him, he will bear a lot of fruit. You can't do anything without me. ~ John 15:5 (NIrV)
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Many years ago when I was married, we rented a house on a court, with a very large back yard. Over the large wood slat patio cover were grapevines that seemed to take over the structure --grapevines just doing what they do naturally. I don't think the grapes were edible, but because the branches "do their thing", the patio had very nice shade in the summer months.
With such a large structure, one could look up and see the many branches intertwined and think that the foliage is the vine. But all you'd have to do is take clippers and sever a twine and see it shrivel on one end, and realize that you have severed a branch -- a branch that cannot exist without connection to the root. Branches can go a long way away from the root, even out of sight, but all it takes is a set of clippers, and the branch is finished.
Do we sometimes forget that we're just the branches and not the vine? Do we sometimes get so busy and determined intertwining on the structure we're groomed on, growing tall and big, out of sight of the root, that we think we're the root? When people look up at us and say, "Gee, what nice shade and what great fruit this vine is producing!", do we glow in pride and say to ourselves, Yeah, that's right -- admire this vine called 'me'...? We have to watch pride like a prowling lion.
Jesus likens Himself and His followers to a vine. By nature, from a single root will come many, many branches. And if the connection is maintained, a vine can send branches that can overtake any structure. My parents used to have a wooden patio cover with a wisteria plant. Beautiful, fragrant flowers in Springtime, but over the course of 25+ years, that wooden patio cover was no match for the wisteria's pulling power, and the cover slowly began to give way to the vine. Amazing power when the branches stay connected to the root! Hmm . . . kinda reminds me of when Jesus said, "On this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it..." (Matthew 16:18). When we stay connected to the vine root, we, as the branches, have power to tear down the strongholds of the devil. Do you believe that?
We, as the branches of Jesus Christ, have the ability to have far-reaching affects, producing spiritually fragrant blossoms, good fruit and pulling power. But we can never forget that our connection to the Root of Jesse is the key -- the absolute key -- to staying alive, to being productive and healthy. If we get heady about what we're doing, forgetting the Giver of all that we have and trying to take credit where it isn't due us, we run the risk of withering because, at that point, our lifeline is trying to tap from within us. And we're just branches, incapable of producing anything without the root.
Are you staying connected to Jesus? Are you taking life-sustaining spiritual nutrition from Him regularly? If you desire for God to make a difference in and through you, it's essential that you maintain the connection. So, as my Aunt Ginny would say, "Well, do it then...!" :-) Stay connected to Jesus and grow where and how He wants you to!
Love,
Joelene
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Many years ago when I was married, we rented a house on a court, with a very large back yard. Over the large wood slat patio cover were grapevines that seemed to take over the structure --grapevines just doing what they do naturally. I don't think the grapes were edible, but because the branches "do their thing", the patio had very nice shade in the summer months.
With such a large structure, one could look up and see the many branches intertwined and think that the foliage is the vine. But all you'd have to do is take clippers and sever a twine and see it shrivel on one end, and realize that you have severed a branch -- a branch that cannot exist without connection to the root. Branches can go a long way away from the root, even out of sight, but all it takes is a set of clippers, and the branch is finished.
Do we sometimes forget that we're just the branches and not the vine? Do we sometimes get so busy and determined intertwining on the structure we're groomed on, growing tall and big, out of sight of the root, that we think we're the root? When people look up at us and say, "Gee, what nice shade and what great fruit this vine is producing!", do we glow in pride and say to ourselves, Yeah, that's right -- admire this vine called 'me'...? We have to watch pride like a prowling lion.
Jesus likens Himself and His followers to a vine. By nature, from a single root will come many, many branches. And if the connection is maintained, a vine can send branches that can overtake any structure. My parents used to have a wooden patio cover with a wisteria plant. Beautiful, fragrant flowers in Springtime, but over the course of 25+ years, that wooden patio cover was no match for the wisteria's pulling power, and the cover slowly began to give way to the vine. Amazing power when the branches stay connected to the root! Hmm . . . kinda reminds me of when Jesus said, "On this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it..." (Matthew 16:18). When we stay connected to the vine root, we, as the branches, have power to tear down the strongholds of the devil. Do you believe that?
We, as the branches of Jesus Christ, have the ability to have far-reaching affects, producing spiritually fragrant blossoms, good fruit and pulling power. But we can never forget that our connection to the Root of Jesse is the key -- the absolute key -- to staying alive, to being productive and healthy. If we get heady about what we're doing, forgetting the Giver of all that we have and trying to take credit where it isn't due us, we run the risk of withering because, at that point, our lifeline is trying to tap from within us. And we're just branches, incapable of producing anything without the root.
Are you staying connected to Jesus? Are you taking life-sustaining spiritual nutrition from Him regularly? If you desire for God to make a difference in and through you, it's essential that you maintain the connection. So, as my Aunt Ginny would say, "Well, do it then...!" :-) Stay connected to Jesus and grow where and how He wants you to!
Love,
Joelene
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Verse of the Day - Proverbs 16:25
There is a way that seems right to a man,
but in the end it leads to death.
~ Proverbs 16:25 (NIV)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is one of my favorite proverbs. It reminds me that, on my own, in my own thinking, I'm destined for disaster, destruction and death. What I think, apart from the Author of truth and wisdom, is as deceptive as a big puff of cotton candy that melts into a small wad of sugar. A charade.
And my life experiences, and those of so many others, teach me that God's word is true. We talk ourselves into believing so many things are good and right and okay -- but later, we realize that our thinking was flawed, and our pride and arrogance have left us in shambles. Does any of this resonate?
What about humanity's departure from submission to their Creator? In their sin condition, pride and arrogance said they could live on their own, without the aid of the Great Provider. Along that line, they even invented alternate stories of the creation of the world and our lives, and our purpose for existence (or lack thereof). But the slippery slope of this flawed thinking has caused so many to treat life as relatively meaningless and disposable. Death again. Death of hope. Death of lives, both the young and the old.
And what about the cultural bigotry and hatred that was lauded and applauded in our country not so very long ago? Fathers and mothers taught their children to believe and act on the idea that they were superior to those with a difficult color skin, that it was okay and, heaven forbid, their "God-given right" to suppress and oppress other human beings. They believed they were in the right, but in the end it led to death. Literally, much death.
If we puff ourselves up, thinking that we have arrived at some pinnacle of highest knowledge and understanding, we run serious risk of falling to our death. If we are wise, we will acknowledge that what our minds think must be scrutinized against the wisdom and knowledge of God. That apart from Him, we have flawed thinking, flawed ideas, a flawed mindset.
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. ~ Isaiah 55:8-9 (NLT)
I pray that we will scrutinize what we think, and bring our thoughts and ideas and attitudes under the authority of Jesus Christ, because He truly is the way, the truth, and the life -- and all of our prideful mistakes, based on prideful thinking, make that painfully obvious. Take Jesus' yoke of teaching upon your shoulders and learn from Him. It is for our survival that God warns us of ourselves . . . it is for our survival that God offers us Himself.
Love,
Joelene
but in the end it leads to death.
~ Proverbs 16:25 (NIV)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is one of my favorite proverbs. It reminds me that, on my own, in my own thinking, I'm destined for disaster, destruction and death. What I think, apart from the Author of truth and wisdom, is as deceptive as a big puff of cotton candy that melts into a small wad of sugar. A charade.
And my life experiences, and those of so many others, teach me that God's word is true. We talk ourselves into believing so many things are good and right and okay -- but later, we realize that our thinking was flawed, and our pride and arrogance have left us in shambles. Does any of this resonate?
What about humanity's departure from submission to their Creator? In their sin condition, pride and arrogance said they could live on their own, without the aid of the Great Provider. Along that line, they even invented alternate stories of the creation of the world and our lives, and our purpose for existence (or lack thereof). But the slippery slope of this flawed thinking has caused so many to treat life as relatively meaningless and disposable. Death again. Death of hope. Death of lives, both the young and the old.
And what about the cultural bigotry and hatred that was lauded and applauded in our country not so very long ago? Fathers and mothers taught their children to believe and act on the idea that they were superior to those with a difficult color skin, that it was okay and, heaven forbid, their "God-given right" to suppress and oppress other human beings. They believed they were in the right, but in the end it led to death. Literally, much death.
If we puff ourselves up, thinking that we have arrived at some pinnacle of highest knowledge and understanding, we run serious risk of falling to our death. If we are wise, we will acknowledge that what our minds think must be scrutinized against the wisdom and knowledge of God. That apart from Him, we have flawed thinking, flawed ideas, a flawed mindset.
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. ~ Isaiah 55:8-9 (NLT)
I pray that we will scrutinize what we think, and bring our thoughts and ideas and attitudes under the authority of Jesus Christ, because He truly is the way, the truth, and the life -- and all of our prideful mistakes, based on prideful thinking, make that painfully obvious. Take Jesus' yoke of teaching upon your shoulders and learn from Him. It is for our survival that God warns us of ourselves . . . it is for our survival that God offers us Himself.
Love,
Joelene
Friday, January 23, 2009
Verse of the Day - Galatians 6:2
Carry each other's heavy loads. If you do, you will give the law of Christ its full meaning.
~ Galatians 6:2 (NIrV)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In this self-sufficient world we live in, we tend to run on a Catch-22: We don't want to share our weaknesses and struggles with others, because then people will think we're weak and struggling (ya think?!?), and that will reflect badly on our reputation (or so we think). BUT -- because we don't share with anyone that we're having problems, there's no one to help us get through our problems. So we sit on our proverbial couch with "trial" on one side of us, and "tribulation" on the other side, stuck in a rut watching proverbial soap operas and reruns of Andy Griffith. Catch-22, my friends . . . Catch-22.
Recently, I talked with a friend who I hadn't chatted with for quite some time, who seemed to have been very busy lately with "life". But my eyes were opened wide to some very serious difficulties she was having in the last few months -- I never knew!!! My heart ached for her, that she was struggling alone, keeping things to herself, and in the process, suffering a measure of depression over it all. Oh, if she had only picked up the phone and called me, or anyone! She said she felt the issues were embarrassing, not even wanting to share with family members. God did get her through that difficult time, but, oh, how much better it could've been if her loving friends and family could've helped carry the load...
How much do you think the average automobile weighs? According to Hyundai specs, my 2006 Sonata weighs 3,266 lbs. Hmm...do you think I could lift that vehicle by myself? (psst....that's rhetorical :-) But do you know that, if I were to surround my car with friends, I bet we could lift it -- or at least tip it up on it's side! Suddenly, 3 tons of steel feels like a sack of groceries...
The same is true for our weighty issues, be they emotional, financial, or physical. Speaking our needs helps others share our needs. So, we really have to swallow our pride and rely on the love of trusted friends and family, so that we don't walk this life and carry the load ourselves. The law of Christ is love, and in order for believers to fulfill that law, they need information. In the process, we learn humility. We need sharing to occur, so that together, needs can be met and Christ's love can be expressed.
I pray you can open yourself up to those who love and care for you, so that you can sense and know that you are not alone, that your burdens aren't too difficult to bear when you have help. Hmm . . . 3 tons vs. a sack of groceries. Which would you rather try lifting?
Love,
Joelene
~ Galatians 6:2 (NIrV)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In this self-sufficient world we live in, we tend to run on a Catch-22: We don't want to share our weaknesses and struggles with others, because then people will think we're weak and struggling (ya think?!?), and that will reflect badly on our reputation (or so we think). BUT -- because we don't share with anyone that we're having problems, there's no one to help us get through our problems. So we sit on our proverbial couch with "trial" on one side of us, and "tribulation" on the other side, stuck in a rut watching proverbial soap operas and reruns of Andy Griffith. Catch-22, my friends . . . Catch-22.
Recently, I talked with a friend who I hadn't chatted with for quite some time, who seemed to have been very busy lately with "life". But my eyes were opened wide to some very serious difficulties she was having in the last few months -- I never knew!!! My heart ached for her, that she was struggling alone, keeping things to herself, and in the process, suffering a measure of depression over it all. Oh, if she had only picked up the phone and called me, or anyone! She said she felt the issues were embarrassing, not even wanting to share with family members. God did get her through that difficult time, but, oh, how much better it could've been if her loving friends and family could've helped carry the load...
How much do you think the average automobile weighs? According to Hyundai specs, my 2006 Sonata weighs 3,266 lbs. Hmm...do you think I could lift that vehicle by myself? (psst....that's rhetorical :-) But do you know that, if I were to surround my car with friends, I bet we could lift it -- or at least tip it up on it's side! Suddenly, 3 tons of steel feels like a sack of groceries...
The same is true for our weighty issues, be they emotional, financial, or physical. Speaking our needs helps others share our needs. So, we really have to swallow our pride and rely on the love of trusted friends and family, so that we don't walk this life and carry the load ourselves. The law of Christ is love, and in order for believers to fulfill that law, they need information. In the process, we learn humility. We need sharing to occur, so that together, needs can be met and Christ's love can be expressed.
I pray you can open yourself up to those who love and care for you, so that you can sense and know that you are not alone, that your burdens aren't too difficult to bear when you have help. Hmm . . . 3 tons vs. a sack of groceries. Which would you rather try lifting?
Love,
Joelene
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Verse of the Day - Luke 11:9-10
So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
~ Luke 11:9-10 (NIV)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wow, do I even want to touch this one?
This verse has been oft misused and abused, and even after reading it in context (both in Matthew and Luke), I, as a layperson, have trouble understanding Jesus' specific meaning. In Luke, He talks about God giving the Holy Spirit freely to those who ask. In Matthew, He just talks about "good gifts". Honestly, I don't know how best to interpret this, especially when people get so bent out of shape when they claim this verse in prayer and then don't see results. Kinda like the kid on Christmas morning, amidst the mountain of wrapping paper, grumbling that he doesn't believe in Santa Claus anymore because he didn't get that five-legged, hairy monster that he begged St. Nick for at the mall.
We read this verse and think this is a free ticket to God's warehouse -- and when we don't get what we want, we pout like a little kid, or worse, we get mad at God and break off communication. Wow -- and that is what we call a loving two-way relationship? Sounds more like Romper Room.
I know that God loves to give good gifts to His children. How do I know this? Because I know my Father. I know that He is generous and kind and loving to His kids -- I know His character. But I also know that our character doesn't match His character naturally, and we are in the constant process of being shaped by His character and His plan -- we're in the Refiner's fire. And our prayer life is a big part of that process.
In John 11, when Lazarus got sick, his sisters sent a message to Jesus, presumably for Him to come and heal their brother. But Jesus delayed in going -- 2 days, in fact. So, by the time He and His disciples got there, Lazarus was dead. Can you imagine the frustration and sadness that Mary and Martha felt? They knew Jesus could do a miracle for their brother. But He didn't come at their beck and call. He waited. He knew why, but they didn't. And we're in the same boat as they.
Like I said, this passage is a hard one, and I don't claim to grasp it. But what does strike me is the dependence on God that's so clear. Are we really going to God for all of our needs? Is He our sole Provider and Protector? Do we depend on Him for our very existence, or do we rely so much on ourselves, that the only time we come to Him is in crisis mode?
God truly is our lifeline, whether we behave like it or not. But what He's looking for are children that do understand and revel in their dependence on Him -- casting all their anxiety on Him, because He cares for them (1 Peter 5:7). So, I ask you: Where is your dependence?
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
And I hope you'll sing along...
~ Declaration of Dependence, by Steven Curtis Chapman
Love,
Joelene
~ Luke 11:9-10 (NIV)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wow, do I even want to touch this one?
This verse has been oft misused and abused, and even after reading it in context (both in Matthew and Luke), I, as a layperson, have trouble understanding Jesus' specific meaning. In Luke, He talks about God giving the Holy Spirit freely to those who ask. In Matthew, He just talks about "good gifts". Honestly, I don't know how best to interpret this, especially when people get so bent out of shape when they claim this verse in prayer and then don't see results. Kinda like the kid on Christmas morning, amidst the mountain of wrapping paper, grumbling that he doesn't believe in Santa Claus anymore because he didn't get that five-legged, hairy monster that he begged St. Nick for at the mall.
We read this verse and think this is a free ticket to God's warehouse -- and when we don't get what we want, we pout like a little kid, or worse, we get mad at God and break off communication. Wow -- and that is what we call a loving two-way relationship? Sounds more like Romper Room.
I know that God loves to give good gifts to His children. How do I know this? Because I know my Father. I know that He is generous and kind and loving to His kids -- I know His character. But I also know that our character doesn't match His character naturally, and we are in the constant process of being shaped by His character and His plan -- we're in the Refiner's fire. And our prayer life is a big part of that process.
In John 11, when Lazarus got sick, his sisters sent a message to Jesus, presumably for Him to come and heal their brother. But Jesus delayed in going -- 2 days, in fact. So, by the time He and His disciples got there, Lazarus was dead. Can you imagine the frustration and sadness that Mary and Martha felt? They knew Jesus could do a miracle for their brother. But He didn't come at their beck and call. He waited. He knew why, but they didn't. And we're in the same boat as they.
Like I said, this passage is a hard one, and I don't claim to grasp it. But what does strike me is the dependence on God that's so clear. Are we really going to God for all of our needs? Is He our sole Provider and Protector? Do we depend on Him for our very existence, or do we rely so much on ourselves, that the only time we come to Him is in crisis mode?
God truly is our lifeline, whether we behave like it or not. But what He's looking for are children that do understand and revel in their dependence on Him -- casting all their anxiety on Him, because He cares for them (1 Peter 5:7). So, I ask you: Where is your dependence?
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
And I hope you'll sing along...
~ Declaration of Dependence, by Steven Curtis Chapman
Love,
Joelene
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Verse of the Day - Matthew 25:37-40
"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' ~ Matthew 25:37-40 (NIV)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Monday was a great day! My friend and I met up with other volunteers to make a difference in the River District in downtown Sacramento, where a large population of homeless live. Nestled in this section of the downtown are numerous agencies providing shelter and provisions to the homeless, and we got to help out! We worked hard, painting a women's dorm room at the Bannon Street Shelter, met some wonderful people, and came away knowing we had done a good thing -- helping people and showing them the love of God through helping hands. We were truly blessed! And when I got home and watched a video clip of President Obama painting walls at a teen shelter, I just felt a sense of connection, a sense of community with my country's leader. Pretty cool...
Our new President is calling our country's people to responsibility and accountability, and I am impressed to see that people are listening. I heard a young pop music/movie star on TV last night, hosting an inaugural celebration, and he sounded excited about "stepping up our game" as a people, and rebuilding our nation by being involved in our communities. As I worked alongside so many other volunteers on Monday and saw the faces of the grateful residents at the shelter, I caught the vision of changing our country from the bottom up . . . of loving our neighbors as ourselves . . . of doing good without expecting to be paid back. And isn't that the love through social justice that Jesus preached? Isn't that the compassion that Jesus compels us to give?
I pray that we could all re-evaluate our level of service in our communities. I know that I have, up to this point, not been an active participant. But God certainly propelled me in the last couple of weeks to venture out -- and I'm thankful. I'm now even a captain of a First Baptist Church Fair Oaks team for "Hands On Sacramento"! The team members are growing daily, and I'm excited to see how we can be in the community for the good of the community . . . and, in the process, show and tell them of God's love for them. (NOTE: If you live in the Sacramento area, and are interested in being a part of our team, just reply and I can sign you up! We even have some folks interested who don't go to church -- we're glad to partner with anyone interested, so no worries there....)
God opened my eyes through a TV commercial about MLK Day On, and pointed me on-line to an existing volunteer organization that made it very easy to get involved. So, wherever you live, please consider going on-line and finding a place to get plugged in. I think you will get hooked on loving people in need! I know I have . . . and isn't that just like our Father in heaven?
Love,
Joelene
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Monday was a great day! My friend and I met up with other volunteers to make a difference in the River District in downtown Sacramento, where a large population of homeless live. Nestled in this section of the downtown are numerous agencies providing shelter and provisions to the homeless, and we got to help out! We worked hard, painting a women's dorm room at the Bannon Street Shelter, met some wonderful people, and came away knowing we had done a good thing -- helping people and showing them the love of God through helping hands. We were truly blessed! And when I got home and watched a video clip of President Obama painting walls at a teen shelter, I just felt a sense of connection, a sense of community with my country's leader. Pretty cool...
Our new President is calling our country's people to responsibility and accountability, and I am impressed to see that people are listening. I heard a young pop music/movie star on TV last night, hosting an inaugural celebration, and he sounded excited about "stepping up our game" as a people, and rebuilding our nation by being involved in our communities. As I worked alongside so many other volunteers on Monday and saw the faces of the grateful residents at the shelter, I caught the vision of changing our country from the bottom up . . . of loving our neighbors as ourselves . . . of doing good without expecting to be paid back. And isn't that the love through social justice that Jesus preached? Isn't that the compassion that Jesus compels us to give?
I pray that we could all re-evaluate our level of service in our communities. I know that I have, up to this point, not been an active participant. But God certainly propelled me in the last couple of weeks to venture out -- and I'm thankful. I'm now even a captain of a First Baptist Church Fair Oaks team for "Hands On Sacramento"! The team members are growing daily, and I'm excited to see how we can be in the community for the good of the community . . . and, in the process, show and tell them of God's love for them. (NOTE: If you live in the Sacramento area, and are interested in being a part of our team, just reply and I can sign you up! We even have some folks interested who don't go to church -- we're glad to partner with anyone interested, so no worries there....)
God opened my eyes through a TV commercial about MLK Day On, and pointed me on-line to an existing volunteer organization that made it very easy to get involved. So, wherever you live, please consider going on-line and finding a place to get plugged in. I think you will get hooked on loving people in need! I know I have . . . and isn't that just like our Father in heaven?
Love,
Joelene
Monday, January 19, 2009
Verse of the Day - Genesis 1:27
So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
~ Genesis 1:27 (NLT)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Today is the national celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s 80th birthday (January 15th), and I have been struck most recently with the amazing impact that he had on this country.
I was born in December '61, a white girl raised in a suburban community in California. I was too young to hear first-hand much of what was taking place in the Civil Rights Movement. I was clueless about the struggles in the South (or the war in Vietnam, for that matter). I don't remember my parents being glued to the TV, catching all the latest national and international news and unrest. But then again, I was probably out climbing trees or riding my bike...
The point is that I never took the time as an adult to listen to this godly man, who simply desired God's kingdom values of equality in America for all people. I never fully absorbed the vileness of bigotry and hatred that spilled out onto an entire race of people in this country . . . perhaps there is no way for a white person to fully absorb it, I don't know. But I wasn't raised that way, to judge people by the color of their skin. Unfortunately, so many in this country have been entrenched in this mindset for generations. And Martin Luther King, Jr. stepped to the forefront and said it was wrong, had always been wrong. Wrong because God created all people in His image.
God loves all people -- we are all made in His image. And we are all sinful -- rebellious and in need of a Savior. And because God still loved all people, He sent His Son to give His life as a sin sacrifice for all people. Again, we are all on an equal plain. Grace is free, and grace is for all.
My son created a musical remix of a contemporary Christian song overlayed with snippets of several of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s speeches, and as I listened to this remix on my iPod last week, tears came to my eyes, as I listened to a humble man of God, proclaiming God's love for humanity and our right and responsibility to be bearers of that love. This man was definitely a preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! I challenge you to search the internet and read and/or listen to the God agenda that Martin had. He reminded us that social justice and godly love are intertwined. Or they should be...
I pray that we can do more than just say John 3:16 from memory, but that the reality of God's love for the whole world will invade our hearts and minds and transform the way we live, by transforming the way we love.
Love,
Joelene
~ Genesis 1:27 (NLT)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Today is the national celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s 80th birthday (January 15th), and I have been struck most recently with the amazing impact that he had on this country.
I was born in December '61, a white girl raised in a suburban community in California. I was too young to hear first-hand much of what was taking place in the Civil Rights Movement. I was clueless about the struggles in the South (or the war in Vietnam, for that matter). I don't remember my parents being glued to the TV, catching all the latest national and international news and unrest. But then again, I was probably out climbing trees or riding my bike...
The point is that I never took the time as an adult to listen to this godly man, who simply desired God's kingdom values of equality in America for all people. I never fully absorbed the vileness of bigotry and hatred that spilled out onto an entire race of people in this country . . . perhaps there is no way for a white person to fully absorb it, I don't know. But I wasn't raised that way, to judge people by the color of their skin. Unfortunately, so many in this country have been entrenched in this mindset for generations. And Martin Luther King, Jr. stepped to the forefront and said it was wrong, had always been wrong. Wrong because God created all people in His image.
God loves all people -- we are all made in His image. And we are all sinful -- rebellious and in need of a Savior. And because God still loved all people, He sent His Son to give His life as a sin sacrifice for all people. Again, we are all on an equal plain. Grace is free, and grace is for all.
My son created a musical remix of a contemporary Christian song overlayed with snippets of several of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s speeches, and as I listened to this remix on my iPod last week, tears came to my eyes, as I listened to a humble man of God, proclaiming God's love for humanity and our right and responsibility to be bearers of that love. This man was definitely a preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! I challenge you to search the internet and read and/or listen to the God agenda that Martin had. He reminded us that social justice and godly love are intertwined. Or they should be...
I pray that we can do more than just say John 3:16 from memory, but that the reality of God's love for the whole world will invade our hearts and minds and transform the way we live, by transforming the way we love.
Love,
Joelene
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Verse of the Day - Titus 3:1-2
Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men. ~ Titus 3:1-2 (NIV)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We are approached a very historic occasion -- a black man is about to take the Presidential oath of office! When I think of the malice and hatred in this country just 40 or 50 years ago toward an entire race of people, this moment is truly to be pondered upon, to be reveled in! Though America still has issues, we have done some mending of the tears, some cleansing of the horrible blot on our national character that was shamefully exhibited in slavery, lynchings, segregation, and church burnings. I THANK GOD we have chosen to listen to God as a nation in this regard, even though so many don't even call on His name. God loves the whole world -- black people, white people, people of all colors. People from the East and West, North and South. God is the giver of all life and the Savior of all men's souls. We are all equal in the eyes of our Creator. And America has embraced, to a much greater degree, those Kingdom values.
Whether you voted for President-elect Obama or not, we are witnessing a turning of the page in our country, for many reasons. I am thankful that I don't see color when I look at his face, but rather a man, desiring to make a difference in our country. Whether his ideas will do all that he hopes they will do remains to be seen. But, isn't that always the way it is with a new President?
I didn't vote for Barack Obama in November, but he will now be the leader of my country, and I will give him respect because that is the right thing to do. It is the God thing to do. He has the hardest job in the world -- it will take a huge toll on him, as it has all others who preceded him. I wouldn't, in a million years, want his job! He needs our prayers and our encouragement as he seeks to lift us out of an economic recession, to manage the war in Iraq, and a million other struggles we face. On top of that, he is a dad of two young children, and being a dad is hard enough for the average guy. Like I said, he, and his family, need our prayers . . .
I know there are many people who are bad-mouthing Barack Obama. I don't know if it's because of the color of his skin (which most probably wouldn't admit to), or whether it's his political affiliations (which more would admit to), but as believers in Jesus Christ, we are called to be different than that, to be different than the world...
Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men...
Can you imagine what our country -- and the world -- would look like if we took this admonition from the Lord to heart?
Love,
Joelene
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We are approached a very historic occasion -- a black man is about to take the Presidential oath of office! When I think of the malice and hatred in this country just 40 or 50 years ago toward an entire race of people, this moment is truly to be pondered upon, to be reveled in! Though America still has issues, we have done some mending of the tears, some cleansing of the horrible blot on our national character that was shamefully exhibited in slavery, lynchings, segregation, and church burnings. I THANK GOD we have chosen to listen to God as a nation in this regard, even though so many don't even call on His name. God loves the whole world -- black people, white people, people of all colors. People from the East and West, North and South. God is the giver of all life and the Savior of all men's souls. We are all equal in the eyes of our Creator. And America has embraced, to a much greater degree, those Kingdom values.
Whether you voted for President-elect Obama or not, we are witnessing a turning of the page in our country, for many reasons. I am thankful that I don't see color when I look at his face, but rather a man, desiring to make a difference in our country. Whether his ideas will do all that he hopes they will do remains to be seen. But, isn't that always the way it is with a new President?
I didn't vote for Barack Obama in November, but he will now be the leader of my country, and I will give him respect because that is the right thing to do. It is the God thing to do. He has the hardest job in the world -- it will take a huge toll on him, as it has all others who preceded him. I wouldn't, in a million years, want his job! He needs our prayers and our encouragement as he seeks to lift us out of an economic recession, to manage the war in Iraq, and a million other struggles we face. On top of that, he is a dad of two young children, and being a dad is hard enough for the average guy. Like I said, he, and his family, need our prayers . . .
I know there are many people who are bad-mouthing Barack Obama. I don't know if it's because of the color of his skin (which most probably wouldn't admit to), or whether it's his political affiliations (which more would admit to), but as believers in Jesus Christ, we are called to be different than that, to be different than the world...
Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men...
Can you imagine what our country -- and the world -- would look like if we took this admonition from the Lord to heart?
Love,
Joelene
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Verse of the Day - 1 Corinthians 10:13
The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. ~ 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It's January, and we all know what that means. In case you haven't figured out, the bulk of America is now in the weight-loss mode -- a myriad of TV commercials for a myriad of products and programs to help America lose weight. Jenny Craig and Nutrisystems, exercise machines up the wazoo, and an assortment of "take this pill and you can lose 35 pounds like me!" products -- all trying to address the holiday gluttony. My scale tells me I fell into temptation more than I'd like to admit -- does anyone relate to what I'm saying?!?
Maybe for you it's not food. Maybe it's anger mis-management. Maybe it's laziness. Maybe it's pornography. I don't know, but you do. You are well aware of the areas in your life where you are weak, where you cave in like a house of cards in a breeze. Why is it that we cave so easily? Why is it that we throw up our hands and say, "whatever...", while we grab that second donut or third piece of pie?
And then we have the audacity to say, "God says we'll never be tempted more than we can bear -- He lies, because I just can't resist this chocolate eclair!"
We are so self-indulgent that we can tend to blame God for our pitiful attempts at self-control. We say, "I'm going to lose 10 pounds, and I'm not going to eat donuts anymore." And then when we walk into the office break room and see that mouth-watering pink pastry box, all thoughts go straight to the sugar, instead of to our goals and our God. And we simply throw up the white flag and dive into the pink box. And that's God's fault?!? Who are we kidding?
Satan is no dummy. He is crafty beyond measure and malicious beyond comprehension. So, if you desire to be victorious in your fight against sin, you better bring in the Big Gun and ready yourself for a battle. Your God says He's got an escape plan for your temptations. Are you listening and looking for it, or are you only hearing what that jelly donut is saying to you?
There are so many things in this world that can distract us from God and His will for us. What and who we listen to, I think, is an indicator of how serious we are in overcoming our temptation to sin. So, are you serious about defeating the evil one in his devilish game of cat-and-mouse? Are you willing to throw self-indulgence under the bus and give God your total attention?
Some things are relatively easy to escape and walk away from. Others are so challenging, you are worn out on a daily basis in trying to say 'no'. Please don't think you can deal with the devil on your own. It is God who provides our strength in overcoming temptation -- lean on Him with all that you have, being willing to give up those things that, on the surface seem to satisfy, but are really a slippery slope to defeat.
God is faithful to provide you an avenue of escape. I pray that today could be a day of victory for you, as you tune your ears to God's voice and send the devil packin'!
Love,
Joelene
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It's January, and we all know what that means. In case you haven't figured out, the bulk of America is now in the weight-loss mode -- a myriad of TV commercials for a myriad of products and programs to help America lose weight. Jenny Craig and Nutrisystems, exercise machines up the wazoo, and an assortment of "take this pill and you can lose 35 pounds like me!" products -- all trying to address the holiday gluttony. My scale tells me I fell into temptation more than I'd like to admit -- does anyone relate to what I'm saying?!?
Maybe for you it's not food. Maybe it's anger mis-management. Maybe it's laziness. Maybe it's pornography. I don't know, but you do. You are well aware of the areas in your life where you are weak, where you cave in like a house of cards in a breeze. Why is it that we cave so easily? Why is it that we throw up our hands and say, "whatever...", while we grab that second donut or third piece of pie?
And then we have the audacity to say, "God says we'll never be tempted more than we can bear -- He lies, because I just can't resist this chocolate eclair!"
We are so self-indulgent that we can tend to blame God for our pitiful attempts at self-control. We say, "I'm going to lose 10 pounds, and I'm not going to eat donuts anymore." And then when we walk into the office break room and see that mouth-watering pink pastry box, all thoughts go straight to the sugar, instead of to our goals and our God. And we simply throw up the white flag and dive into the pink box. And that's God's fault?!? Who are we kidding?
Satan is no dummy. He is crafty beyond measure and malicious beyond comprehension. So, if you desire to be victorious in your fight against sin, you better bring in the Big Gun and ready yourself for a battle. Your God says He's got an escape plan for your temptations. Are you listening and looking for it, or are you only hearing what that jelly donut is saying to you?
There are so many things in this world that can distract us from God and His will for us. What and who we listen to, I think, is an indicator of how serious we are in overcoming our temptation to sin. So, are you serious about defeating the evil one in his devilish game of cat-and-mouse? Are you willing to throw self-indulgence under the bus and give God your total attention?
Some things are relatively easy to escape and walk away from. Others are so challenging, you are worn out on a daily basis in trying to say 'no'. Please don't think you can deal with the devil on your own. It is God who provides our strength in overcoming temptation -- lean on Him with all that you have, being willing to give up those things that, on the surface seem to satisfy, but are really a slippery slope to defeat.
God is faithful to provide you an avenue of escape. I pray that today could be a day of victory for you, as you tune your ears to God's voice and send the devil packin'!
Love,
Joelene
Friday, January 16, 2009
Verse of the Day - Hebrews 13:15-16
Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. And don't forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God. ~ Hebrews 13:15-16 (NLT)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We have so many things on a daily basis to praise God for! Please think for just a minute of all the blessings God has given you...
But are we praising Him for these things? Do we really give Him the honor that is due Him for His outpoured love and care on our lives? And do we make the sacrifice of sharing that praise with others?
It's easy to talk to others about blessings in our lives, but much harder to step out and make the sacrifice of praise to God, the Giver of all blessings. We tend to "thank goodness" or "thank heavens" or worse yet, to say that was such good "luck". Where is our allegiance to the One who pledged His allegiance to us on the cross? Why are we sometimes so fearful of speaking His praise to the world?
And the writer of Hebrews reminds us that uttering praise with our mouths is not the only sacrifice we should be offering. Our lives, for the sake of others, is also a pleasing sacrifice to God. Doing good because God calls us to goodness, and sharing our resources with those in need because God calls us to be generous is a life of sacrifice to God. It's about not holding on to what's "ours", but rather giving up our ego and our precious time and resources to others as they have need.
As part of our church's desire to help our members understand God's heart for people in need and to be out where we can have an impact for God's kingdom, we are encouraged to seek ministry opportunities in our community, to simply come alongside others and bear burdens, giving a helping hand because God loves them. So my friend and I have signed up for Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday to work downtown in cleanup efforts in the homeless region! We are excited to see how God will use us to help the needy and reflect His love to those we meet. I'll let you know next week how our sacrifice to God goes -- I'm sure I'll have some great stories to share.
Give your allegiance to God -- through your lips, your heart and your hands. Make the sacrifice for Him who sacrificed for you.
Love,
Joelene
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We have so many things on a daily basis to praise God for! Please think for just a minute of all the blessings God has given you...
But are we praising Him for these things? Do we really give Him the honor that is due Him for His outpoured love and care on our lives? And do we make the sacrifice of sharing that praise with others?
It's easy to talk to others about blessings in our lives, but much harder to step out and make the sacrifice of praise to God, the Giver of all blessings. We tend to "thank goodness" or "thank heavens" or worse yet, to say that was such good "luck". Where is our allegiance to the One who pledged His allegiance to us on the cross? Why are we sometimes so fearful of speaking His praise to the world?
And the writer of Hebrews reminds us that uttering praise with our mouths is not the only sacrifice we should be offering. Our lives, for the sake of others, is also a pleasing sacrifice to God. Doing good because God calls us to goodness, and sharing our resources with those in need because God calls us to be generous is a life of sacrifice to God. It's about not holding on to what's "ours", but rather giving up our ego and our precious time and resources to others as they have need.
As part of our church's desire to help our members understand God's heart for people in need and to be out where we can have an impact for God's kingdom, we are encouraged to seek ministry opportunities in our community, to simply come alongside others and bear burdens, giving a helping hand because God loves them. So my friend and I have signed up for Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday to work downtown in cleanup efforts in the homeless region! We are excited to see how God will use us to help the needy and reflect His love to those we meet. I'll let you know next week how our sacrifice to God goes -- I'm sure I'll have some great stories to share.
Give your allegiance to God -- through your lips, your heart and your hands. Make the sacrifice for Him who sacrificed for you.
Love,
Joelene
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Verse of the Day - Hebrews 12:2b
Because of the joy awaiting him, [Jesus] endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne. ~ Hebrews 12:2b (NLT)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What is it that you have a hard time doing for God because of what other people might think, because of the "shame"?
~ Carrying your Bible in public or out on your desk at work?
~ Saying 'no' to an invitation somewhere because it conflicts with your worship service at church?
~ Praying in public, say, at a restaurant?
Jesus was so very public about His love for us. He knew what He had to do to save us, even though it came at a very personal price. People spit on Him, mocked and taunted Him with their words, flogged Him, jammed a thorny crown on His head, beat Him, cursed Him as He hung naked on a cross in plain view for all to see. You wanna talk about shame?!? The God of the universe, the One who is love personified, accepted the shame of it all because He loved you. Because He loved me. Because He loved the whole human race.
Jesus set the example for obedience to God in the face of shame. Are we learning from Him? Are we willing to face purported shame to stand up and be counted as a follower of Jesus Christ? Are we willing to say we love Him out loud to the world?
Now, I'm not saying we need to be obnoxiously outspoken, or acting crazy -- remember you represent the King. If you want the world to think your King is off His rocker, then act that way. If you want the world to think your King is mighty and loving and merciful and capable, then act that way. But if behaving like the King causes you shame, I say, "Who cares?!" What I really think happens more often than not is that they may laugh in your face, but on the inside...they're thinking. Pray that they think about your King and about what they need to do with Him.
Be a standout today, as you serve your King in love. And let people watch and say what they want -- it's no skin off your nose, 'cuz you're just loving your God, and He's the only One you need to please.
Love,
Joelene
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What is it that you have a hard time doing for God because of what other people might think, because of the "shame"?
~ Carrying your Bible in public or out on your desk at work?
~ Saying 'no' to an invitation somewhere because it conflicts with your worship service at church?
~ Praying in public, say, at a restaurant?
Jesus was so very public about His love for us. He knew what He had to do to save us, even though it came at a very personal price. People spit on Him, mocked and taunted Him with their words, flogged Him, jammed a thorny crown on His head, beat Him, cursed Him as He hung naked on a cross in plain view for all to see. You wanna talk about shame?!? The God of the universe, the One who is love personified, accepted the shame of it all because He loved you. Because He loved me. Because He loved the whole human race.
Jesus set the example for obedience to God in the face of shame. Are we learning from Him? Are we willing to face purported shame to stand up and be counted as a follower of Jesus Christ? Are we willing to say we love Him out loud to the world?
Now, I'm not saying we need to be obnoxiously outspoken, or acting crazy -- remember you represent the King. If you want the world to think your King is off His rocker, then act that way. If you want the world to think your King is mighty and loving and merciful and capable, then act that way. But if behaving like the King causes you shame, I say, "Who cares?!" What I really think happens more often than not is that they may laugh in your face, but on the inside...they're thinking. Pray that they think about your King and about what they need to do with Him.
Be a standout today, as you serve your King in love. And let people watch and say what they want -- it's no skin off your nose, 'cuz you're just loving your God, and He's the only One you need to please.
Love,
Joelene
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Verse of the Day - 2 John 1:6
And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. ~ 2 John 1:6
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I think that we sometimes spend our Christian efforts on the wrong things. We worry and fret alot about "doing the wrong things" -- so we don't drink, smoke or run around lusting. And if we do do those things, we throw a 1-ton brick of guilt on ourselves for being so sinful and bad and terrible. We end up making the Christian life all about me, me, me. I know I must sound heretical in saying these things, but why have we made this life all about me, me, me? John says that Jesus points to them, them, them.
John exhorts us to obey Jesus' command, and His command is to walk in love -- not "don't watch 'R'-rated movies", not "don't listen to Top-10 radio", not "don't have a glass of wine with dinner", not "don't smoke". I realize that we are called to be set apart from the world -- please don't get me wrong. It's just that we have our Christian focus on internal purity sometimes to the exclusion of transformational love poured out on humanity.
That's what Jesus did. He poured His love out on humanity. And He calls us to do the same.
I ask you to check yourself. Are you spending all your spiritual energy keeping yourself from the tainting of the world and creating a spiritual bubble for yourself? Can we take our eyes off of what we're not supposed to be doing and starting focusing on what we are supposed to be doing?
Because loving other people requires that we love God and are connected to Him, I believe that when we put His priorities as our priorities, godly living will follow as a natural outpouring of that abandonment to God and His love. But when we spend all our time with our "don't" lists, trying to make sure that we are keeping clean, but not obeying His command to walk in love, what have we gained but a self-absorbed life with little-to-know impact for God's kingdom?
If you want to lose weight, is it better to focus on the "don't" list of food, or the "do" list of food?
I say, let's stop worrying about me, me, me and our list of things to avoid and bad habits to correct and, instead, take Jesus' command to walk in love as our only "do" list. I believe the "don'ts" will get lost in the mix of love as God resets our priorities and desires.
Love,
Joelene
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I think that we sometimes spend our Christian efforts on the wrong things. We worry and fret alot about "doing the wrong things" -- so we don't drink, smoke or run around lusting. And if we do do those things, we throw a 1-ton brick of guilt on ourselves for being so sinful and bad and terrible. We end up making the Christian life all about me, me, me. I know I must sound heretical in saying these things, but why have we made this life all about me, me, me? John says that Jesus points to them, them, them.
John exhorts us to obey Jesus' command, and His command is to walk in love -- not "don't watch 'R'-rated movies", not "don't listen to Top-10 radio", not "don't have a glass of wine with dinner", not "don't smoke". I realize that we are called to be set apart from the world -- please don't get me wrong. It's just that we have our Christian focus on internal purity sometimes to the exclusion of transformational love poured out on humanity.
That's what Jesus did. He poured His love out on humanity. And He calls us to do the same.
I ask you to check yourself. Are you spending all your spiritual energy keeping yourself from the tainting of the world and creating a spiritual bubble for yourself? Can we take our eyes off of what we're not supposed to be doing and starting focusing on what we are supposed to be doing?
Because loving other people requires that we love God and are connected to Him, I believe that when we put His priorities as our priorities, godly living will follow as a natural outpouring of that abandonment to God and His love. But when we spend all our time with our "don't" lists, trying to make sure that we are keeping clean, but not obeying His command to walk in love, what have we gained but a self-absorbed life with little-to-know impact for God's kingdom?
If you want to lose weight, is it better to focus on the "don't" list of food, or the "do" list of food?
I say, let's stop worrying about me, me, me and our list of things to avoid and bad habits to correct and, instead, take Jesus' command to walk in love as our only "do" list. I believe the "don'ts" will get lost in the mix of love as God resets our priorities and desires.
Love,
Joelene
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Verse of the Day - Isaiah 26:4
Trust in the Lord always,
for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.
~ Isaiah 26:4 (NLT)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sometimes I think we treat God like a buffet. You go to Fresh Choice or HomeTown Buffet, and you take a little of this, and a little of that....and a little more of this, and oh, don't forget dessert, 'cuz that's the yummiest part, right? In life, how often are we going to the 'buffet' to get our needs met or when we're up against the wall, huh? We take a little of God, but if He doesn't satisfy quickly enough or to our liking, we take a little of our friends, a little worry thrown in, and oh, don't forget sinful indulgence (you can pick from a long list), 'cuz that's the yummiest part, right? We simply don't discipline ourselves to trust the Lord first and always. We treat Him like just one option on a grand menu of need-meeters.
How foolish we are...
God is all-sufficient, all-knowing, all-powerful, all-loving. He's the Master Chef in our lives and if we could just recognize the blessed living that comes from total trust in Him -- it would transform us! Would disillusionment, worry, and frustration fall away in the presence of total trust? I think it is possible, my friends.
What if today, as you face the stressors and difficult circumstances in your life, you said in your heart -- and really meant it -- "I am trusting You, God, to lead me...to comfort me...to govern me. I am Yours, and You are mine. I give myself to You, and won't turn to other menu options to get my needs met..."? What if you did it tomorrow, and the next day? What could your life look like, in the face of trusting God all the way?
They say that practice makes better, and that it takes 28 days to make a habit. I venture to say that if you consistently put trusting God into practice, you will find that it becomes your habit. And I can't think of a better habit to have, can you?
Trust God fully, because He is the Eternal Rock -- undying and unshakable. He is absolutely our best menu option for living this life!
Love,
Joelene
for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.
~ Isaiah 26:4 (NLT)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sometimes I think we treat God like a buffet. You go to Fresh Choice or HomeTown Buffet, and you take a little of this, and a little of that....and a little more of this, and oh, don't forget dessert, 'cuz that's the yummiest part, right? In life, how often are we going to the 'buffet' to get our needs met or when we're up against the wall, huh? We take a little of God, but if He doesn't satisfy quickly enough or to our liking, we take a little of our friends, a little worry thrown in, and oh, don't forget sinful indulgence (you can pick from a long list), 'cuz that's the yummiest part, right? We simply don't discipline ourselves to trust the Lord first and always. We treat Him like just one option on a grand menu of need-meeters.
How foolish we are...
God is all-sufficient, all-knowing, all-powerful, all-loving. He's the Master Chef in our lives and if we could just recognize the blessed living that comes from total trust in Him -- it would transform us! Would disillusionment, worry, and frustration fall away in the presence of total trust? I think it is possible, my friends.
What if today, as you face the stressors and difficult circumstances in your life, you said in your heart -- and really meant it -- "I am trusting You, God, to lead me...to comfort me...to govern me. I am Yours, and You are mine. I give myself to You, and won't turn to other menu options to get my needs met..."? What if you did it tomorrow, and the next day? What could your life look like, in the face of trusting God all the way?
They say that practice makes better, and that it takes 28 days to make a habit. I venture to say that if you consistently put trusting God into practice, you will find that it becomes your habit. And I can't think of a better habit to have, can you?
Trust God fully, because He is the Eternal Rock -- undying and unshakable. He is absolutely our best menu option for living this life!
Love,
Joelene
Monday, January 12, 2009
Verse of the Day - Galatians 3:26-28
You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ~ Galatians 3:26-28 (NIV)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One of my best friends is getting married this summer, and this past weekend, I helped her select a wedding dress, which was very fun for us girls! It is truly amazing how many styles, shapes and colors are available for the bride-to-be, from a myriad of different designers! And men -- don't think you're stuck in plain black anymore, oh no! There are all colors of the rainbow (okay, maybe not purple or chartreuse) for men's formal wear these days! And it's almost mind-boggling to make a choice when there are 167 styles of bridesmaids dresses in as many color choices! Talk about head-spinning...
Choosing this special wedding attire makes the bridal party stand out. They are the "chosen" ones -- the bride and groom, and their attendants. Guests of the wedding can pick out the bride and groom in a room full of people because of their attire. And their attendants are dressed in color-coordinated formal wear that stands apart from the rest of the crowd. Their clothing defines their status among the people, and the bridal party feel special because on this day, they are.
At the wedding feast of the Lamb as described in Revelation (I'm not going to give you a reference -- I want you to look it up), those who have chosen Jesus Christ are the "chosen" -- and they are in their bridal attire. Funny thing, though -- there aren't multiple designers and multiple colors. One designer -- Jesus Christ. One color -- white. I don't care who you are or where you live on the globe. If you claim Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are wearing His bridal attire, clothed in Him. God looks at His children and sees an entire bridal party -- no onlookers in plain clothing looking at the elite in special formal wear. All are robed in the pure righteousness that comes from the Lamb of God, who took away His children's sins.
I'm thankful that believers are all on common ground in Jesus Christ. None can be made to feel "less than" when clothed in Him, because we are all clothed in Him. All on the same plain -- all sitting at the head table in our divine formal wear. May we remember this as we work alongside, communicate with, and pray for other believers. Let us not think that because of where we live or our particular skin color or the clothing we wear makes us any more special to God than the believer who is different from us. Jesus strips us of our dividing barriers and makes us all one, clothed in His beautiful grace...
There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. ~ Ephesians 4:4-6 (NIV)
Love,
Joelene
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One of my best friends is getting married this summer, and this past weekend, I helped her select a wedding dress, which was very fun for us girls! It is truly amazing how many styles, shapes and colors are available for the bride-to-be, from a myriad of different designers! And men -- don't think you're stuck in plain black anymore, oh no! There are all colors of the rainbow (okay, maybe not purple or chartreuse) for men's formal wear these days! And it's almost mind-boggling to make a choice when there are 167 styles of bridesmaids dresses in as many color choices! Talk about head-spinning...
Choosing this special wedding attire makes the bridal party stand out. They are the "chosen" ones -- the bride and groom, and their attendants. Guests of the wedding can pick out the bride and groom in a room full of people because of their attire. And their attendants are dressed in color-coordinated formal wear that stands apart from the rest of the crowd. Their clothing defines their status among the people, and the bridal party feel special because on this day, they are.
At the wedding feast of the Lamb as described in Revelation (I'm not going to give you a reference -- I want you to look it up), those who have chosen Jesus Christ are the "chosen" -- and they are in their bridal attire. Funny thing, though -- there aren't multiple designers and multiple colors. One designer -- Jesus Christ. One color -- white. I don't care who you are or where you live on the globe. If you claim Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are wearing His bridal attire, clothed in Him. God looks at His children and sees an entire bridal party -- no onlookers in plain clothing looking at the elite in special formal wear. All are robed in the pure righteousness that comes from the Lamb of God, who took away His children's sins.
I'm thankful that believers are all on common ground in Jesus Christ. None can be made to feel "less than" when clothed in Him, because we are all clothed in Him. All on the same plain -- all sitting at the head table in our divine formal wear. May we remember this as we work alongside, communicate with, and pray for other believers. Let us not think that because of where we live or our particular skin color or the clothing we wear makes us any more special to God than the believer who is different from us. Jesus strips us of our dividing barriers and makes us all one, clothed in His beautiful grace...
There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. ~ Ephesians 4:4-6 (NIV)
Love,
Joelene
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Verse of the Day - Proverbs 15:17
Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred.
~ Proverbs 15:17 (NIV)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the movie, "Diary of a Mad Black Woman", a woman who has been married to a prominent, award-toting attorney for 18 years, living in a mansion with all the finest furnishings and clothes is literally kicked to the curb and replaced by another woman. Out on her ear with her few belongings.
She ends up at her Aunt Madea's house in the suburbs, and there she learns to get back to her roots, back to where people love her. She starts over, with no skills, working as a waitress -- down-home hard work with the skill of her hands. She has very little, but she has love and self-respect.
The fatted calf with hatred, or vegetables with love. Hmm...
When people put riches over relationships, they are investing in very unstable stock. When the "getting" is what matters most, instead of the "giving", relationships can dissolve into thin air, or worse, become thick with hatred.
Having wealth is not bad, in and of itself. But how we value it can be. How we view our possessions and pocketbook can negatively affect our relationship with God and those around us. It can be like a drug habit -- eventually, the only thing that matters is the big house, the fancy cars, the plasma TVs in every room, the social calendar. These "drugs" feed one's ego and pleasure, but they are insufficient to meet heart needs. And since relationships have suffered from neglect and carelessness, one can only lean on more cars, more parties, more TVs. It's as vicious as a meth habit. And as lonely.
Disharmony and hatred in the home is a horrible thing. I don't see how anyone would be willing to exchange love for possessions, but they do sometimes. And many have come out of that, with their battle wounds and scars, wishing for the simple beauty of vegetables and love. Some are still in it, wondering what happened to the fairytale of living "happily ever after".
When the home is in harmony, somehow the materials become immaterial -- they can come or go, when love governs a home. But when furnished with hatred, no amount of glitz and glitter can turn a home into gold. It's just a trash heap covered in green dollar bills, and eventually it will implode. I pray that you can put your family relationships first, above all earthly pursuits. Promote love, communication, and respect first -- TVs, cars, and pools second (or seventh or fifteenth!).
Love,
Joelene
~ Proverbs 15:17 (NIV)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the movie, "Diary of a Mad Black Woman", a woman who has been married to a prominent, award-toting attorney for 18 years, living in a mansion with all the finest furnishings and clothes is literally kicked to the curb and replaced by another woman. Out on her ear with her few belongings.
She ends up at her Aunt Madea's house in the suburbs, and there she learns to get back to her roots, back to where people love her. She starts over, with no skills, working as a waitress -- down-home hard work with the skill of her hands. She has very little, but she has love and self-respect.
The fatted calf with hatred, or vegetables with love. Hmm...
When people put riches over relationships, they are investing in very unstable stock. When the "getting" is what matters most, instead of the "giving", relationships can dissolve into thin air, or worse, become thick with hatred.
Having wealth is not bad, in and of itself. But how we value it can be. How we view our possessions and pocketbook can negatively affect our relationship with God and those around us. It can be like a drug habit -- eventually, the only thing that matters is the big house, the fancy cars, the plasma TVs in every room, the social calendar. These "drugs" feed one's ego and pleasure, but they are insufficient to meet heart needs. And since relationships have suffered from neglect and carelessness, one can only lean on more cars, more parties, more TVs. It's as vicious as a meth habit. And as lonely.
Disharmony and hatred in the home is a horrible thing. I don't see how anyone would be willing to exchange love for possessions, but they do sometimes. And many have come out of that, with their battle wounds and scars, wishing for the simple beauty of vegetables and love. Some are still in it, wondering what happened to the fairytale of living "happily ever after".
When the home is in harmony, somehow the materials become immaterial -- they can come or go, when love governs a home. But when furnished with hatred, no amount of glitz and glitter can turn a home into gold. It's just a trash heap covered in green dollar bills, and eventually it will implode. I pray that you can put your family relationships first, above all earthly pursuits. Promote love, communication, and respect first -- TVs, cars, and pools second (or seventh or fifteenth!).
Love,
Joelene
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Verse of the Day - Psalm 16:2
O my soul, you have said to the LORD, "You are my Lord, My goodness is nothing apart from You.” ~ Psalm 16:2 (NKJV)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We like to think we're pretty good people, don't we? And we like to think that others are pretty good people, too. We try not to lie, cheat, or steal, and we definitely don't go around killing people. So, on a scale of 1 to 10, we nod our heads and think, Yeah, we're doing pretty good...
But the reality is that we're not good -- not by ourselves. We are pitiful wretches, if truth be told, without God's divine cleansing and transformation. And true saints know they are true sinners. Saved by grace, and good by God -- and God alone.
Somehow, though, we can tend to get a little prideful on down the line in our spiritual walk. Our prayer can go from, "You are my Lord; apart from You I have no good in me..." to "You are my Lord; and I'm pretty good, too..." Where does that pride come from? How do we get pious and self-righteous?
We are exhorted by God to strive for righteousness, for holy and godly living. And if we're seeking to honor Him, we are doing that. But let me tell you, it is by the power of the Holy Spirit that we are able to live rightly, not by any good in us. I pray we never forget who we are in our flesh, because it can rise up in a heartbeat and help us remember who we are -- a sinner saved by the grace of our Lord Jesus. And then our pride is again thrown under the bus, as we fall on our knees and say, "You are my Lord; apart from You my goodness is nothing."
James and Peter both reference Proverbs 3:34 in their writings to the believers, reminding the readers, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." How can we receive grace, if we don't humbly acknowledge our sinfulness? And how can we stand before a holy God without falling to our knees and pleading the blood of Jesus to cover our sin in His mercy and grace? Our positional stance with God should always be, You are God and apart from You, my goodness is nothing.
No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. ~ Micah 6:8 (NLT)
The next time you're tempted to think or say out loud, "I'm a good person...", check yourself and be sure to give God the credit for whatever goodness flows from your life. He is our source and our strength; to Him be the glory for whatever good we produce, amen?
Love,
Joelene
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We like to think we're pretty good people, don't we? And we like to think that others are pretty good people, too. We try not to lie, cheat, or steal, and we definitely don't go around killing people. So, on a scale of 1 to 10, we nod our heads and think, Yeah, we're doing pretty good...
But the reality is that we're not good -- not by ourselves. We are pitiful wretches, if truth be told, without God's divine cleansing and transformation. And true saints know they are true sinners. Saved by grace, and good by God -- and God alone.
Somehow, though, we can tend to get a little prideful on down the line in our spiritual walk. Our prayer can go from, "You are my Lord; apart from You I have no good in me..." to "You are my Lord; and I'm pretty good, too..." Where does that pride come from? How do we get pious and self-righteous?
We are exhorted by God to strive for righteousness, for holy and godly living. And if we're seeking to honor Him, we are doing that. But let me tell you, it is by the power of the Holy Spirit that we are able to live rightly, not by any good in us. I pray we never forget who we are in our flesh, because it can rise up in a heartbeat and help us remember who we are -- a sinner saved by the grace of our Lord Jesus. And then our pride is again thrown under the bus, as we fall on our knees and say, "You are my Lord; apart from You my goodness is nothing."
James and Peter both reference Proverbs 3:34 in their writings to the believers, reminding the readers, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." How can we receive grace, if we don't humbly acknowledge our sinfulness? And how can we stand before a holy God without falling to our knees and pleading the blood of Jesus to cover our sin in His mercy and grace? Our positional stance with God should always be, You are God and apart from You, my goodness is nothing.
No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. ~ Micah 6:8 (NLT)
The next time you're tempted to think or say out loud, "I'm a good person...", check yourself and be sure to give God the credit for whatever goodness flows from your life. He is our source and our strength; to Him be the glory for whatever good we produce, amen?
Love,
Joelene
Friday, January 9, 2009
Verse of the Day - James 1:22
But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
~ James 1:22 (NASB)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Green" rules for energy are all around us. We hear commercials and whole documentaries about becoming "green". Major political platforms revolve around global warming and the energy crisis, and I believe we do have a responsibility to do what we can to conserve our resources. But it doesn't do us a lick of good to fill our head with facts about conservation if we never do anything about it. I can store up $1-off coupons for fluorescent bulbs all I want, but unless I actually buy them and replace my incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient fluorescents, I have done nothing responsible, nothing good. I can know it's the responsible thing to turn off lights when leaving a room, but unless I do it, I continue to be an energy waster . . . bad dog.
So, too, with God's word. We can delude ourselves into thinking that we are spiritual people by just reading the Bible. Information does not equate to transformation - - that's the delusion, my friends. God's word isn't just another box to be checked off of your 'to-do' list...
~ Go to the grocery store...."check"
~ Do the laundry..."check"
~ Read my Bible for 15 minutes..."check"
~ Spank the kids and yell at the dog..."check"
I mean, what good does the information do, if it just fills up your head and never gets translated into action? It's just a $1-off coupon sitting in your wallet.
Jesus said it so well...
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." ~ Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV)
When you read and hear God's word, let the Holy Spirit move you to act on it. Be obedient to God's call for change in your life, because it's for your good and the good of His kingdom. When we allow God to transform us to godly living, we are blessed with peace, and those around us are witness to the power of God to make change in our sin-sick world.
So, don't just cut spiritual coupons -- change the light bulbs in your life!
Love,
Joelene
~ James 1:22 (NASB)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Green" rules for energy are all around us. We hear commercials and whole documentaries about becoming "green". Major political platforms revolve around global warming and the energy crisis, and I believe we do have a responsibility to do what we can to conserve our resources. But it doesn't do us a lick of good to fill our head with facts about conservation if we never do anything about it. I can store up $1-off coupons for fluorescent bulbs all I want, but unless I actually buy them and replace my incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient fluorescents, I have done nothing responsible, nothing good. I can know it's the responsible thing to turn off lights when leaving a room, but unless I do it, I continue to be an energy waster . . . bad dog.
So, too, with God's word. We can delude ourselves into thinking that we are spiritual people by just reading the Bible. Information does not equate to transformation - - that's the delusion, my friends. God's word isn't just another box to be checked off of your 'to-do' list...
~ Go to the grocery store...."check"
~ Do the laundry..."check"
~ Read my Bible for 15 minutes..."check"
~ Spank the kids and yell at the dog..."check"
I mean, what good does the information do, if it just fills up your head and never gets translated into action? It's just a $1-off coupon sitting in your wallet.
Jesus said it so well...
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." ~ Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV)
When you read and hear God's word, let the Holy Spirit move you to act on it. Be obedient to God's call for change in your life, because it's for your good and the good of His kingdom. When we allow God to transform us to godly living, we are blessed with peace, and those around us are witness to the power of God to make change in our sin-sick world.
So, don't just cut spiritual coupons -- change the light bulbs in your life!
Love,
Joelene
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Verse of the Day - Matthew 7:15
Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. ~ Matthew 7:15 (NIV)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Not everything that glitters is gold...
~ Just because a program is on a religious broadcasting channel doesn't mean they preach the true Word of God...
~ Just because a latest best-seller uses "God" in the title doesn't mean it's even talking about the same Creator God of the Bible...
~ Just because someone uses spiritual language in conversation or says they go to church doesn't mean they have a spiritual relationship with Jesus, the Son of the Living God...
I think, as believers, we can allow the wool to be pulled over our eyes rather easily when it comes to discerning who is for the true God and who is charading like a wolf in sheep's clothing. We see a fish symbol and say, "There's a brother/sister in Christ...", but we really have no clue what ideologies they stand on. A rose by any other name may be a rose, but a church may well not be "the" church, the body of Christ. Are we checking things out with God's word? Do things people say and do and believe match up with God's ways as is so clearly defined in the Bible?
Are you reading the Bible so that you know the difference?
If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a miraculous sign or wonder, and if the sign or wonder of which he has spoken takes place, and he says, "Let us follow other gods" (gods you have not known) "and let us worship them," you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul. It is the LORD your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.
~ Deuteronomy 13:1-4 (NIV)
Someone who says they speak God's words better point directly to Him, and not to themselves or other gods. Know the difference and be discerning. Don't swallow everything you read and hear that has "Christian" or "God" plastered on the label, please. Whether some wolves are intentionally leading sheep to their demise or they are themselves deceived by the great deceiver is somewhat immaterial. You, as a Christ follower, are accountable for the integrity of the gospel you accept and rely on.
Paul had concern for some of the believers he was mentoring back in his day. And his day is like our day...there's nothing new under the sun...
I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.
~ 2 Corinthians 11:2-4 (NIV)
Corinth was a port city and influenced by a myriad of incoming influences. They were used to a diverse crowd with many different thoughts and ideas -- not unlike us today. Where was their spiritual filter? Where is our spiritual filter?
Apparently, the church in Galatia was susceptible to wool-pulling, too. Their filter may have fallen off like the Corinthians, and Paul shot straight from the hip...
I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!
~ Galatians 1:6-8 (NIV)
So, again I ask: Are you reading God's Word? Do you know what it says? If you aren't, then you don't, and you leave yourself wide open to be duped by the evil one with false prophets, spewing false doctrine, who give people false hope in a false gospel.
Like infrared goggles allow people to see the unseen in the dark, God's word helps us see the lies that are woven into false doctrine. Make sure you have your God goggles on, my friend, by taking His true Word into your being regularly. Take time to read what His truth really says. Then you'll see the wolves for who they are, and you won't get caught with your wool down...if you know what I mean. :-)
Love,
Joelene
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Not everything that glitters is gold...
~ Just because a program is on a religious broadcasting channel doesn't mean they preach the true Word of God...
~ Just because a latest best-seller uses "God" in the title doesn't mean it's even talking about the same Creator God of the Bible...
~ Just because someone uses spiritual language in conversation or says they go to church doesn't mean they have a spiritual relationship with Jesus, the Son of the Living God...
I think, as believers, we can allow the wool to be pulled over our eyes rather easily when it comes to discerning who is for the true God and who is charading like a wolf in sheep's clothing. We see a fish symbol and say, "There's a brother/sister in Christ...", but we really have no clue what ideologies they stand on. A rose by any other name may be a rose, but a church may well not be "the" church, the body of Christ. Are we checking things out with God's word? Do things people say and do and believe match up with God's ways as is so clearly defined in the Bible?
Are you reading the Bible so that you know the difference?
If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a miraculous sign or wonder, and if the sign or wonder of which he has spoken takes place, and he says, "Let us follow other gods" (gods you have not known) "and let us worship them," you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul. It is the LORD your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.
~ Deuteronomy 13:1-4 (NIV)
Someone who says they speak God's words better point directly to Him, and not to themselves or other gods. Know the difference and be discerning. Don't swallow everything you read and hear that has "Christian" or "God" plastered on the label, please. Whether some wolves are intentionally leading sheep to their demise or they are themselves deceived by the great deceiver is somewhat immaterial. You, as a Christ follower, are accountable for the integrity of the gospel you accept and rely on.
Paul had concern for some of the believers he was mentoring back in his day. And his day is like our day...there's nothing new under the sun...
I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.
~ 2 Corinthians 11:2-4 (NIV)
Corinth was a port city and influenced by a myriad of incoming influences. They were used to a diverse crowd with many different thoughts and ideas -- not unlike us today. Where was their spiritual filter? Where is our spiritual filter?
Apparently, the church in Galatia was susceptible to wool-pulling, too. Their filter may have fallen off like the Corinthians, and Paul shot straight from the hip...
I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!
~ Galatians 1:6-8 (NIV)
So, again I ask: Are you reading God's Word? Do you know what it says? If you aren't, then you don't, and you leave yourself wide open to be duped by the evil one with false prophets, spewing false doctrine, who give people false hope in a false gospel.
Like infrared goggles allow people to see the unseen in the dark, God's word helps us see the lies that are woven into false doctrine. Make sure you have your God goggles on, my friend, by taking His true Word into your being regularly. Take time to read what His truth really says. Then you'll see the wolves for who they are, and you won't get caught with your wool down...if you know what I mean. :-)
Love,
Joelene
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Verse of the Day - Ephesians 5:1-2
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
~ Ephesians 5:1-2 (NIV)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jesus didn't just decide one day to become a man so He could come down to earth to check things out. He didn't say, "Hmm...I think I'd like to eat some food for a change and feel the sand between my toes...guess I'll go down to earth for a while and see what it's like to be human..." No, Jesus came for a specific purpose. A rescue mission for us was designed and carried out by God through Jesus Christ. A mission of love.
His whole life here on earth was prompted and propelled by love for us. There was nothing haphazard or nonchalant about it. He didn't say, "Gee -- there's a blind guy over there. I think I'll throw a little love his way and --BAM-- you're healed." Love for mankind was His driving force for all He accomplished. Very intentional, very lavish.
So Paul exhorts us to imitate God and live a life of love, as Jesus did. Hmm...how does that play out in our daily lives?
To me, it means that we let love for God and for others drive us. It is our motivation for all we do. It's not like applying love here, and there, like a squirt of whipped cream on pumpkin pie. Rather, it's like cream that's baked into the pie -- infused in all parts. So, as you start your day, rather than saying to God, "Let me be loving to at least one person today...", try saying, "God, fill my spirit with love for all people, so that wherever I go, my heart is reaching out in love..." Do you see the difference? Does this make sense?
Humanity is God's number one priority, and love is His driving force. I pray we can be infused with love from God for others. Listen in love, meet needs in love, share your testimony in love, counsel in love, pray in love. Be in love with people, as God is in love with people.
Jesus came on purpose, lived on purpose, died on purpose, and rose again on purpose. All for us, all in love. So, will you live like a squirt of whipped cream, doling out love here and there, or will you live like the cream that's baked in, making love your mainstay ingredient?
Love,
Joelene
~ Ephesians 5:1-2 (NIV)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jesus didn't just decide one day to become a man so He could come down to earth to check things out. He didn't say, "Hmm...I think I'd like to eat some food for a change and feel the sand between my toes...guess I'll go down to earth for a while and see what it's like to be human..." No, Jesus came for a specific purpose. A rescue mission for us was designed and carried out by God through Jesus Christ. A mission of love.
His whole life here on earth was prompted and propelled by love for us. There was nothing haphazard or nonchalant about it. He didn't say, "Gee -- there's a blind guy over there. I think I'll throw a little love his way and --BAM-- you're healed." Love for mankind was His driving force for all He accomplished. Very intentional, very lavish.
So Paul exhorts us to imitate God and live a life of love, as Jesus did. Hmm...how does that play out in our daily lives?
To me, it means that we let love for God and for others drive us. It is our motivation for all we do. It's not like applying love here, and there, like a squirt of whipped cream on pumpkin pie. Rather, it's like cream that's baked into the pie -- infused in all parts. So, as you start your day, rather than saying to God, "Let me be loving to at least one person today...", try saying, "God, fill my spirit with love for all people, so that wherever I go, my heart is reaching out in love..." Do you see the difference? Does this make sense?
Humanity is God's number one priority, and love is His driving force. I pray we can be infused with love from God for others. Listen in love, meet needs in love, share your testimony in love, counsel in love, pray in love. Be in love with people, as God is in love with people.
Jesus came on purpose, lived on purpose, died on purpose, and rose again on purpose. All for us, all in love. So, will you live like a squirt of whipped cream, doling out love here and there, or will you live like the cream that's baked in, making love your mainstay ingredient?
Love,
Joelene
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Verse of the Day - 1 Peter 1:18-19
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. ~ 1 Peter 1:18-19 (NIV)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Peter spends a fair amount of time talking about perishable vs. imperishable in the first chapter of this book, as it pertains to our imperishable eternal life (vs. 4), perishable gold (vs. 7), our imperishable reborn spirits (vs. 23), the imperishable word of God (vs. 25), and the imperishable Jesus, who redeemed us on the cross. Not redeemed with the perishable, but the imperishable...
I'm thinking that the people in the churches Peter was writing to ("To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia...") needed some encouragement in the imperishable things in their lives. They had been scattered, fleeing from their homes, jobs and families. Perhaps they didn't even stay in the same place from night to night, running from their persecutors. Life was very tenuous and unstable, perishable. Peter reminds them of the imperishable things they have in God to give them hope when life is crumbling all around them, like a perishable sand castle that meets a wave.
Our lives can feel like that today, too. Our bad economy has reminded us of how perishable our world really is. Job? Gone. Home? Gone. Savings... what's that? Gas prices skyrocketed last summer, and our lives came to a perishably screeching halt ; hence, the new banned word that I actually like, "staycation" --vacations perished like old citrus fruit. (Kinda funny, now that gas prices have miraculously [can anyone explain it?] fallen to a 5-yr low, those dinky "Smart" cars look like a joke, huh? All scrunched up like they fell prey to a trash compactor....but we weren't laughing when they were getting mega miles per gallon...)
Everything around us is perishing. Peace talks and shaky peace agreements perish into ground-shaking, mortal war between nations. Devastating floods and winter storms destroy crops in a perishing heartbeat. Illegal drugs lead so many lives down into a slow, agonizing death spiral -- perishing, and dragging others down with them. Hopelessness can rise like a tidal wave when we look at this world and the mess sin has made. But let us not forget the imperishable...
God Himself is imperishable -- that's why, when men killed Jesus (God become man) on the cross, He simply couldn't stay in the tomb! And if we are believers in Jesus, redeemed by the blood of the imperishable Lamb of God, we are ourselves imperishable -- our spirits have been reborn from death to eternal life! And what God has prepared for us in eternity with Him, living in the presence of our God where sin has no place, is imperishable! How can we not shout a loud "AMEN" to that?!?
If you have ever read testimonies of the martyrs through history, you will find that they latched onto hope in the imperishable, and it transformed their thinking. They talked like David did...
In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me? ~ Psalm 56:4 (NIV)
They lost their fear of the perishable of this world, and allowed the light of the imperishable God and His kingdom to fill them with hope. And that hope gave them courage to stand against the tide. Their lives were no longer sand castles in the surf, but fortresses of faith.
As we see the waves of uncertainty coming up the shores of our lives, I pray we can remember, with hope, the imperishable foundation we have in Jesus Christ and the amazing imperishable future we have with Him. Nothing can destroy that which Jesus has redeemed for Himself. Nothing. So take hope today when you are tempted to become discouraged at world events or your own life circumstances, because the Living God is on His throne and eternal, imperishable victory is already won. Hallelujah!
Love,
Joelene
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Peter spends a fair amount of time talking about perishable vs. imperishable in the first chapter of this book, as it pertains to our imperishable eternal life (vs. 4), perishable gold (vs. 7), our imperishable reborn spirits (vs. 23), the imperishable word of God (vs. 25), and the imperishable Jesus, who redeemed us on the cross. Not redeemed with the perishable, but the imperishable...
I'm thinking that the people in the churches Peter was writing to ("To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia...") needed some encouragement in the imperishable things in their lives. They had been scattered, fleeing from their homes, jobs and families. Perhaps they didn't even stay in the same place from night to night, running from their persecutors. Life was very tenuous and unstable, perishable. Peter reminds them of the imperishable things they have in God to give them hope when life is crumbling all around them, like a perishable sand castle that meets a wave.
Our lives can feel like that today, too. Our bad economy has reminded us of how perishable our world really is. Job? Gone. Home? Gone. Savings... what's that? Gas prices skyrocketed last summer, and our lives came to a perishably screeching halt ; hence, the new banned word that I actually like, "staycation" --vacations perished like old citrus fruit. (Kinda funny, now that gas prices have miraculously [can anyone explain it?] fallen to a 5-yr low, those dinky "Smart" cars look like a joke, huh? All scrunched up like they fell prey to a trash compactor....but we weren't laughing when they were getting mega miles per gallon...)
Everything around us is perishing. Peace talks and shaky peace agreements perish into ground-shaking, mortal war between nations. Devastating floods and winter storms destroy crops in a perishing heartbeat. Illegal drugs lead so many lives down into a slow, agonizing death spiral -- perishing, and dragging others down with them. Hopelessness can rise like a tidal wave when we look at this world and the mess sin has made. But let us not forget the imperishable...
God Himself is imperishable -- that's why, when men killed Jesus (God become man) on the cross, He simply couldn't stay in the tomb! And if we are believers in Jesus, redeemed by the blood of the imperishable Lamb of God, we are ourselves imperishable -- our spirits have been reborn from death to eternal life! And what God has prepared for us in eternity with Him, living in the presence of our God where sin has no place, is imperishable! How can we not shout a loud "AMEN" to that?!?
If you have ever read testimonies of the martyrs through history, you will find that they latched onto hope in the imperishable, and it transformed their thinking. They talked like David did...
In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me? ~ Psalm 56:4 (NIV)
They lost their fear of the perishable of this world, and allowed the light of the imperishable God and His kingdom to fill them with hope. And that hope gave them courage to stand against the tide. Their lives were no longer sand castles in the surf, but fortresses of faith.
As we see the waves of uncertainty coming up the shores of our lives, I pray we can remember, with hope, the imperishable foundation we have in Jesus Christ and the amazing imperishable future we have with Him. Nothing can destroy that which Jesus has redeemed for Himself. Nothing. So take hope today when you are tempted to become discouraged at world events or your own life circumstances, because the Living God is on His throne and eternal, imperishable victory is already won. Hallelujah!
Love,
Joelene
Monday, January 5, 2009
Verse of the Day - James 1:19-20
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. ~ James 1:19-20 (NIV)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For some, who are shy, this verse could seem very easy to apply. For others, like me who are outgoing, we have a tougher time with this. It's a known fact that I'm a talker, and for those who know me personally, I apologize upfront. I don't mean to monopolize conversations. I don't really just want to hear my own voice. I don't know what it is -- I feel like God has wired me this way, but I don't always use that wiring in a godly manner. Hence, James' admonition.
Perhaps it's true for many -- do we really listen to people when they talk? Or are we caught up in a whirlwind of thoughts in our mind about the emotional aspect of the discussion, what we're going to say to rebut, or getting affixed on that piece of broccoli stuck in the other person's teeth?
We usually want to be heard. So why are we sometimes slow to let others be heard? Even if we have good intentions to let someone talk, they get going, and before we know it, we've interrupted them with some thought, or piece of advice, or it gets heated and we yell something and leave. Wow, now wasn't that a productive, healthy, adult conversation, huh?
Self simply does not listen. Self talks and talks and talks. Self demands. Self insults. Self interrupts. Self is selfish and doesn't care about others' thoughts and concerns, so conversations become one-sided dissertations and rants. Self = monologue.
No wonder God says, "shut up, and listen!" He knows we're prone to pedestalize ourselves, so keeping the talk to a minimum and the listening to a maximum helps keep that in check. It helps us realize that we really don't know it all, that we can learn something from other people. It helps us keep balance in our relationships, so that everyone has a voice to express what's on their heart and mind.
Yet becoming a good listener is more than just not talking yourself. It's being concerned for the other person who is talking and really taking in what they're saying. If you ask God for wisdom in your conversations and truly listen, He will give you the timing and the words to speak encouragement and counsel, if needed. Then again, maybe no words on your part are even necessary. Sometimes a sounding board is really all people need to help make sense of a situation or unload some emotional junk that's been stored up.
What if we all decided to be quick to listen and slow to speak today? What if we really looked people in the eye when they talked and listened from our hearts? What if we kept our mouths closed and let God be the giver of our words? Hmm...
Love,
Joelene
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For some, who are shy, this verse could seem very easy to apply. For others, like me who are outgoing, we have a tougher time with this. It's a known fact that I'm a talker, and for those who know me personally, I apologize upfront. I don't mean to monopolize conversations. I don't really just want to hear my own voice. I don't know what it is -- I feel like God has wired me this way, but I don't always use that wiring in a godly manner. Hence, James' admonition.
Perhaps it's true for many -- do we really listen to people when they talk? Or are we caught up in a whirlwind of thoughts in our mind about the emotional aspect of the discussion, what we're going to say to rebut, or getting affixed on that piece of broccoli stuck in the other person's teeth?
We usually want to be heard. So why are we sometimes slow to let others be heard? Even if we have good intentions to let someone talk, they get going, and before we know it, we've interrupted them with some thought, or piece of advice, or it gets heated and we yell something and leave. Wow, now wasn't that a productive, healthy, adult conversation, huh?
Self simply does not listen. Self talks and talks and talks. Self demands. Self insults. Self interrupts. Self is selfish and doesn't care about others' thoughts and concerns, so conversations become one-sided dissertations and rants. Self = monologue.
No wonder God says, "shut up, and listen!" He knows we're prone to pedestalize ourselves, so keeping the talk to a minimum and the listening to a maximum helps keep that in check. It helps us realize that we really don't know it all, that we can learn something from other people. It helps us keep balance in our relationships, so that everyone has a voice to express what's on their heart and mind.
Yet becoming a good listener is more than just not talking yourself. It's being concerned for the other person who is talking and really taking in what they're saying. If you ask God for wisdom in your conversations and truly listen, He will give you the timing and the words to speak encouragement and counsel, if needed. Then again, maybe no words on your part are even necessary. Sometimes a sounding board is really all people need to help make sense of a situation or unload some emotional junk that's been stored up.
What if we all decided to be quick to listen and slow to speak today? What if we really looked people in the eye when they talked and listened from our hearts? What if we kept our mouths closed and let God be the giver of our words? Hmm...
Love,
Joelene
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Verse of the Day - James 4:13-16
Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil.
~ James 4:13-16 (NIV)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Every January, most people begin to make plans for the year. We think about our resolutions and goals. We plan for vacations. We talk about home renovations. Think, plan, talk. Think, plan, talk. But what about prayer in all of that thinking, planning, and talking...hmm?
How much are we consulting and submitting to God in all of our planning for the year, huh? Sometimes, we tend to let our mind and our mouth (and sometimes our actions) fly off like a helium balloon that gets away from us. We talk big about that Caribbean cruise we're gonna take in the summer, or that new deck we're gonna build, or that great promotion we're gonna get. God says that's just a lot of bragging, and it's not good.
In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. ~ Proverbs 16:9
We can talk all we want about what we're gonna do, but God is in charge, and frankly, we need to be really glad about that. Things we think are good for us often aren't. Places we want to go, sometimes we shouldn't. Things we want to do might not be a good idea in the long run. God knows what's good and best for us. And His will will be accomplished. You can bet on that.
You may decide that moving to Texas to start a business is absolutely the right thing to do, and so you do it. You sell your home, pack up the house and move. But let me tell you something: If God is not in the midst of this plan, my friend, you are in for a rude awakening when you hit the Lone Star State! You may find roadblock after roadblock and quickly come to the realization that you were running WAY ahead of God and not listening to Him at all.
But there's good news even in our decision disasters...
God is still sovereign, and He can turn lemon-aide out of the lemons of our lives! When we get proud in our life decisions and do things ahead of Him, He's right there to help us pick up the pieces and make good use of them. In the midst, we learn to truly acknowledge Him in our plans, giving Him the control, letting Him lead, knowing that He's got the big picture and the best plan.
So, go ahead -- think and dream about 2009! And then pray. Pray with open hands and a willing heart. You may be surprised to find that God's dreams for you are even bigger than your own. Or you may find that you and He are on the same page! Either way, God makes the call and you know you're headed in a great direction.
It's okay to soar like a helium balloon, as long as God's holding the string...
Love,
Joelene
~ James 4:13-16 (NIV)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Every January, most people begin to make plans for the year. We think about our resolutions and goals. We plan for vacations. We talk about home renovations. Think, plan, talk. Think, plan, talk. But what about prayer in all of that thinking, planning, and talking...hmm?
How much are we consulting and submitting to God in all of our planning for the year, huh? Sometimes, we tend to let our mind and our mouth (and sometimes our actions) fly off like a helium balloon that gets away from us. We talk big about that Caribbean cruise we're gonna take in the summer, or that new deck we're gonna build, or that great promotion we're gonna get. God says that's just a lot of bragging, and it's not good.
In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. ~ Proverbs 16:9
We can talk all we want about what we're gonna do, but God is in charge, and frankly, we need to be really glad about that. Things we think are good for us often aren't. Places we want to go, sometimes we shouldn't. Things we want to do might not be a good idea in the long run. God knows what's good and best for us. And His will will be accomplished. You can bet on that.
You may decide that moving to Texas to start a business is absolutely the right thing to do, and so you do it. You sell your home, pack up the house and move. But let me tell you something: If God is not in the midst of this plan, my friend, you are in for a rude awakening when you hit the Lone Star State! You may find roadblock after roadblock and quickly come to the realization that you were running WAY ahead of God and not listening to Him at all.
But there's good news even in our decision disasters...
God is still sovereign, and He can turn lemon-aide out of the lemons of our lives! When we get proud in our life decisions and do things ahead of Him, He's right there to help us pick up the pieces and make good use of them. In the midst, we learn to truly acknowledge Him in our plans, giving Him the control, letting Him lead, knowing that He's got the big picture and the best plan.
So, go ahead -- think and dream about 2009! And then pray. Pray with open hands and a willing heart. You may be surprised to find that God's dreams for you are even bigger than your own. Or you may find that you and He are on the same page! Either way, God makes the call and you know you're headed in a great direction.
It's okay to soar like a helium balloon, as long as God's holding the string...
Love,
Joelene
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Verse of the Day - 2 Timothy 4:19-21
Greet Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus. Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick in Miletus. Do your best to get here before winter. Eubulus greets you, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers. ~ 2 Timothy 4:19-21 (NIV)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Friends....
Take a minute and scroll through the photo album of your mind, and look at the faces of your friends...
We all need friends, and God is so gracious to give them to us! They come along side of us, giving a helping hand and a listening ear. They laugh with us...and cry with us. Praise God for friends!
But sometimes we're separated from them. It may be a move, it may be a disagreement, it may just be complacency. And in this 21st century we live in, we have the unfortunate freedom to live rather autonomously, without communicating with anyone, despite the fact that we have the most advanced methods of communication to date! For example, my oldest sister lives three blocks from my office -- literally, three blocks. So, how often to I talk to her? About 3 or 4 times a year. How often do I see her? About once a year, at Christmas. Is that a cryin' shame, or what? (My mom is raisin' an "amen" to that -- I can hear it all the way from Washington! :-) Although we have better methods of communicating than ever before, we have become less likely to communicate than ever! We run around, doin' our own thing, secluding ourselves in our own little bubble, and our relationships just fall by the wayside. How tragic! We need connectedness, we need interaction, we need caring and sharing. (sorry to sound like a greeting card, but hey -- if the shoe fits...)
Paul was stuck in a Roman prison and needed connection. He wrote to Timothy and could hardly wait for his dear friend to visit him. He sent greetings to others through Timothy, friends he'd met along the way in his ministry. And he sent greetings from new friends he'd met in Rome. All these were friends God had given him and for whom he was very grateful. He worked hard at staying connected, because it was vital to his spirit -- and he had to write with a quill and ink -- imagine that! And then, it had to be sent via messenger who used the old-fashioned method of transportation -- FEET! Okay, maybe they also used a camel or a boat, but talk about s-l-o-w....
Today, we are blessed with virtually instant communication --cellphones, email, text-messaging and on-line chatting, and I encourage you to use all that you have to stay connected with friends and family. But please don't underestimate the power of face-to-face communication! Get together with friends and family, spend time sharing, loving, praying, singing -- lifting up God in your relationships and lifting each other up, as well. Fight the urge to hermitize yourself into a cocoon, thinking that good books and the TV are relationship enough in this difficult world.
For New Year's Eve 2008, I decided to have a party. I invited my worship team and small group friends, and boy, did we have fun! We laughed so hard playing games and watching a comedy DVD that we had to take breaks to catch our breath and recover! But more important than the temporary entertainment were the friendship connections that were strengthened in the midst of all the eating and laughing. Getting to know one another better, feeling more a part of each other's lives . . . that's good stuff, people.
We need each other -- it's the way we're wired. And God gave us the gift of friends and family to meet our relational needs. Let's not get lazy or complacent and let those gifts get rusty and dusty. Enjoy and nurture the relationships you have and be blessed a hundred times over! Who knows . . . maybe 2009 will be the year you host a party and be the initiator of some great connectedness!
Love,
Joelene
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Friends....
Take a minute and scroll through the photo album of your mind, and look at the faces of your friends...
We all need friends, and God is so gracious to give them to us! They come along side of us, giving a helping hand and a listening ear. They laugh with us...and cry with us. Praise God for friends!
But sometimes we're separated from them. It may be a move, it may be a disagreement, it may just be complacency. And in this 21st century we live in, we have the unfortunate freedom to live rather autonomously, without communicating with anyone, despite the fact that we have the most advanced methods of communication to date! For example, my oldest sister lives three blocks from my office -- literally, three blocks. So, how often to I talk to her? About 3 or 4 times a year. How often do I see her? About once a year, at Christmas. Is that a cryin' shame, or what? (My mom is raisin' an "amen" to that -- I can hear it all the way from Washington! :-) Although we have better methods of communicating than ever before, we have become less likely to communicate than ever! We run around, doin' our own thing, secluding ourselves in our own little bubble, and our relationships just fall by the wayside. How tragic! We need connectedness, we need interaction, we need caring and sharing. (sorry to sound like a greeting card, but hey -- if the shoe fits...)
Paul was stuck in a Roman prison and needed connection. He wrote to Timothy and could hardly wait for his dear friend to visit him. He sent greetings to others through Timothy, friends he'd met along the way in his ministry. And he sent greetings from new friends he'd met in Rome. All these were friends God had given him and for whom he was very grateful. He worked hard at staying connected, because it was vital to his spirit -- and he had to write with a quill and ink -- imagine that! And then, it had to be sent via messenger who used the old-fashioned method of transportation -- FEET! Okay, maybe they also used a camel or a boat, but talk about s-l-o-w....
Today, we are blessed with virtually instant communication --cellphones, email, text-messaging and on-line chatting, and I encourage you to use all that you have to stay connected with friends and family. But please don't underestimate the power of face-to-face communication! Get together with friends and family, spend time sharing, loving, praying, singing -- lifting up God in your relationships and lifting each other up, as well. Fight the urge to hermitize yourself into a cocoon, thinking that good books and the TV are relationship enough in this difficult world.
For New Year's Eve 2008, I decided to have a party. I invited my worship team and small group friends, and boy, did we have fun! We laughed so hard playing games and watching a comedy DVD that we had to take breaks to catch our breath and recover! But more important than the temporary entertainment were the friendship connections that were strengthened in the midst of all the eating and laughing. Getting to know one another better, feeling more a part of each other's lives . . . that's good stuff, people.
We need each other -- it's the way we're wired. And God gave us the gift of friends and family to meet our relational needs. Let's not get lazy or complacent and let those gifts get rusty and dusty. Enjoy and nurture the relationships you have and be blessed a hundred times over! Who knows . . . maybe 2009 will be the year you host a party and be the initiator of some great connectedness!
Love,
Joelene
Friday, January 2, 2009
Verse of the Day - Proverbs 16:32
Patience is better than strength. Controlling your temper is better than capturing a city.
~ Proverbs 16:32 (NCV)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Don't people with real patience just stand out in a crowd? I know a few people who I would consider highly patient, and their calmness to endure endless silly questions ("Why is that thingy always going 'doink-doink' when I push this do-hickee?") or their ability to wade through lengthy instructions ("After installing the hardware in diagrams 1,2,5,6,14,27 and 92, balance this instruction manual on your head and jump up and down three times while rubbing your stomach and singing 'Jingle Bells'...") amazes me.
Most people learn patience over time, but some are gifted by God with patience. We need to learn from these gifted ones, because impatience is, I think, one of the most damaging relational traits humanity has. When we lack patience with people, we blow them off and give up -- conversation over! We get frustrated when a person just doesn't understand what we're trying to say, so we say 'forget it', and walk away. Wow -- now there's a relationship killer for ya...
You might be an amazingly gifted athlete or architect, but if you lose patience and your temper with those close to you, you are in a bad way. Your family and friends don't care if you can run the mile in under four seconds when you can't hold a conversation without yelling and cursing at them. While you build tall buildings, your own home crumbles when you storm out of the house at the least irritation. Our connection with people is so much more valuable than trophies and certificates that collect dust. People matter, and impatience and anger tell them they don't.
They say that good things take time. But we've become so efficient-minded and such time-conscious people, wanting to microwave life like a 3-minute bag of popcorn. We forget that we're fallen creatures and that most don't get it right on the first try. Little Jimmy needs 34 reminders to turn off his bedroom light, and co-worker Francine is still trying to remember how to reboot her computer after you showed her 16 times.
God is so patient with us -- He doesn't yell or walk out of the room when we don't get it right. We need to imitate Him. Please give people time to 'get it right'. By God's strength and grace, choose patience in the midst of others' weaknesses . . . because we all have our own weaknesses and others show us patience, too, when we need it.
You may not have trophies and certificates, but if you have patience, you are definitely a standout in a crowd! (To the patient ones, I say 'thank you!' because I know that I, for one, definitely need it ...)
Love,
Joelene
~ Proverbs 16:32 (NCV)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Don't people with real patience just stand out in a crowd? I know a few people who I would consider highly patient, and their calmness to endure endless silly questions ("Why is that thingy always going 'doink-doink' when I push this do-hickee?") or their ability to wade through lengthy instructions ("After installing the hardware in diagrams 1,2,5,6,14,27 and 92, balance this instruction manual on your head and jump up and down three times while rubbing your stomach and singing 'Jingle Bells'...") amazes me.
Most people learn patience over time, but some are gifted by God with patience. We need to learn from these gifted ones, because impatience is, I think, one of the most damaging relational traits humanity has. When we lack patience with people, we blow them off and give up -- conversation over! We get frustrated when a person just doesn't understand what we're trying to say, so we say 'forget it', and walk away. Wow -- now there's a relationship killer for ya...
You might be an amazingly gifted athlete or architect, but if you lose patience and your temper with those close to you, you are in a bad way. Your family and friends don't care if you can run the mile in under four seconds when you can't hold a conversation without yelling and cursing at them. While you build tall buildings, your own home crumbles when you storm out of the house at the least irritation. Our connection with people is so much more valuable than trophies and certificates that collect dust. People matter, and impatience and anger tell them they don't.
They say that good things take time. But we've become so efficient-minded and such time-conscious people, wanting to microwave life like a 3-minute bag of popcorn. We forget that we're fallen creatures and that most don't get it right on the first try. Little Jimmy needs 34 reminders to turn off his bedroom light, and co-worker Francine is still trying to remember how to reboot her computer after you showed her 16 times.
God is so patient with us -- He doesn't yell or walk out of the room when we don't get it right. We need to imitate Him. Please give people time to 'get it right'. By God's strength and grace, choose patience in the midst of others' weaknesses . . . because we all have our own weaknesses and others show us patience, too, when we need it.
You may not have trophies and certificates, but if you have patience, you are definitely a standout in a crowd! (To the patient ones, I say 'thank you!' because I know that I, for one, definitely need it ...)
Love,
Joelene
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Verse of the Day - 2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! ~ 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It's 8:23am on New Year's Day, and here I sit, watching the Rose Parade on HGTV. It's rather a tradition for me (although after 47 floats, don't they all begin to look the same?!?!), and I know my mom is watching, too, because that is definitely her tradition. In fact, I was reminiscing the other day with a co-worker of family New Year's traditions, and I remember two things about New Year's Day as a child -- my dad going steel head fishing at the American River with his new fishing license that he got for Christmas, and my mom watching the Rose Parade on TV. Oh, and eating yummy cinnamon rolls made by my mom. I had an urge this morning to make cinnamon rolls, in keeping with tradition...but then realized that it would be me, and me only, that ended up eating all 4,025,003 calories...oh, well--so much for tradition. :-)
We have our annual traditions, and we make our annual resolutions. And after the annual resolutions fail, we have our annual guilt fest, and then annually dust off the guilt and move on with the year. Life is a cycle. The song goes, "What goes up, must come down...spinning wheel's got to go round...", and God's word declares, "There is a time for everything, a season for everything under the sun...what is has already been, and what will be has been before..." (Ecclesiastes 3:1,15). Does that make any of you feel like a hamster, stuck on an exercise wheel, going nowhere fast?!
We have our annual traditions, and we make our annual resolutions. And after the annual resolutions fail, we have our annual guilt fest, and then annually dust off the guilt and move on with the year. Life is a cycle. The song goes, "What goes up, must come down...spinning wheel's got to go round...", and God's word declares, "There is a time for everything, a season for everything under the sun...what is has already been, and what will be has been before..." (Ecclesiastes 3:1,15). Does that make any of you feel like a hamster, stuck on an exercise wheel, going nowhere fast?!
Although I believe that seasons and cycles have a valuable place in our lives, at times it can feel as if we're stuck in a mode we can't get out of...
~ I gotta lose 20 pounds this year . . . hey, is that an unopened box of See's Candy I see...?!?
~ I'm gonna quit gossiping this year . . . but, I just gotta say, did you see that hideous dress Mrs. Hinkelmeyer wore on Christmas Eve?!?
~ I gotta quit being such a clutter-bug . . . Hey, wait! You can't throw out those 14 boxes of National Geographic magazines -- I might read those someday...!
We can feel as if we have no choice but to keep running on the hamster wheel, round and round, with no hope of change. But if you are a believer in Christ, you already have been changed, amen?!? You are no longer bound to the spinning wheel -- it doesn't "got to go round" in your life! God, by His mighty power, has transformed us from death to life, from old to new, from powerless to powerful! We aren't chained to sin and death -- we're released to righteousness and life!
Believer, the old you is not the real you. Your ability to be different is powered by the Living God, so you're not hopelessly stuck in sinful traditions of envy, greedy, gluttony and self-deprecation, with no way out. God is our way out of the endless cycle of misdeeds and downward spirals! Praise Him! So, throw out that hamster wheel, and grab onto God's reins, because with Him, you're headed across open country!
Happy 2009, my friends, and enjoy the ride!
Love,
Joelene
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