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Just do whatever you want?
“Just do whatever you want.” Did you ever hear your parents say this to you? No? Yeah, me neither. Unless, of course, it was out of a frustrated, last resort, attempt at reverse psychology. Not sure if that ever worked, though.
I find it interesting how we often underestimate the value of parental direction in our lives. Certainly, when we were growing up we didn’t appreciate it too much. But looking back, in retrospect, we can be thankful for it. Here’s a shout out to Mom, “Thanks for not letting me put my hand on the hot stove…..oh, and that ‘not running with scissors’ was a pretty good idea too.” Those parents sometimes knew what they were talking about. Unfortunately, we sometimes learned this too late in life, and for some of us, we had to learn some things the hard way. In our hubris, at such a young age, we often had the audacity to think, “What do you know? Just because you’ve been on this planet several decades longer than me, and have the value of countless negative experiences to learn from, I think I’ll handle this on my own.” So, we trounce off in our ignorance only to learn that they might have had a valid point. Then, in frustration, we shake our fist in the air saying, “How do they know all this stuff?” And often the hardest part can be admitting that they were right.
The reality is, we usually had the wrong perspective on our parent’s instructions back then. Our first thought was usually, “You’re just trying to ruin my fun. I think you actually know how much fun it can be to jump off the roof, wearing a cape, and pretending I’m Superman.” Of course, the reality was, their shrieks of horror, in witnessing our recklessness, were actually a legitimate response. They knew the fun would soon end when we landed, resulting in a trip to the emergency room from a broken arm. And so the proper perspective usually unfolds with the passage of time.
What I wonder, though, is why our first response was often one of suspicion? We didn’t seem to realize our parent’s innate concern for our welfare. Our first thought wasn’t usually, “Oh, they’re just looking out for my well-being.” Maybe it’s because we underestimated their love and concern for us. We learn this later when we have a better understanding of life. We certainly learn it fully when we become parents ourselves. This is when we come full circle and our own rules and regulations develop an alliance with good ol’ Mom and Dad. We hear their reprimands to us echoing back through time and we’re thinking, “Preach it Mom and Dad.” Our own shouts of instruction display that our understanding have come to full fruition.
I suppose this is the main idea. We often overestimate our own view of things and underestimate a higher, or more seasoned perspective. That’s the value of perspective, I guess.
When we consider our reaction to our parent’s direction we don’t realize that this is often our response to God’s direction in our lives. This was definitely the case with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. When we look at how it all began, it bears a similar resemblance to today. Not much has changed has it? In the last part of Genesis 3:11 God says, …Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?” Adam and Eve had just disobeyed God’s instruction not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Looking at God’s response to Adam it sounds a lot like Mom and Dad reprimanding us doesn’t it? Eve had been deceived, though, by the Serpent in the Garden. Earlier in the same chapter the Serpent says in Genesis 3:5: “For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” See, the devil was trying to convince her that God was just trying ruin their fun.
Similarly, like we didn’t understand our parental instruction as kids, we often don’t understand God’s instructions to us, or their importance. We can easily tend to think, like that child who finds his parent’s instruction suspect, that God is just trying to kill our fun. Can you imagine, though, if God were to just say to us, “Just do whatever you want.” That wouldn’t be the picture of a loving parent, would it? Isaiah 55:8 says, “For my thoughts [are] not your thoughts, neither [are] your ways my ways, saith the LORD.” Many times we don’t understand why God doesn’t want us to do certain things, or why He wants us to do certain things. We can be assured, though, that He only has our welfare in mind.
Impotence happens to a person only when he faces an unusual that is lesser viagra 100mg pfizer amount of blood supply to the penile district of men which is really a gainful to show signs of improvement sex. It is believed that this chemical lessens the cGMP best pharmacy viagra component for accomplishing and keeping up an erection. Nonetheless, this impact is incredibly exaggerated if brought with nitrate medicine, which is endorsed for angina (midsection torment). unica-web.com purchase generic cialis when joined together with any nitrate based solutions or antihypertensives. Talking openly cialis 20mg australia unica-web.com about the condition can help the couple to lower their level of stress and enhance the normal well-being. God’s instructing us isn’t something to be suspicious of, it’s actually a sign of His love for us and wanting a good future for us. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” The emphasis here is that God only wants good in our lives. It’s when we veer off in our own direction that we get into trouble, and like a loving parent, God may have to instruct us to get us back on track.
Proverbs 3:11 says, “My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:” Though we may not like it, God may have to discipline us at times. It’s important that we remember to see this in the proper light. Just like our parents were only trying to steer us in the right direction, likewise, God is trying to do the same with us.
We need to remember that God placing limits on our lives aren’t limiting, but freeing. Keeping us from doing whatever we want, and instead allowing us to do as we ought is God’s plan for us. This is God’s perspective.
Genesis 3:11 God says, …Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?”
Genesis 3:5: “For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.”
Isaiah 55:8 says, “For my thoughts [are] not your thoughts, neither [are] your ways my ways, saith the LORD.”
Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
Proverbs 3:11 says, “My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:”
Maybe someday…..why not today?
I’m noticing a pattern in my life. It seems I have a tendency to say, “Someday”, a lot. At least, mentally anyway. There are a lot of things I would like to do, but I end up putting them on the back burner. Some things are things I would like to do and some are just things that I need to do.
Some of the things that I’ve needed to do just involve cutting expenses. One of the things I thought would be easy to save money on was my internet service, by just getting on a lower plan. I kept putting it off, not being sure if I wanted slower internet. But the cost savings were significant. So, I finally made the decision to downgrade my internet service the other day. What I found out was they’ll allow you to do it, but they’re just going to make it as painful as possible. It’s almost like you can hear them mocking you in the background, “Oh, you thought you could try and save some money with us? Well, think again.”
I started out talking to one representative and then they said they had to transfer me to a different department. Then when I got transferred to that department that person told me that they shouldn’t have transferred me to that department. Then when they transferred me back we got disconnected. I started to wonder if this was all just a part of their training. “Hey, if anyone calls wanting to downgrade their service, just keep passing them around to different departments until they give up.” Only, they didn’t know who they were dealing with. So, I call back and the process starts all over again. The first person I talk to transfers me to the person I actually need to talk to. Now we’re in business. Only this person is trying to upsell me on a better plan, “Oh, if you upgrade to this and this, then you can have this many channels and get faster service for not much more.” I’m just trying to emphasize to them, “No, I just want the lowest plan you have. Do, I qualify for this plan? Finally, with much consternation, they agree to change me over to the lowest plan available. Apparently, it seems, they don’t like the idea of you spending less money with their company. Something I kind of knew, but just didn’t realize the degree of difficulty involved. I have some other expenses to cut. I’m just hoping they’re a more rewarding experience than this one was.
Regardless of that experience, I was glad I finally made that change and saved myself some money. Many of the things I’ve been putting off, though, involve things I want to do, but just keep making excuses not to do. I’m kind of unique in that delayed gratification doesn’t really bother me. I think, “Yeah, that would be nice. Maybe someday.” I often don’t realize, though, how long I have put some things off into the future. So, I’m starting to think, “What’s wrong with now?” Even if I can’t do it right now, I can at least start planning for it now. Like, I’ve been wanting to go back to visit my hometown for a while, but I have been putting that off. Or, I’ve been wanting to buy a coffee maker and I keep putting that off.
I need to realize that, even at my relatively young years, I only have so much time to do things in life. If I keep putting things off to someday, then someday eventually becomes never. So, I think now is the time. Hey, maybe I can buy a coffee maker with the money I saved on my internet. Problem solved.
Certainly it’s good for us to make plans. And we should act on what we can today. It’s also important how we go about embarking on those plans.
Psalms 118:24 says, “This [is] the day [which] the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” What’s interesting is that this verse says, “This is the day…” Apparently, tomorrow is not the day. Today is the only day I have the power of action. We can plan for tomorrow, but we can’t be assured of tomorrow. It says we are to rejoice in this day. I believe that not only means being thankful to God for it, but being active in it. I’m rejoicing and being glad by acting in it.
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James goes deeper into the futility of saying all the things we will do on our own. James 4:13 says, “Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what [shall be] on the morrow. For what [is] your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye [ought] to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.” James points out for us how we can often be prideful in our planning without even realizing it. When we say we’re going to do this and this, it assumes a power over our own lives that we just don’t have. He’s saying we’re better off to say, “God willing…” Why? Because then we’re acknowledging our limited-ness and, yet, acknowledging God’s unlimited-ness, and God’s involvement in our plans and purposes. He emphasizes the shortness of our lives and that God is ultimately in control.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” These verses take us a step further. We are not only to acknowledge God’s control in the future, but also involve Him in it. The first part is important to remember though. We need to trust Him, and that also involves us not trying to figure it all out in our heads. We often can’t. That’s where the trust comes in. Then, as we acknowledge Him, He will give us the direction we need in our lives.
There’s nothing wrong with planning. But we need to plan with God’s plans and purposes in mind. And it’s good that we act on what we can today. But we need to act with God’s plans and purposes in mind.
Psalms 118:24 says, “This [is] the day [which] the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
James 4:13 says, “Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what [shall be] on the morrow. For what [is] your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye [ought] to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
How do I see myself?
What is your view of yourself? How do you see the person that you are? This is our self-image, as it were. You may wonder if it matters or, if it does, why it matters. Well, I would suggest that it matters because how we view ourselves is a very important indicator of who we become.
I think the people who are the most comfortable in their own skin are those who have a strong sense of self. These are the people who know who they are. They’re not second-guessing themselves, or wondering how they should act or look. They know how to just be. And knowing who you are is an important part of life. Otherwise, I think we are living our lives dependent on other people’s opinion of us. We’re always wondering what someone else might think of us. We decide on a course of action, but then we want to ask everyone else’s permission before we go ahead and act on it. And I’m talking about things that have no bearing on someone else’s life. Sometimes we’re so insecure we ask other people for permission to do things that really have no effect on them. “I’m going to the grocery store, Is that OK?’ Probably don’t need to ask their permission for that.
The interesting thing is when we are always asking other people for permission to do things, it’s like we’re asking for their permission to live our lives. We don’t need to do that, unless of course it’s directly having some kind of impact on their life. Also, when we know who we are we feel confident with the decisions we make, because we know we’re making them for the right reasons. A person who has a positive self-image tells themselves the truth about who they are. They’re consciously aware of their weaknesses, but they don’t let that knowledge overwhelm them. They know the changes they need to make and how to make them. This is living an authentic life. A genuine life. Of course none of us knows everything. A secure person doesn’t let that bother them, though. They know what knowledge they lack and how to go find it. I would also say this, “Smart isn’t knowing all the right answers, it’s knowing how to find the right answer when you don’t know what the right answer is.”
Although I’m not this confident person yet, I’m constantly working towards being that person who is confident enough to just be. Confident in conversation and not feeling the need to apologize for just being myself. And a lot of making these changes begin and end with how I view myself.
The reason we are often insecure, though, is because we don’t realize our own importance and significance. We have an importance and significance that we need to realize. But if that importance and significance just comes from us, is that enough?
While having a strong self-image and strong sense of self is important, I think it’s more important to know and realize God’s image of me. Because I’m not just looking to myself for direction and knowledge about myself, I’m looking to my creator to define who I am and my significance in life.
Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created man in his [own] image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” This is where it all begins. The fact that God created us, and not only that, but created us in His image gives us significance. When we really think on that and get a hold of that it can make a profound difference in how we see ourselves. I’ve found myself, at times, making this mental shift in my mind from a sometimes down and dejected view of me, to God’s perspective of me. It’s an amazing difference and it’s quite powerful.
There article is dedicated to all those couples who are trying for a baby. online viagra uk djpaulkom.tv If you are going generic cialis in australia through sexual dysfunction, then you can consult the best sexologist in Gurgaon can enable people from a variety of backgrounds to experience sexually satisfying lives. With increased proficiency of healthy erection effective and cheap Kamagra improve sexual confidence. buy viagra sale djpaulkom.tv Chiropractic is an all-natural healing and wellness healthcare practice that has helped many women suffering from PMS to return to a healthier, fuller life cheap viagra canadian free from debilitating pain and dysfunction. Psalms 8:4 says, “What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.” The Psalmist was asking here how mankind can be important enough for God to really consider him in anything. He has given us an importance and relevance, it seems, that is above our station. You see, God is so big that sometimes we wonder how we can even end up on His radar. This is a gross misunderstanding, though, of God and His dealings in our lives. I find it interesting, when we look at the whole of creation, that God has placed us on this little blue marble in the midst of this huge expanse, with countless other empty planets. This causes some people to want to look for life on other planets. I think, however, that they’re missing the point—that there’s life on this planet. I don’t believe the fact that there’s unique life on this planet is due to random chance. I believe the fact that there’s life on this planet, in the midst of countless lifeless planets, highlights our uniqueness in the eyes of God. We’re like a unique gem in a never-ending expanse of anthracite.
Besides that fact, there are other things to consider. Matthew 10:29 says, “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.” See, if God knows and cares about what happens to a sparrow, how much do you think He cares about you and what happens in your life?
So, on the basis of this knowledge of our importance, what do we do with it? Well, I would say that, due to God’s view of us, He’s calling us to a higher level of life. Romans 12:2 says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” God is wanting us to live a life higher than we often allow for ourselves. He is wanting us to live the life He has always planned for us from the beginning in Genesis—to live that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.
Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created man in his [own] image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”
Psalms 8:4 says, “What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.”
Matthew 10:29 says, “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.”
Matthew 10:29 says, “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.”
Knowing What You Don’t Know
Of all the things there are to know, what are the most important? There’s so much out there to discover and learn. Sometimes we can think we know something, only to discover we don’t really know as much as we thought.
When I was young I think I was just naïve to a lot of the realities of life. I probably thought there really can’t be that much I need to know. The more you get into something, though, the more you realize how much you don’t know about it. I guess the value of ignorance is it allows you to not be overwhelmed by all of what you don’t yet know. If we were to fully realize all of what we have to learn at the start we might not even want to begin. I wonder if that’s how doctors must feel. They go to school for eight years, followed by several years of residency, and then they come out knowing all these things. They probably learn so much that they don’t know all that they do know, or forgot that they knew it.
I kind of felt this way when I started college. I actually began as an architecture major. I really didn’t know going in, not just the amount of learning involved, but the time commitment it would demand from you as well. If you’ve never known anyone who’s been through architecture school, you probably don’t know this. But the reality is you spend a lot of late nights in the studio working on projects, often times pulling all-nighters, just to get the projects done. It’s just a part of the process. It’s fun, but demanding. The downside is you kind of have to eat, sleep, and breathe architecture. So, if you’re not willing to do that, it’s probably not for you. I turned out to be one of those people. I didn’t finish for basically those reasons. I think I went in not realizing this. I was one of the dummies who tried to do architecture school and a part time job at the same time. I soon realized this wasn’t really feasible. Of all the people in my studio I can’t remember anyone else who had a part time job. They must have all known something I didn’t. I remember one time, due to the combination of work and school, I was in class and we were all standing around and I was falling asleep standing up. My classmates were laughing at me. They said, “Brad, why don’t you just go home and go to bed.” So, I did. Sage advice.
The reality is, this isn’t exclusive to just me and that situation. This happens to all of us at some time in our lives. We get into something and we suddenly realize it’s more involved than we thought. Maybe the worst thing isn’t when you don’t know something. I think the height of ignorance isn’t not knowing, it’s not knowing what you don’t know.
My greatest concern in life is not outright evil. I can easily identify that and say, “OK, that’s wrong.” I would say that the greatest concern we have is the appearance of good with an undercurrent of darkness.
Perceived goodness is not goodness itself and often masks an inner darkness. It’s a paper mâché version of itself. Its ineptness is such that it provides a too thinly-veiled cover, of even which, if it could, would only still be masking its true nature. Is the perception of good actually evil? If it is, maybe it’s the worst kind of evil. To be evil without knowing it is the worst kind of despair. Even the desperately wicked know the severity of their condition and can make the first steps toward change. But he whose condition is covered by a counterfeit version can’t even attempt the change, since he’s not even aware there’s a need for one.
If you fail to leave, you risk getting into a positive exercise routine is really fun and can help you get back the lust viagra soft for life you previously thought was robbed by depression. This viagra cipla 20mg http://deeprootsmag.org/2015/08/24/bob-marovichs-gospel-picks-22/ disease is actually very serious and should be treated carefully. Smoking can also wreck one’s sexual health leading to erectile issues. sildenafil shop If you don’t fasten your seat prescription for ordering viagra deeprootsmag.org belt, don’t expect your teen to. I think about the Pharisees and Scribes in the book of Matthew. In Matthew 23:26-27 Jesus speaks to their condition: “[Thou] blind Pharisee, cleanse first that [which is] within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead [men’s] bones, and of all uncleanness.” Some of the harshest words Jesus had were for the people who appeared to do right but weren’t actually right in their hearts. Now, did these people know their true condition? Certainly on some level they did. But the degree to which each person has deceived themselves, I imagine, varies from person to person. Why did this make Jesus so mad? I think he was mad that they were basically lying to themselves. He was basically saying, “Just admit the truth about your condition and then you can start to do something about it.”
If we look through the whole of scripture God’s greatest concern has been our heart condition. Psalms 51:17 says, “The sacrifices of God [are] a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” God has always just been looking for a heart that will admit, in brokenness, their true condition. It says here that He will not despise this. Because this is when we are really being honest with ourselves and with God.
Again in James 4:8 it says, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse [your] hands, [ye] sinners; and purify [your] hearts, [ye] double minded.” God is looking for hearts to draw near to Him. Hearts to desire to know Him and who He is. We are to have a singleness of mind and heart. Double mindedness is confusion and lacking direction. We can only truly be pleasing to God when we have pure hearts. And part of having a pure heart is having a singleness of mind to do what is right. This is when we know what we don’t know.
Matthew 23:26-27 Jesus speaks to their condition: “[Thou] blind Pharisee, cleanse first that [which is] within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead [men’s] bones, and of all uncleanness.”
Psalms 51:17 says, “The sacrifices of God [are] a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”
James 4:8 it says, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse [your] hands, [ye] sinners; and purify [your] hearts, [ye] double minded.”
Merry Christmas!
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And the story begins…..
In this Christmas season I wanted to make sure and do a post on this most important Holiday. I have always enjoyed Christmas. I like the feel of the season and how everyone seems to be in a better mood, unless they’re shopping on black Friday of course. And it’s always nice to get the family together.
Of course the whole reason for all this celebration is based on a story that happened 2000 years ago. We realize this many times gets lost in all the commercialism and distractions we have in our society today. So, what about this story that happened long ago? The Bible tells us all about. In our family, my Dad would read the story out of the book of Luke every year. It was tradition. The story tells of Caesar Augustus declaring a tax over the land. So, Joseph left with his wife Mary to go to Bethlehem to be taxed. The shepherds were told in the field of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem. So, they departed and found Mary and Joseph with the baby Jesus in a manger. The book of Matthew also tells of the wise men visiting.
This a compelling story. We read this every year. The unfortunate thing is that this story not only seems to get overshadowed by our modern day interpretation of what Christmas is, it also can have a tendency to be taken for granted in the repeated telling of it. I think the concern is that we may hear it so often that it doesn’t impact us the way it used to.
So, how do we combat the tendency to take this story too lightly? One thing I find helpful is to just purposely look at it with a fresh set of eyes. Read the story, but approach it like it’s the first time you’ve ever read it. Think to yourself, “If I had never heard of this story and I were reading it for the first time, what would I be thinking about it? Or, how would it make me feel?” I think this can sometimes be helpful in gaining a new appreciation for something. The reason being is, often when we take something for granted, we are borrowing from those past thoughts and feelings about something and transporting them to the current day. So, maybe we need to renew our thoughts and feelings about this story.
This is something we can do every year when we hear the Christmas story. Approach it like it’s the first time you’ve heard it. What a difference that can make. Maybe we can gain a new appreciation for what it means. Maybe this can help bring the story alive to us, if we realize that this is the most impactful story in history. If we acknowledge with our hearts that these events really took place. It’s possible for us to think we believe without actually believing. We might have a head knowledge but not a heart knowledge. So, “Is the Christmas story alive in our hearts?” This is the question.
In 2 Peter it’s emphasized to us the importance of not just seeing this as a story. It’s not just some fairy tale. 2 Peter 1:16 says, “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.” I think it’s important that the apostle Peter wrote this. It’s especially important for us to remember today. These weren’t just some stories that somebody make up. Peter tells that they made known to them the power of Jesus and his coming. Not only that, but they were eyewitness to Him and His works and Glory.
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We need to remember too, that this story was just the beginning of what Jesus came to do. Yes, He was the prophesied Messiah, but He came to do more than just be born. He came to save humanity from their sins which ultimately culminated in His death on the Cross. In 1 Corinthians, in verses prior to following verse, Paul describes the futility of our belief if Christ’s death was not real. 1 Corinthians 15:19 says, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” Paul was declaring here the reality of these events. That because they are real we do have a hope in a life hereafter.
The important thing is that we’re not just believing with our head, but believing with our hearts. Romans 10:9 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” This is the basis of our salvation—a belief in our hearts. And we have more than a passive faith, we have an active faith. The reason we petition God in prayer, through Jesus, is because we have an active faith. The reason we confess with our mouth is because we have an active faith. The reason we rest in the knowledge of his care and protection is because we have an active faith.
This is the impact of this story. This is the story that changed the world. The most important story in history. But it all began in a manger. And as powerful as this event was, it was just the beginning.
2 Peter 1:16 says, “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.”
1 Corinthians 15:19 says, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.”
Romans 10:9 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
What if we just said what we’re thinking?
Can you imagine if we just said whatever we were thinking? We wonder what that would be like. It’s kind of a double-edged sword, though, isn’t it? On the one hand it’s easy to think, “Wow that would be really nice to let out all my frustrations with everyone at once.” Then you start to think about the consequences of a verbal rant and suddenly you’re placing your sword back into its sheath. Our words have power, don’t they? And once they’re out there, we can’t pull them back in.
I was thinking about my own frustrations with other people and how, often times, I think it would be nice just to say what I’m really thinking. But I do, like most of us, have a filter through which I run my thoughts before they become verbally expressed. And some of us have better filters than others. Maybe some of our filters went missing a long time ago and they’ve never been replaced. It could explain the status of some of our relationships.
While we sometimes think it would be good for us to let out our frustrations (like a release valve letting out a bunch of steam), it can be easy to overlook the negative aspects of that. There may be days you would like to tell off your boss and just say, “You’re the worst boss I’ve ever had. You have an ego the size of Montana and you have zero leadership skills!” You imagine following it with a dramatic exit from their office and maybe you’ll just punch a frustrating co-worker in the face on the way out for good measure. Like a big red cherry to top it off. I’m just kidding. I know you would never do that. Or, you may have a friend who lets you down all the time. You have a mentally prepared speech where you just want to tell them unequivocally, “You’re a terrible friend. You’re never there for me and you only think of yourself! Oh, and you’re a lousy golfer!”, as you try to get in that last jab. While some of these statements may have an element of truth to them, they can easily get exaggerated while shrouded with the cloak of anger.
Besides the fact you would probably be looking for a new job, and witness the mass exodus of any friends from your life, there are other negative aspects to consider before embarking on your scorched-earth campaign. You might just produce other results you never anticipated. While we may think of how good it would feel to get these things out, we’ve just lost the opportunity to have a positive impact on that other person’s life. Because no matter what you do or say from here on out, do you think they’re ever going to listen to you again, or use your life as a model of good behavior? Besides having the positive impact you usually want, you’ll leave in your wake an expanse of hurt feelings, bitterness, and resentment, as you’ve just burned any bridges into their lives.
There’s certainly a place to speak our minds. However, using good judgment and a measured response are the path to being a positive force in the lives of those around us. I think they call it ‘taking the high road’.
We often don’t know the reasons other people have for acting the way they do. That’s why we extend grace to these people. That’s what a Christian is supposed to do. Matthew 5:44 “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” Jesus was speaking here to our need to respond in a positive manner to other people and their negative actions towards us. Jesus made some radical statements. Doing good to and praying for those who despitefully use us and persecute us certainly isn’t a natural response. Our flesh nature wants to retaliate. The things Jesus talks about take work and effort. But this is how we have a positive impact on other lives.
Romans 12:21 says, “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” You see, when we respond in a retaliatory manner we are really just returning evil for evil. Paul tells us here, though, that we overcome evil with good. If we respond in a negative manner we are really allowing the evil to overcome us. We aren’t rising above the circumstance, but allowing it to overtake us.
Psychology although it deals with behavioural aspects is viagra in canada great drugshop not rendered under medical science whereas psychiatry is. Male great web-site purchase levitra online sexual organ is one piece of this machine which is most prone to weakness. In viagra cheap india serious bleeding, should be given a mild sedative to help you relax down. With the increased production of these hormones 99% of men will have weaker nerves, congested prostrate and low secretion of testosterone from the reproductive organs. online order viagra Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your speech [be] alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” This is a way we extend grace to others. We season our speech with it. If we think of salt, it’s a preserving force and keeps our speech from corruption. A gracious response is always appreciated by others. The great thing is it can also expose their own hearts to themselves. As they see your gracious response, the contrast with their vitriol can shed light on their own heart condition. This could be the prompting for positive change in their own lives and maybe even an opportunity to ‘give an answer for the hope that lies within us.’
Proverbs is always a great place to find verses regarding our tongue. Proverbs 15:1-2 says, “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.” The reality is when we respond in a gracious manner, we’re really doing ourselves a favor. As this verse says, ‘a soft answer turns away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger’. When we lash out in anger at other people, we are really just stirring up their own anger. And guess who’s going to be the recipient of that anger? If we’re wise, we know how to respond in a manner fitting the situation. If we’re foolish, we respond foolishly.
While lashing out at the other person can provide a momentary sense of relief, the long-term consequences are more costly that we can imagine. We don’t know the chain of dominoes that can be set in motion due to our foolish response. On the other hand, we also don’t know the degree to which our gracious response can influence someone else’s life for the good.
Matthew 5:44 “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;”
Romans 12:21 says, “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your speech [be] alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”
Proverbs 15:1-2 says, “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.”
How available am I?
I can think of a handful of people who would be there for me if I ever needed anything. Of course, there are family members, and a few friends who are the kind who are friends for life. And it’s also reciprocal. If they ever needed me for anything I would be there for them as well.
When we contemplate the relationships we have, they all have different levels of commitment. Some are implied, others are more direct and clearly stated. A marriage, for instance, is a legally binding, mutual agreement between two people that also has implied responsibilities. We make it legal in standing before a group of friends and family and pledging commitment to that other person. A document is signed and it’s made legal. The interesting thing is it’s not based on a document. If it were, the marriage would just be a cold and unfeeling partnership—no better than a business partnership. No, the marriage itself is grounded and rooted in the love those two people have for each other. The document is really a sign of that commitment. Of course, we find out later on that there are certain implied expectations that they have for the other person. The husband didn’t know anything about a ‘honey-do’ list and the wife didn’t know anything about a lifetime of prepared meals and laundry. Both of them end up thinking, “I don’t remember seeing that in the contract I signed. Was it some kind of rider in small print somewhere?” These things aren’t done due to a legal agreement, though. They’re done out of love for the other person even when that love isn’t necessarily felt.
What about family and friends? Well, these relationships generally have a level of commitment a little lower than a marriage. We are usually committed to that other person, only without a legal contract involved. Sometimes the level of commitment can be as great as a marriage relationship, it’s just that it’s not clearly stated. If one person gets mad at the other, or they sometimes don’t feel any affection for the other, there’s really nothing keeping them from leaving the relationship behind.
There are even lower-level relationships in our lives. If you think of a person as a volunteer in an organization. The commitment level there is certainly even looser than any other relationship. While that person may be very committed, and a deep believer in their cause, they could really just walk out the door with even less of a feeling of remorse. A person who is only a volunteer can easily feel like, “You’re just lucky to have me here to help when the chips are down.” Probably not the best attitude to have as a volunteer, though.
We know that there have been many relationships left in the wake of offences and hurt feelings. And unfortunately even marriages aren’t left immune to these realities. One thing to consider, though, is my level of commitment in the relationships I have. One of the things all these relationships hold in common is our availability to that other person. In all of these scenarios we are available to the other, it’s just a matter of our degree of availability.
In contemplating this topic, it’s a natural progression to consider our degree of availability to God. I find it a compelling truth that often times in the Bible God’s reference to Israel is similar to that of a marriage partner. In reading through a lot of the prophets of the Old Testament, God uses a lot of metaphors similar to that of a marriage relationship.
Here’s one instance in Hosea where Israel is referred to. Hosea 2:19 says, “And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies.” In reading through the whole of scripture we plainly see that God places his level of commitment to us on the highest level. He compares it to the highest level of relationship we know of here on earth—the marriage relationship. Verses prior in Hosea 2:16 show us God’s desire to draw them into closer relation with Him. Hosea 2:16 says, “And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD, [that] thou shalt call me Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali.” Here ‘Ishi’ means ‘my husband’ and ‘Baali’ means ‘My Lord’. Clearly God’s desire is for us is not just a deeper level of commitment, but a deeper level of relationship.
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God was continually drawing them into a different, deeper relationship with Him. Jeremiah says,”31:33 But this [shall be] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.” He didn’t want just a bunch of law-abiding drones. He wanted a deep-felt heart commitment to Him which resulted in a holy consecrated life unto Him.
One of the things that stand out to me in the Bible, in referring to our commitment to God, is Saul’s conversion on the road to Damascus. Here’s the account in Acts of his encounter with God. Acts 9:4 says, “And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: [it is] hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord [said] unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.” I find it telling that when Paul was first exposed to the truth he said, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” His conversion really began with him asking God what He wanted him to do. What followed was Paul embarking on a journey of obedience to God which resulted in his leadership in the churches and writing two-thirds of the New Testament. Paul clearly became available to God.
All of this leads to is the level of relationship I have with Him. Am I in a deeply committed marriage with the deepest levels of commitment and corresponding levels of intimacy? Or, Am I in something of a friendship where I talk to him once in a while and, while I feel some obligation, I can easily talk my way out of it when I want to. Or, maybe I’m acting on just a volunteer basis? I’ll get to it when I have time, and if I do get around to it, you’re really lucky to have my assistance. God has made clear to us in His Word the degree to which He is available to us. The only question left is, “How available am I to Him?”
Hosea 2:19 says, “And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies.”
Hosea 2:16 says, “And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD, [that] thou shalt call me Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali.”
Jeremiah says,”31:33 But this [shall be] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
Acts 9:4 says, “And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: [it is] hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord [said] unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.”
The Value of Small Talk
I have to admit, for most of my life I haven’t seen the value in small talk. I grew up thinking, “Why do people keep asking each other about the weather, or making inane statements about the football game last weekend?” I guess I just didn’t get it. I was kind of like…..I think it was Joe Friday on Dragnet, “Just the facts ma’am.” I didn’t need any of the fluff. And that was my approach to life.
As I got older I slowly began to realize that these seemingly meaningless remarks can have a hidden value and, at times, be quite valuable. The thing I discovered is that we all desire deeper, more meaningful, relationships with other people. However, we don’t ever start there. We start at a place more approachable and build from there. If we think back to where most of our meaningful relationships began, we probably remember some joke we made to break the ice, or a comment on a subject we had in common. Finding common ground is a normal way for us to connect with others.
If we think about it, in starting out a friendship or romantic relationship we don’t get into the deep waters right away. I guess, it’s probably best, when we’re on a first date, that we don’t begin with, “Let’s get married.” Besides the fact that it would freak out the other person, it’s also something you can’t possibly know yet. That’s because you haven’t gotten to know the other person. That always takes time. I guess the best things do take time. A farmer grows a successful crop over a number of months and through much hard work. He then reaps a harvest on that investment. I guess relationships are somewhat similar. We invest in that other person and reap the rewards of a meaningful relationship over time.
I now think about small talk in this way. I really see it as providing an inroads into another person’s life. It’s the open door to getting to know that other person. That’s where we have to start—at the front door. If we start out with the deep stuff, it’s kind of like breaking in through a window or maybe just knocking down the front door. I would say that generally that’s the case, although there are exceptions. But people don’t generally appreciate that. They’ll get offended or maybe just plain mad. So, now instead of a friend, you’ve made an enemy.
So, I would probably now say the opposite of what I used to say, “I’ll take the facts, but let’s start with a little bit of fluff.” I suppose it’s the seeming meaningless banter that causes the other person to slowly take down any walls, or just natural barriers, they’ve built up. This makes us more approachable, or unassuming. People will open up to someone with whom they can identify. I suppose the best way is to just put myself in the other person’s shoes and think about how I would like to be approached. That way I can maybe open a door that might otherwise stay closed.
How did Jesus approach others? He often told stories, or parables, as they’re called. Have you ever known someone who was a great story teller? They seem to be the people who are able to get everyone else to hang on their every word. People are engaged and open to listening to that type of person. Others may not receive all of what they say, but they usually have captured their attention. Great leaders are often great story tellers. Abraham Lincoln was known for his anecdotes. The great thing, though, is that what Jesus did was more than small talk. His stories were entertaining, but they also served a purpose. They were meant to provide illustrations to people so that they could understand spiritual truths.
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Here’s an example where Jesus approached a Samaritan woman at a well. John 4:7 says, “There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.” When I think of the story of Jesus when he approached the Samaritan woman at the well, I think of how he approached her. He didn’t come to her and beat her over the head with some spiritual truth. He asked her for a drink from the well. This one small request provided the open door for Him to minister to her. That one request provided the open door to explain the spiritual truth of her life through a metaphor. Jesus was speaking to her about her spiritual condition, although she didn’t realize it at first. Jesus was able to just meet her where she was.
Proverbs 15:4 says, “A wholesome tongue [is] a tree of life: but perverseness therein [is] a breach in the spirit.” We don’t always have to be deep to have an impact on someone’s life. Sure, we would like to get there. But just starting out with a pure, positive word is a great place to start. We don’t always know how some of the most seemingly simple statements can have a positive impact in someone’s life.
Proverbs 25:11 says, “A word fitly spoken [is like] apples of gold in pictures of silver. [As] an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, [so is] a wise reprover upon an obedient ear. As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, [so is] a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.” This is how I see Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman. I see Jesus as providing ‘a word fitly spoken’, a ‘wise reprover upon an obedient ear’, as a ‘faithful messenger’.
John 4:7 says, “There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.”
Proverbs 15:4 says, “A wholesome tongue [is] a tree of life: but perverseness therein [is] a breach in the spirit.”
Proverbs 25:11 says, “A word fitly spoken [is like] apples of gold in pictures of silver. [As] an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, [so is] a wise reprover upon an obedient ear. As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, [so is] a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.”