My Heart Is Heavy…
(One more well-received repeat. A lot has been going on and trying to keep everything moving forward.)
Father…I am troubled at the close of my day. This is not what I began to write about this morning but it is what is weighing on my heart tonight.
Why are we so quick to assault en masse those whom we believe to be taking advantage of “us”? We, the people of Your creation, think different, look different, act different….because we are different! Way too many times we stereotype groups of people and we oft times, without even thinking about it, automatically assume that the individual we see in front of us is going to follow suit with our stereotype. But that is so unfair!
I am trying to be very careful here because the situation I found myself in tonight could easily be played out in any number of scenarios. An individual attempted to do something that many would frown upon as taking undeserved advantage of “us”. I use the word “us” because on many occasions when we feel the “body” of which we are a part is being exploited, we become very defensive. Individuals may be taking advantage of the “body” and we take it personally, as though they are taking advantage of “us”.
Anyway, this individual attempted to do something that many would frown upon as taking undeserved advantage of “us”. The individual was declined but it was handled in such a way that…well, it ended up escalating to something bigger than it probably should have been. After all was said and done, this individual ended up in front of me and I communicated what I was told to communicate. Those telling me to do so felt they were in the right. I did so because I felt the same to some degree as well. But before it all came to head, I truly felt incorrect assumptions had been made and the individual was made to feel humiliated.
I tried to soften things in the end but the damage had been done. I should have said more but other circumstances made that very difficult.
Lord, this whole thing is weighing so heavily on my heart. I feel we were in the wrong. This individual wasn’t out to get “us” but was just trying to take care of things in the corner of the world in which they found themselves. It is water under the bridge and what has been done cannot be undone but…Lord, help me to do better. Help me to think quicker. Help me to be braver – to stand up for the downtrodden –to be the one to stand in the gap. I cannot escape Your command in Mark 12:30-31,
“…you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.” and “‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
Lord, may I love You with everything I’ve got and may I passionately love others, too. Amen.
Mar 8th, 2017, Wed, 11:49 pm
Get Your Hands Dirty
(Due to unforeseen circumstances I must share another well-received post from the past.)
I feel so driven. Father, to be here! After all the hit and miss of the last several weeks, it feels wonderful to come together with You on day number 5 in a row! May I make the most of this time set apart for us.
Titus 2:6-7 (<<click here)
“…be an example…by doing good works of every kind.”
One of the things the Church has struggled with over the millennia of its existence is the balance between faith and good works. Both are a vital necessity in our Christian walk. Foundational to our relationship, Lord, is that we act in faith believing that You gave up Your life in our stead for the sins that we – every single one of us – have committed. We are only saved by the grace of God – it’s gift and we can’t take any credit for it. And it’s important to note that we cannot earn it either – the good works we do cannot earn us salvation. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
So here’s where the struggle comes – salvation is by faith alone but as James says, “Unless [faith] produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.“ James 2:17 Church history has seen extremes on both ends – those who claimed the salvation by faith and refused to do anything else because they felt they didn’t need to and those who felt that they had to work to earn their salvation by their works. But, Lord, both work hand in hand to make us the children we are called to be in You!
One of the biggest hurdles of the average follower of Christ today is motivating them to act on their faith. By no means does this mentally affect all believers but in many instances, it is very difficult to get them to do anything. For many just coming to church is a great accomplishment. They’ve done their duty, so don’t ask them to do anything else!
Lord, help me to “be an example.. by doing good works of every kind” Help me to lead the way. Help me to motivate. Help me to put my actions where my faith is. Help us to love the world as You do – not just in word but in deed!
Jan 25th, 2016, Mon, 6:11 am
Childlike…Not Childish
A quiet morning to begin the day – may my heart be quiet as I sit in Your presence this morning, Father. May I hear Your voice clearly. Touch and direct my life in the direction You would have it go. Amen.
Matthew 18:1-6 (<<click the green)
My study Bible* makes a great point in regards to this passage – are we striving to be childish or childlike? This particular incident was not just one from Matthew’s perspective; three of the four Gospel writers include it in their writings. It is something with which they all struggled – looking out for number one. Are we not guilty as well?
The disciples saw and heard much of what Jesus was doing but their concept of His coming kingdom was clouded by the common misconceptions of the day. They were looking for an earthly kingdom, not a spiritual one that would encompass all of eternity. So with that mindset in place they – like we – were jockeying for the best spot possible. “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” they asked.
Childish, right? Me first! Oo, oo, oo, pick me! Here they are arguing over a petty non-issue – who is greatest? Who amongst us is going to get those high ranking positions with all of their power, prestige, and perks?
And what is Jesus’ response? He doesn’t crack any heads together. He’s doesn’t lash out at their foolishness in anger. Nope. He puts a child among them and says, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.”
Childlike…not childish.
Lord, it is so easy to spend the time I have looking out for myself. The world literally shoves this down our throats every day. But everything I strive for is temporal – here today and gone tomorrow – power, wealth, security…love even – at least the world’s idea of love. I would ask that You help me to not focus on greatness but to focus on humility. May I seek to follow Your admonition from Matthew 6:33 AMP,
“But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.”
Amen.
*Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation
July 17th,2018, Tues, 6:20 am
Perspective
Father, as I sit down to write, my day is winding down. Work, driving, and a board meeting have made it a full day. And tomorrow promises to be full, as well. I am content in that You are with me, regardless of where I find myself. May I do You proud in all I do and say. Amen
Matthew 17:24-27 (<<click the green)
There are many outspoken people in this world but many are perfectly content to not to be in the foreground. Many readily share their perspective on any given subject. But the question begs to be asked, what is the perspective of those who choose to remain silent thinking what they think should just stay in their own head?
Today’s passage has no parallel in any other Gospel. Only Matthew shares this little snippet from the life of Christ. It was a story he could relate to. The first character to come on the scene was a tax collector out to collect what was due. Matthew connected to the situation because of course that had been his occupation prior to his call to follow Jesus (though he had worked for the Romans). And because he connected and it meant something to him, the Holy Spirit led him to share the story. And it is one more story we have in the Bible to affirm the kingship of Christ.
Sometimes when I write, I often think, “Who in the world would ever get anything from this?” But God takes what we have to offer and He anoints it, He blesses it, He uses it for His glory. No matter how small or insignificant we think it is, it’s important that we not hold back. Like the loaves and fishes, God may take our small gift and multiply it beyond our wildest dreams. Give what you’ve got and let God do what God does!
July 16th, 2018, Monday, 9:06 pm
Holier than Thou
Father, thank You for a wonderful week of time spent with Massey. Karen and I are both so grateful for the gift You gave us almost 26 years ago and for the fine young man he has become. Watch over him and hold him close to Your side, I pray. Amen.
Are you familiar with the phrase “holier than thou”? It is never really used in a complimentary way. It usually implies an attitude of moral superiority. It can apply to someone who has chosen to take the moral high road and the phrase is used disparagingly by those who do not. But quite often it is used in reference to someone who sets themselves above others in a prideful manner.
Pharisees and Sadducees, the religious leaders of Jesus’ day, wore the moniker well. Few could live up to their expectations of moral superiority. But before we go pointing fingers and patting ourselves on the back, we must carefully examine who we are and why we do what we do.
Only by the grace of God do I stand where I stand. I am not perfect. I fail. I stumble. I fall. But I am not forsaken. God, with the utmost of compassion, shows me the error of my ways and when I repent and ask for His forgiveness He does not hold back. God wants me to be victorious! He wants me to succeed! He loves me beyond anything I can even begin to fully understand.
Lord Jesus, where would I be without You? I would be lost. I would be eternally condemned. Thank You for Your sacrifice. You gave of Yourself so that I could be reconciled in my relationship with You. I could not do it. I am incapable of doing it. But You did it! Thank You, Lord! Draw me close to You side. May I become more and more like You each and every day. Amen.
July 13th, 2018, Fri, 6:57 am