May 30, 2014 | Faith In Everyday Life
The shopping trip had been successful. I placed the sack on the kitchen counter and opened it expecting to find four items. I found two. After checking the receipt, I realized a mistake had been made. Two ink cartridges had not been placed in the sack.
I called the store. The people I talked to were very gracious and willing to correct the mistake. That store will have my business for a long time.
Is there something missing in your life–contentment, joy, satisfaction? Is there a hollow place that nothing is able to fill? The answer is to call upon Jesus. It seems strange to think that letting Jesus guide your life can be fulfilling, but it is true. Too many people believe the Christian life is full of restrictions. Nothing is farther from the truth. Following Jesus’ commands is freeing. True joy is made possible.
Is something missing in your life? Let Jesus make it right.
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30
May 28, 2014 | Faith In Everyday Life
We all experience disappointment. Sometimes it is trivial, but sometimes the disappointment is painful. What causes you disappointment?
Here is my list:
- Not being invited to a luncheon
- A friend no longer calls
- Not getting a job I wanted
- My husband forgets my birthday
The list could be longer, but I my listing stopped when I realized that the most difficult area of disappointment in my life is me. I become frustrated with myself for the following:
- Being late
- Not keeping a promise I intended to keep
- Forgetting an appointment or someone’s special event
- Becoming impatient with another person
- Not living up to my expectations
Thinking about disappointment can be depressing unless we realize it is okay to recognize our feelings. It is what we do with our feelings of disappointment that counts. We are to be forgiving toward others. But what about forgiving ourselves?
It is harder to forgive self than to forgive others. However, it is important to forgive self. God did not say forgive others and continue beating yourself up. We are expected to correct our behaviors using the power of the Holy Spirit to create new habits or to make restitution. But if God forgives our sins, it is extremely arrogant for us to refuse to forgive ourselves.
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Colossians 3:12-13
May 26, 2014 | Faith In Everyday Life
It was a rollover. We knew an accident would happen, but we thought it would be mom running into something. Yes, my elderly mother wrecked her 3-wheel motorized scooter. It rolled on its side pinning her ankle. She was helpless.
Fortunately I was with her and a lady walking her dog came to our rescue. Mom was not seriously hurt physically—just bruises. Emotionally she was devastated.
Confidence in her increasing independence caused her to become careless about where she was going. She had safely handled that small incline many times, but her mind wandered as she negotiated it at the wrong angle in a steeper location.
Aren’t we like that in our Christian lives? Things are going well. Even though we have resisted a particular temptation successfully, we become careless. Maybe we have skipped time reading the Bible or praying for a day or two. Maybe we do not recognize that pride is starting to rule our thoughts. Maybe we are associating more with unbelievers in situations we normally would avoid. Maybe…
But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. James 1:14-15
What area of your life is a spiritual accident about to happen?
May 23, 2014 | Faith In Everyday Life
This is Memorial Day weekend. Too many people think of it only as a holiday—not as a day to honor those who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. In our area many are upset because plans to have three days of nonstop recreation have been upset by the stormy weather. How sad so little appreciation is shown for those who paid with their lives that we can enjoy freedom.
Today mother and I placed flowers on family graves. It was such a joy to see the rows of flags decorating the entrances of the well-groomed cemeteries. Local civic organizations carefully put small flags on the graves of veterans. We saw volunteers decorating graves of people whose children are probably also buried in the cemetery in another plot. 
Because my ancestors homesteaded on this area of the plains, many of my relatives are buried in small rural cemeteries. I learned much about my ancestors as Mother told family stories. One of the graves I visited was of a distant grandfather whose service in the Civil War is proudly etched into his gravestone. I wondered. Would I have had the courage to stand up for what I believed to be right in a war in those divisive times? Do I have the courage to stand up for my beliefs in today’s troubled world?
Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 2:3
May 21, 2014 | Faith In Everyday Life
The conversations with friends during social time before church had been satisfying. I was peacefully sitting in church enjoying the music. However, my tranquillity abruptly ended when the sermon began.
Pastor asked, “What are you willing to give for the cause of the gospel?” My first thought was that I do okay in this area. I volunteer without the expectation of recognition, I tithe, and I give to missions. As I was smugly listening, what he said next abruptly stopped my self congratulation.
Pastor stated that most of us are unwilling to give up being concerned about what others think of us. We adjust our witness, sometimes dramatically, based on what we believe others will think.
Paul is a biblical example of how we should respond to social pressure. He did whatever God directed him to do even if it made him look socially inept.
I repeat, let no one think me foolish. But even if you do, accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little…For you gladly bear with fools, being wise yourselves. 2 Corinthians 11:16-19
Paul was being sarcastic in order to get his audience to realize they considered their social position more important than God. Paul’s only concern was that he pleased God.
Are you willing to modify your social life–even risking being a bit foolish–for the Gospel?
May 16, 2014 | Faith In Everyday Life
I will believe it when I see it. That is a statement of doubt.
Do you always have to see something to believe it? Absolutely not! We accept many things in faith.
I believe my body is made up of thousands of cells even though I have not seen my cells in a microscope. I trust the ingredients are accurately given on the side of a box of cereal. When driving, I can rely on the hope that a car will not be using my lane to go in the opposite direction. We accept many things in our everyday lives without much concern or thought.
So why are we so skeptical when it comes to truths about our spiritual lives? It is because we are caught up in the mentality of having to see it to believe it when religion is involved.
As humans, we tend to be doubters. Too often we fall into the trap of believing what is true for me may be different than what is true for you. We let others believe whatever they want even though we do not believe their statements of “truth.” That kind of thinking is disastrous when applied to God’s Word. Even those who profess a strong belief in Jesus can fall prey to doubting the truth as did the disciple named Thomas.
“Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” John 20:25b
I accept God’s Word as truth.
The shopping trip had been successful. I placed the sack on the kitchen counter and opened it expecting to find four items. I found two. After checking the receipt, I realized a mistake had been made. Two ink cartridges had not been placed in the sack.
