Feb 5, 2014 | Living Well
God’s power is explosive. It cannot be contained. It is astronomically greater than anyone’s wildest imaginations.
God expresses his power through love even though people view these concepts as being contradictory. His love is real and is integral with his dominion. Through the power of the Holy Spirit living in us, God shares his love with his children.
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self control. 2 Timothy 1:7
I cannot fathom God’s strength or his love. Just the fact that they cannot be diminished as he uses them is incomprehensible. He gives them out freely to those who love and obey him. Miraculously, instead of making God weaker, it increases his power. As God dispenses strength, his love grows and multiplies. How can that be? It is beyond the understanding of my mind, but I know it is true. I have seen it demonstrated in my life and the lives of others.
So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 1 John 4:16
My prayer for you today is that you know the dynamite power of God’s love.
Feb 4, 2014 | Living Well
“I could not believe what Susan did! She knew how hard I had worked on coming up with ideas for the decorations and that I had already purchased most of the supplies. Our committee decided to go with the idea I presented at the meeting. Susan wasn’t there. But she thinks she is so creative. She thinks she has to be in control. I’ll refuse to ever be on a committee with her again.” Mary was angrily ranting as the volunteers started to arrive to decorate the auditorium for the annual Valentine’s Day Sweetheart Banquet.
Have you ever been on the receiving end of such a burst of angry words? Or have you been guilty of degrading someone so others could hear?
It is easy to understand why Mary was hurt. But her method of handling the self-centered behavior of Susan was wrong. Of course, Susan should be held accountable for her manipulative conduct, but Mary was displaying equally bad behavior. Both of them should have taken their eyes off of “self” long enough to gain control of their emotions, seek Christian counsel, and to pray before proceeding.
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29
Do you say things that destroy others? Or do you say only those things that will build others up?
Feb 3, 2014 | Living Well
Is my love for technology wrong? I cannot believe I was actually able to function before computers, tablets, and cell phones. In a myriad of ways, they help me survive my harried world. I can do so many things that were unthinkable just a few short years ago. I am not a technophobe. But I do appreciate the things modern technology makes possible.
People talk about playing games on their computers. I have done that. They mention their music collections being stored and played on their computers. I have music files. Many people now read books on digitalized devises. I still love the feel of a book in my hands but do enjoy reading digital books. However, I delight in listening to audiobooks while cleaning house or walking.
Yes, technology is a great source of entertainment, but for me it is a workhorse. I use it to write, to track my finances, to research topics, to keep in touch with family and friends, and to keep track of my calendar.
The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours; the world and all that is in it, you have founded them. Psalm 89:11
Can technology be used in a bad way? Of course. But God gave us technology, and I insist on using it for good.
Feb 2, 2014 | Living Well
What objects in your life do you love? My first thought was that things are things and not that important to me. Then one exception after another came to mind. So I started a list: a Christmas cactus Grandma gave me over thirty years ago, my mother-in-law’s wedding ring set, pictures of my husband at various times, a milk can Mother painted with Kansas symbols, the green glass cookie jar from great-grandma Gray’s kitchen. All of the things I listed had sentimental value.
I have heard the question posed, “If a sudden emergency caused you to immediately leave your house forever, what would you quickly grab to take with you?” I find the question impossible to answer. My home is an eclectic collection of memories. Items that remind me of people I love or past fun times. These items make my home cozy, secure.
I have truly surrounded myself with things I love. Not because of their beauty or value but because of their sentiment and the memories.
God understood the importance of visual symbols as reminders of his love. One example in the Old Testament is the golden lampstand for the tabernacle, which is described in Exodus 25:31-40. In the New Testament, Jesus uses the concept of lamp light several times in his gospel teaching. And Christians will experience the true lamp in heaven.
And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. Revelations 21:23
Items in our lives that make us think of love are to be protected and cherished for they sustain and encourage us. The Bible uses the symbol of the lamp to remind us to love God’s light.
Feb 1, 2014 | Living Well
What is love? How do you define it?
With the arrival of February, I have started to think about Valentine’s Day. What do I want to do to let the people closest to me know that I love them? Should I give a card, candy, a gift, or offer a hug and a statement of my love? While contemplating this, I thought about how I viewed Valentine’s Day as a child.
When I was young, I learned that naked babies called cupids would shoot arrows into hearts. That meant love. Of course I knew that was silly, but we girls had fun making hearts with arrows through them and writing names on the hearts. I never did like the taste of those candy hearts with “love” words. But what fun to chose the words I wanted to give my friends in a valentine card. I eagerly read the messages on the candy hearts given to me. However, I preferred to receive a small box of chocolates.
It is too bad that our culture uses the word love so loosely and in so many different ways. Most of them are very superficial. For a word that represents something so important to our emotional well-being, we are very careless with it. Love is a word that holds great importance when it is spoken to a person, but I often say I love a blouse or other such object, which in truth is of little importance to me.
I am curious. What do you love? Let’s explore together. What does it mean to love an object? What objects in your life do you love? Why?
Jan 31, 2014 | Living Well
What is the direction of your life? What is your purpose based on your practices?
Have you stopped the busyness of life long enough to thoughtfully and prayerfully consider your ways? What is your focus—self, others, possessions, God? I do not mean what you want your focus to be. But what do your actions and thoughts betray IS your focus?
I recently had a chance to get away from the pressures of normal living. After taking a few hours to “detox” from the daily pressures, I spent some quiet time reflecting and praying. I’d like to say I have resolved all my issues and have a clear focus. I don’t. What I do have is a developing vision.
I believe God only reveals to us what we need to know when we need to know it. He wants us to concentrate all our energy on the current task.
It is too easy to get caught up in what is happening in the world. We focus on the immediate concerns in our current activities. Sometimes we forget that God is in control and working for his glory. Haggai was a prophet during a dark time in Israel’s history, but God gave him an encouraging message.
Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told. Haggai 1:5
Resolved Day 31: I will choose to continually focus on God and his message. My goal is to develop a closer relationship with God as I glorify him throughout each day.
