Christmas 2009 is now a memory. Many of us celebrated with friends and family gathered together again as in year’s past. We hold onto our traditions so that each Christmas celebration becomes a certain constant in our lives. But even traditions can’t hold back the constant of change for our lives.
Many families may have experienced a different kind of Christmas celebration this year. Perhaps someone at the dinner table was no longer there, or maybe there weren’t any gifts under the tree. I’m sure there were some who celebrated with an outwardly smile on their face, but inwardly devastated by the news of a diagnosis of a terminal disease. There are others whose lives have been torn apart and Christmas isn’t a celebration, but a whirlwind of painful memories embedded in one’s heart, living each day in a state of darkness.
If, for a moment, we can look back at Christmas solely for the reason behind its celebration, the birth of our Savior, perhaps we could face our circumstances with an enlightened perspective as we approach the New Year.
I’ve attended many Christmas Eve services over the years. It’s one of my traditions and sadly for many years, it was the only time I attended church. In my youth, I’m sure I sat in the seat of a loyal attendee, thus robbing them of one of their Christmas traditions.
However this year, the service provided an enlightened perspective. This is the first year I celebrated without my mom, so I didn’t know how it would be. Would I feel empty and sad, or would I experience God’s peace and love for my life? Towards the end of the service, every person in the congregation lights a candle. As the lights in the sanctuary are dimmed, the faces in the crowd become shadows as the flame of the candles illuminate the room. As I stared up into the balcony of the church, all I could see was the beauty of the flickering candlelight glowing in the midst of shadows. It was amazing to witness such a small flame cut through the darkness of a large room. Christmas Eve was a cold night, yet the church was warm and inviting as the warmth from the candles felt like a blanket wrapped around me. The candles were more than flickering flames, but symbolic of the light of Christ as His love and peace cuts through the darkness of our lives. Through Him, joy can be a constant in our lives despite the circumstances we face.
The New Year is a few days away and many will return to their familiar darkness. Perhaps your darkness stems from grief, stress and anxiety, battling a terminal disease, or bitter heart. During the holidays, we temporarily place our darkness on the back burner, but by January, its shadow has returned.
What if I told you that strengthening your faith by reading the Bible and daily prayer could eliminate your darkness forever; would you believe me? Darkness doesn’t have to be a constant in our life. It can be eliminated forever simply by choosing to grow deeper in one's faith. But the choice is ours to make. We can look at 2010 simply as a year to make more money, lose weight, or exercise more and feel we’ve accomplished something significant. Or, we can decide to be the children God intended for us to be and spend more time in prayer, studying the Bible, serving those in need, and building our trust and faith in God. The choice we make becomes one of living in darkness or living in the light.
Life is too short to live our remaining days in darkness, especially when Christ is the Ultimate Healer of all pain. Eliminating darkness doesn’t happen over night, but it can happen to those who choose to deepen their relationship with our Lord.
May 2010 be the year of getting rid of darkness by choosing to grow deeper in our faith so that every day, we can feel the warmth of His love and peace as the light of Christ illuminates from our hearts. God Bless all of you and Happy New Year!
“The Lord is my light and my salvation-
whom shall I fear?
Of whom shall I be afraid?
When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh,
when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.
Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear;
Though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.”
Psalm 27:1-3
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Friday, December 4, 2009
Life's Simple Miracles
Life’s Simple Miracles
As I’m writing this Blog, God delivered a beautiful, yet simplistic miracle occurring outside my window. It’s Friday, December 4th, 2009 and snow is pouring from the sky. Growing up in the north, snow was a common occurrence this time of year but in Texas, this is simply a beautiful gift to treasure. Ironically God gives us simple miracles every day, yet we tend to only notice the elaborate, like the falling of snow in this part of the country. However, the simple pleasure of pouring a cup of coffee in the morning is a miracle. Getting out of bed is also a simple miracle. The list goes on and on. But as we live out our days, what God gives as miracles, we tend to perceive simply as a mere occurrence.
The birth of our Savior is just a few weeks away. Many will celebrate this day overlooking the miracle of a virgin being the mother of our King of King’s because Christmas for us has become just another holiday where we find ourselves overwhelmed by the list of preparations behind planning the perfect event.
For years, I fretted over Christmas cards, shopping and what to cook. When Christmas Eve finally arrived, I found myself too busy in the kitchen to enjoy the simple pleasures of conversations occurring in the other room. Never again will I allow this holiday to rob me of what it truly means for the Christian believer: Jesus is the reason for the season!
We must remember Christ wasn’t born under perfect conditions. In fact, He was born in a barn with animals and very little provisions. Yet, I believe the conditions and place of Jesus’ birth wasn’t what God deemed important. The significance lies not in the preparations of the event, but in the preparation of our hearts as we celebrate this miraculous event with the understanding of God’s mercy and grace for our lives. God didn’t have to lower Himself to our level and save us from our sinful nature. He didn’t have to walk on this earth as a man showing us how to live as an example of our faith. He didn’t have to perform the hundreds if not thousands of miracles that we read about in the Bible. Nor does He have to provide the miracles today, big or small as a reflection of His love for us. When we really think about it, the number of miracles God has given us are too numerous to count. The real question becomes,
“What are we going to do to honor Jesus this season and every
remaining day of our earthly lives?”
This holiday season, I pray that we spend time every day thanking God for all the things He didn’t have to do and also thanking Him for all that He continues to do in our lives.
Merry Christmas. Say it with pride, honor, love and respect. May this day be filled with the simple miracle of the gift of life given from our gracious Lord.
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of the great joy that will be for all the people.
Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in clothes and lying in a manger.”
(Luke 2:8-12)
As I’m writing this Blog, God delivered a beautiful, yet simplistic miracle occurring outside my window. It’s Friday, December 4th, 2009 and snow is pouring from the sky. Growing up in the north, snow was a common occurrence this time of year but in Texas, this is simply a beautiful gift to treasure. Ironically God gives us simple miracles every day, yet we tend to only notice the elaborate, like the falling of snow in this part of the country. However, the simple pleasure of pouring a cup of coffee in the morning is a miracle. Getting out of bed is also a simple miracle. The list goes on and on. But as we live out our days, what God gives as miracles, we tend to perceive simply as a mere occurrence.
The birth of our Savior is just a few weeks away. Many will celebrate this day overlooking the miracle of a virgin being the mother of our King of King’s because Christmas for us has become just another holiday where we find ourselves overwhelmed by the list of preparations behind planning the perfect event.
For years, I fretted over Christmas cards, shopping and what to cook. When Christmas Eve finally arrived, I found myself too busy in the kitchen to enjoy the simple pleasures of conversations occurring in the other room. Never again will I allow this holiday to rob me of what it truly means for the Christian believer: Jesus is the reason for the season!
We must remember Christ wasn’t born under perfect conditions. In fact, He was born in a barn with animals and very little provisions. Yet, I believe the conditions and place of Jesus’ birth wasn’t what God deemed important. The significance lies not in the preparations of the event, but in the preparation of our hearts as we celebrate this miraculous event with the understanding of God’s mercy and grace for our lives. God didn’t have to lower Himself to our level and save us from our sinful nature. He didn’t have to walk on this earth as a man showing us how to live as an example of our faith. He didn’t have to perform the hundreds if not thousands of miracles that we read about in the Bible. Nor does He have to provide the miracles today, big or small as a reflection of His love for us. When we really think about it, the number of miracles God has given us are too numerous to count. The real question becomes,
“What are we going to do to honor Jesus this season and every
remaining day of our earthly lives?”
This holiday season, I pray that we spend time every day thanking God for all the things He didn’t have to do and also thanking Him for all that He continues to do in our lives.
Merry Christmas. Say it with pride, honor, love and respect. May this day be filled with the simple miracle of the gift of life given from our gracious Lord.
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of the great joy that will be for all the people.
Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in clothes and lying in a manger.”
(Luke 2:8-12)
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Getting Rid of the "What If's?"
Last week I was visiting my Dad back in Illinois. It’s been several months since my Mom passed away and going home brings back a lot of memories, both happy and sad. Last summer I actually braved visiting her grave because many had told me it would bring closure, but at that time, closure was the last feeling I experienced.
However on my latest visit, I decided to return to the cemetery. I had a lot of unanswered questions and maybe God would reveal the answers in some divine way. Perhaps the sky would be filled with singing angels, or butterflies would be circling my mother’s memorial. I went from feeling reluctant to somewhat anxious with wonder.
When I finally arrived, I looked around and saw nothing. It must have been wishful thinking that God would do something amazing. I decided to sit down in front of her memorial and drink my coffee. The grounds of the cemetery, surrounded by trees were carpeted with fallen leaves of every color. As I sat quietly, it would have been easy to go through all of my “what if's” with God. Perhaps part of the grieving process is wondering if the outcome could have been different. Human logic asks “why” because we base our level of intellect on knowing all the answers. But at what point does human intellect become ignorance? Perhaps it’s when we discover that many of the answers to life’s questions are beyond our comprehension. I have a friend whose mother died three years ago and she is still living in a state of “what if’s.” Eventually we must turn to our faith and trust God’s sovereignty over our lives. With a strong foundation of faith, we accept the fact that things happen as part of God’s purpose for our lives. His purpose is always for the good and a deeper faith ends our desire to know all of life’s answers, while teaching us to seek God in both good and bad times.
Up in the sky, a hawk was circling above me. Perhaps he thought I was road kill. He eventually flew away seemingly disappointed that my time had not yet come. God still had a purpose for me on this earth, and the questions I was asking were irrelevant in discovering His Will for my life.
As I got up to leave, a deep sense of peace and joy overcame me. The peace was from knowing it’s ok to have unanswered questions, and the joy I felt was from believing my mother is healed and celebrating eternal life that has been promised to the Christian believer.
This holiday season, I pray for those who have lost loved ones and continue to ask the “what if’s.” My hope is the hearts of those grieving will turn to God who holds the gift of peace freely offered to those who seek Him. Instead of longing to know the "what if's, let’s choose to seek a deeper relationship with our Heavenly Father. Reading and studying His Word provides all of life's answers that we really need to know.
"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can't and life can't. The angels can't, and the demons can't. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away. Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."
(Romans 8:38-39)
However on my latest visit, I decided to return to the cemetery. I had a lot of unanswered questions and maybe God would reveal the answers in some divine way. Perhaps the sky would be filled with singing angels, or butterflies would be circling my mother’s memorial. I went from feeling reluctant to somewhat anxious with wonder.
When I finally arrived, I looked around and saw nothing. It must have been wishful thinking that God would do something amazing. I decided to sit down in front of her memorial and drink my coffee. The grounds of the cemetery, surrounded by trees were carpeted with fallen leaves of every color. As I sat quietly, it would have been easy to go through all of my “what if's” with God. Perhaps part of the grieving process is wondering if the outcome could have been different. Human logic asks “why” because we base our level of intellect on knowing all the answers. But at what point does human intellect become ignorance? Perhaps it’s when we discover that many of the answers to life’s questions are beyond our comprehension. I have a friend whose mother died three years ago and she is still living in a state of “what if’s.” Eventually we must turn to our faith and trust God’s sovereignty over our lives. With a strong foundation of faith, we accept the fact that things happen as part of God’s purpose for our lives. His purpose is always for the good and a deeper faith ends our desire to know all of life’s answers, while teaching us to seek God in both good and bad times.
Up in the sky, a hawk was circling above me. Perhaps he thought I was road kill. He eventually flew away seemingly disappointed that my time had not yet come. God still had a purpose for me on this earth, and the questions I was asking were irrelevant in discovering His Will for my life.
As I got up to leave, a deep sense of peace and joy overcame me. The peace was from knowing it’s ok to have unanswered questions, and the joy I felt was from believing my mother is healed and celebrating eternal life that has been promised to the Christian believer.
This holiday season, I pray for those who have lost loved ones and continue to ask the “what if’s.” My hope is the hearts of those grieving will turn to God who holds the gift of peace freely offered to those who seek Him. Instead of longing to know the "what if's, let’s choose to seek a deeper relationship with our Heavenly Father. Reading and studying His Word provides all of life's answers that we really need to know.
"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can't and life can't. The angels can't, and the demons can't. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away. Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."
(Romans 8:38-39)
Sunday, November 1, 2009
How Well Do We Know Christ?
“Not all people who sound religious are really godly. They may refer to me as Lord, but they still won’t enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The decisive issue is whether they obey my Father in heaven. On judgment day many will tell me, ‘Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name. But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Go away; the things you did were unauthorized.”
(Matthew 7: 21-23)
This passage certainly gets the attention of the Christian believer. Many of us know the name of Jesus Christ, yet we still won’t enter the Kingdom of Heaven. When I first read this, my heart hurt over the truth that many of us who call ourselves Christians don't know Christ intimately. The Bible tells us God knows His children intimately, so what does it mean when Jesus says, “I never knew you?”
I attended church my whole life. It was a ritual for my family to get up every Sunday morning and go to church. Sadly to say, the only thing I remember from that experience is the free glazed donut I received before Sunday school. I knew who Jesus was and became familiar with the stories about Noah, Moses, and of course Mary and Joseph. But that was the extent of my Christian knowledge. I thought just believing Jesus was the Son of God was enough, but when we read this passage found in the Gospel of Matthew, my life reflected what it means to be religious, but certainly not godly. Although this experience planted the seed of faith, my beliefs came from my mouth and not my heart.
I think many of us approach our Christian beliefs the same way as believing in Santa Claus. We wanted to believe it because it meant toys in our stockings. And, because our parents said it was true, we assumed it was. As a child, why wouldn’t I want to believe Jesus is my Savior and through Him, I receive eternal life? It was certainly better than the alternative. But for many, we stop there. We never explore anything deeper. We attend a one-hour sermon on Sunday morning and that becomes the extent of our Christian walk. When Monday morning rolls around, our hearts have turned to the ways of the world, and whatever our preacher said twenty-four hours ago is long forgotten.
I only knew Jesus Christ by name until six years ago when I got involved in a thirty week Bible study, requiring me to read over eighty-percent of Scripture. Needless to say, I was reading God’s Word every day for forty minutes in keeping up with the homework. Many of us shy away from a study requiring this level of commitment, but what impact would this amount of time spent in God’s Word have on our lives? Although there are many wonderful pastors who provide exceptional sermons, this should never be our fall back for growing deeper in our faith and knowing Christ intimately. A deeper relationship with God can only come from reading and studying His Word so that He can reveal what it means to live godly in His eyes.
Starting today, let's become committed to knowing Christ beyond His name. Thirty minutes of daily prayer and reading Scripture will absolutely change your life by changing your heart. So when our time comes, instead of hearing our Savior say, “I never knew you,” His words will be, “Welcome home my godly faithful servant.”
“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through a narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad and its gate is wide for the many who choose the easy way. But the gateway to life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it.”
(Matthew 7:13)
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Turning Off The Noise in Our Lives
Just this past week, so many people have commented to me how busy their lives have become. Sometimes our “to do” lists seem overwhelming and there’s nothing worse than facing the end of a day feeling like nothing was accomplished. Shutting work off after coming home became a daily challenge for me. My family wanted one-hundred percent of my attention, but often I was only able to give them about thirty-percent. My mind was filled with the noise from my day which left me lying awake for hours until finally I could fall asleep. Are we busier today than ever before? Does it feel like time is racing by? A girlfriend shared with me an acronym for busy; Being Under Satan’s Yoke.
The noise in my life equates to the “busy” of my life, encompassing the stuff that robs me of time with both family and faith. Think about this for a moment:
How much time do you spend in front of your computer?
How much time do you spend in front of your TV?
How much time do you spend reading the Bible?
If we truthfully counted the hours dedicated to each of these activities, it becomes quite clear where our true allegiance lies. So what are we willing to do? If I told you having a stronger faith would create a more balanced life, would you believe me?
I love the story in the Bible about Mary and Martha found in the Gospel of Luke. The lives of two sisters illustrate how many of us utilize our time today. Jesus and His disciples came to Martha’s home and while she focused on the details of preparing a meal, Mary is sitting at the feet of Jesus, consumed by His presence. Martha is exasperated by Mary’s lack of assistance and demands Jesus to say something to her. Here is Jesus’ response.
“But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
(Luke 10:41-42)
This story is comprised of four sentences, asking us to distinguish the “busy” of our lives from the “good part”. Why do we spend endless hours being busy and few hours if any reading God’s Word? There’s a real battle going on for our time, a strategic attempt to divert our allegiance. The question becomes, who’s winning your time?
Are we the “Martha’s” of the world, preoccupied with the noise that fills our days? If we placed our lives at the feet of Jesus, what impact would this have on changing our circumstances? I think we Christians today suffer from what Jesus describes as having “so little faith”. Most of us believe, but our faith is indeed smaller than a mustard seed. However, the little time we give to God can have the biggest impact on our lives. When we pray, our problems may not go away immediately, but what God gives us is a new perspective on how we should deal with it. I empathize with Martha because my instincts would have mirrored hers. But the “good part” as Jesus says, doesn’t encompass the details of our lives, but the depth of our faith. Even today we all can enjoy the “good part” simply by sitting at the feet of our Savior and meditating on His Word. Find a quiet still place today to open your heart, pray for forgiveness and earnestly seek God on all matters occupying your day. When we turn our lives over to Him, watch how quickly the noise suddenly becomes silenced, and the battle for our time becomes a divine moment to be seized.
The noise in my life equates to the “busy” of my life, encompassing the stuff that robs me of time with both family and faith. Think about this for a moment:
How much time do you spend in front of your computer?
How much time do you spend in front of your TV?
How much time do you spend reading the Bible?
If we truthfully counted the hours dedicated to each of these activities, it becomes quite clear where our true allegiance lies. So what are we willing to do? If I told you having a stronger faith would create a more balanced life, would you believe me?
I love the story in the Bible about Mary and Martha found in the Gospel of Luke. The lives of two sisters illustrate how many of us utilize our time today. Jesus and His disciples came to Martha’s home and while she focused on the details of preparing a meal, Mary is sitting at the feet of Jesus, consumed by His presence. Martha is exasperated by Mary’s lack of assistance and demands Jesus to say something to her. Here is Jesus’ response.
“But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
(Luke 10:41-42)
This story is comprised of four sentences, asking us to distinguish the “busy” of our lives from the “good part”. Why do we spend endless hours being busy and few hours if any reading God’s Word? There’s a real battle going on for our time, a strategic attempt to divert our allegiance. The question becomes, who’s winning your time?
Are we the “Martha’s” of the world, preoccupied with the noise that fills our days? If we placed our lives at the feet of Jesus, what impact would this have on changing our circumstances? I think we Christians today suffer from what Jesus describes as having “so little faith”. Most of us believe, but our faith is indeed smaller than a mustard seed. However, the little time we give to God can have the biggest impact on our lives. When we pray, our problems may not go away immediately, but what God gives us is a new perspective on how we should deal with it. I empathize with Martha because my instincts would have mirrored hers. But the “good part” as Jesus says, doesn’t encompass the details of our lives, but the depth of our faith. Even today we all can enjoy the “good part” simply by sitting at the feet of our Savior and meditating on His Word. Find a quiet still place today to open your heart, pray for forgiveness and earnestly seek God on all matters occupying your day. When we turn our lives over to Him, watch how quickly the noise suddenly becomes silenced, and the battle for our time becomes a divine moment to be seized.
Monday, October 19, 2009
How Do Christians Survive in Corporate America?
This was one of many insightful questions asked last week during my talk with business students at Texas A&M. Before we address this, let me say what an honor and privilege it was to speak to these students whose wisdom goes beyond what many of us will ever achieve. I’m not talking about their level of knowledge and intellect gained from the textbooks they read. Nor am I referring to the degrees they’re striving to obtain. The wisdom I’m referring to came from their desire to know God deeply and to learn how to live as an example of their faith in the business world. I thought my purpose was to inspire them but when I left the campus that evening, I was the one deeply inspired.
It was simply one of the most humbling moments of my life to be in a room with Christians who strive every day to live as an example of their faith in a secular environment.
So, back to the question; “How does a Christian survive in Corporate America?”
First it’s important to know how deeply God desires each of us to succeed in everything we do, but we must succeed on His terms and not our own. God needs Christians in corporate America, but I’m not talking about the kind of Christian I was when I attended college. Back in those years, God was simply someone whom I spoke with occasionally on Sunday morning. I certainly spent time with Him on Christmas and Easter. But my relationship with God never involved reading Scripture or daily prayer. Jesus Christ was a name I was familiar with, but I certainly didn’t know what His name meant for my life.
As I look back on my life, had I known then what I know today, perhaps many of the mistakes I made would have been avoided.
I shared with the group three basic fundamentals found in the Bible which teach us how to lead a successful business, family, and personal life.
1. Pray: Jesus spent endless hours in prayer. He was God, yet He prayed to the Father for guidance and direction throughout His ministry. We should pray every day especially when we’re confronted with having to make difficult decisions. Many of us have worked for bosses who love to give advice and sometimes it’s helpful. However, there are other bosses whose advice may be questionable. Pray to God for His advice, knowing in our hearts He will never mislead us in anything we do.
2. Remain in the Word: Reading the Bible every day is imperative to knowing God intimately. A college degree may open many doors, however, God’s Wisdom will never be found in a college textbook. Solomon was an exceptional business man. Nehemiah knew how to motivate hundreds of people to rebuild a wall around Israel. David was known as one of the Bible’s greatest kings. Yet none of these leaders will ever be discussed in a college textbook. The Bible is our source for advice on every matter affecting our lives. If you don’t read it, you’ll never gain the wisdom God so graciously has to offer.
3. Last, but certainly not least, never forget who the real CEO of your life is: Never forget Jesus Christ who went before us, sacrificing His life for ours. Bosses may have an impact on our careers, but God has an impact on our lives. God will never tempt us and always desires what’s best for us. His Word remains consistent especially in a world where the only thing that’s consistent is change.
Pray, read the Bible and live a Christ-centered life. These three fundamentals will provide success beyond what the world has to offer.
I also wanted to commend the parents of each of these students whom I was so honored to be with. The values of faith have been instilled in their hearts and I was blessed by each of them. Let’s pray our actions as parents reflect a God-centered life so that by the time our children leave home, the seed of faith has been planted. An education is critical in providing the means to survive in the business world, but a firm Christian foundation is imperative to surviving in this world and most importantly, receiving eternal life.
“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. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.”
(Colossians 3:23-25)
It was simply one of the most humbling moments of my life to be in a room with Christians who strive every day to live as an example of their faith in a secular environment.
So, back to the question; “How does a Christian survive in Corporate America?”
First it’s important to know how deeply God desires each of us to succeed in everything we do, but we must succeed on His terms and not our own. God needs Christians in corporate America, but I’m not talking about the kind of Christian I was when I attended college. Back in those years, God was simply someone whom I spoke with occasionally on Sunday morning. I certainly spent time with Him on Christmas and Easter. But my relationship with God never involved reading Scripture or daily prayer. Jesus Christ was a name I was familiar with, but I certainly didn’t know what His name meant for my life.
As I look back on my life, had I known then what I know today, perhaps many of the mistakes I made would have been avoided.
I shared with the group three basic fundamentals found in the Bible which teach us how to lead a successful business, family, and personal life.
1. Pray: Jesus spent endless hours in prayer. He was God, yet He prayed to the Father for guidance and direction throughout His ministry. We should pray every day especially when we’re confronted with having to make difficult decisions. Many of us have worked for bosses who love to give advice and sometimes it’s helpful. However, there are other bosses whose advice may be questionable. Pray to God for His advice, knowing in our hearts He will never mislead us in anything we do.
2. Remain in the Word: Reading the Bible every day is imperative to knowing God intimately. A college degree may open many doors, however, God’s Wisdom will never be found in a college textbook. Solomon was an exceptional business man. Nehemiah knew how to motivate hundreds of people to rebuild a wall around Israel. David was known as one of the Bible’s greatest kings. Yet none of these leaders will ever be discussed in a college textbook. The Bible is our source for advice on every matter affecting our lives. If you don’t read it, you’ll never gain the wisdom God so graciously has to offer.
3. Last, but certainly not least, never forget who the real CEO of your life is: Never forget Jesus Christ who went before us, sacrificing His life for ours. Bosses may have an impact on our careers, but God has an impact on our lives. God will never tempt us and always desires what’s best for us. His Word remains consistent especially in a world where the only thing that’s consistent is change.
Pray, read the Bible and live a Christ-centered life. These three fundamentals will provide success beyond what the world has to offer.
I also wanted to commend the parents of each of these students whom I was so honored to be with. The values of faith have been instilled in their hearts and I was blessed by each of them. Let’s pray our actions as parents reflect a God-centered life so that by the time our children leave home, the seed of faith has been planted. An education is critical in providing the means to survive in the business world, but a firm Christian foundation is imperative to surviving in this world and most importantly, receiving eternal life.
“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. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.”
(Colossians 3:23-25)
Monday, October 5, 2009
When Fear Becomes A Four-Letter Word
We have reason to fear what’s going on in the world today. We live in unprecedented times. Unemployment is at its highest level in years. Statistics show fifty percent of all marriages will end in divorce. Crime is sweeping our cities and there are more people today battling terminal illnesses than ever before. With everything going on, do you ever wonder where God is in the midst of this chaos?
What if I told you the only thing we need to fear is God. Would you believe me, especially when we’re living in a world filled with tragedy and suffering?
“I sought the Lord and he answered me; he delivered me from all of my fears.”
(Psalm 34:4)
Do you fear God more than the economy?
Do you fear God more than your boss?
Do you fear losing your job more than you fear God?
So what does it mean to fear God?
The word “fear” is used 260 times in the Bible, and this doesn’t include all of its other word forms such as fearful, fearless or fearsome. According to Webster’s dictionary, the definition for fear is apprehension or to be afraid. It also means awe, reverence.
So, to fear God is to revere God, having a deep respect for His omnipresent power, authority and love over our lives. Do you think our society today fears God?
“Oh that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always that that it might go well with them and their children forever.”
(Deuteronomy 5:29)
Think of the most awful thing that could happen in your life. How would you approach it; with fear or with faith? Being human, we tend to lean towards fear because it’s easier to fear what is visible rather than have faith in what is invisible. But when we allow fear to control us, we forget God is sovereign over us.
I’m always amazed by the faith of my friend who battles breast cancer. After her diagnosis, she said something one rarely hears from an individual facing a terminal disease.
“It will be interesting to see how God will use me to help others living with this disease.”
Fear wasn’t part of her vocabulary. It’s a four-letter word she chooses to omit from her life. She lives today with this disease but wears a shield of faith knowing God, not cancer, determines her eternal destiny.
The enemy doesn’t have a claim on our life. Only Christ has a claim on our life. Faith cannot prevent bad things from happening, but it can prevent the grip of fear from overtaking us. Always remember God never takes a vacation from the events in our lives so no matter what is happening around us, the Holy Spirit remains in us.
“His mercy extends to those who fear him.”
(Luke 1:50)
May we all work towards having the level of faith that my friend exemplifies, and may God be glorified knowing whatever we fear, He is our refuge. Today, let’s all treat fear like a four letter word, and work diligently to remove it by strengthening our faith and reverence for our Creator.
What if I told you the only thing we need to fear is God. Would you believe me, especially when we’re living in a world filled with tragedy and suffering?
“I sought the Lord and he answered me; he delivered me from all of my fears.”
(Psalm 34:4)
Do you fear God more than the economy?
Do you fear God more than your boss?
Do you fear losing your job more than you fear God?
So what does it mean to fear God?
The word “fear” is used 260 times in the Bible, and this doesn’t include all of its other word forms such as fearful, fearless or fearsome. According to Webster’s dictionary, the definition for fear is apprehension or to be afraid. It also means awe, reverence.
So, to fear God is to revere God, having a deep respect for His omnipresent power, authority and love over our lives. Do you think our society today fears God?
“Oh that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always that that it might go well with them and their children forever.”
(Deuteronomy 5:29)
Think of the most awful thing that could happen in your life. How would you approach it; with fear or with faith? Being human, we tend to lean towards fear because it’s easier to fear what is visible rather than have faith in what is invisible. But when we allow fear to control us, we forget God is sovereign over us.
I’m always amazed by the faith of my friend who battles breast cancer. After her diagnosis, she said something one rarely hears from an individual facing a terminal disease.
“It will be interesting to see how God will use me to help others living with this disease.”
Fear wasn’t part of her vocabulary. It’s a four-letter word she chooses to omit from her life. She lives today with this disease but wears a shield of faith knowing God, not cancer, determines her eternal destiny.
The enemy doesn’t have a claim on our life. Only Christ has a claim on our life. Faith cannot prevent bad things from happening, but it can prevent the grip of fear from overtaking us. Always remember God never takes a vacation from the events in our lives so no matter what is happening around us, the Holy Spirit remains in us.
“His mercy extends to those who fear him.”
(Luke 1:50)
May we all work towards having the level of faith that my friend exemplifies, and may God be glorified knowing whatever we fear, He is our refuge. Today, let’s all treat fear like a four letter word, and work diligently to remove it by strengthening our faith and reverence for our Creator.
Monday, September 28, 2009
How do you define stealing?
My daughter came home from school the other day without her daily binder. This notebook carries her school life filled with projects and assigned homework. She had left it at school and the next morning it was found in a classroom but all of its contents were missing. Not only had she lost all of the completed homework, but the thought of someone stealing from her made it even worse.
As parents, it’s easy for us to say we don’t raise children who steal, or we can’t be accountable for everything our children do. But is the act of stealing limited to taking physical possessions that don’t belong to us, or does it encompass much more?
I believe the face of stealing wears many disguises. In corporate America, we think of stealing as manipulating reported earnings or fudging our expenses, but it also includes robbing someone of their successes. I once worked for someone who notoriously took credit for accomplishments that weren’t rightfully hers. There are also bosses who steal from their employees by focusing only on the negative aspects of their performance and fail to acknowledge the successes. Even as a mom, I’m painfully reminded of a number of times I robbed my children of their accomplishments by drawing attention to the one bad grade they received among all of the good grades. I was an expert at stealing the thunder and focusing on the rainstorm.
Or how about when God blesses us with something wonderful in our lives and we pass it off as being at the right place at the right time. Are we not robbing God of His joy and gifts?
I think one of the most dangerous disguises used in stealing is jealousy. Haven’t we all been jealous of someone for something wonderful that has happened in their life? Instead of being happy for them, jealously turns to envy and we rob them of God’s generous blessings.
I’m reminded of the story of David and Goliath where a young man named David kills a giant-sized Philistine warrior who for years tormented the people of Israel. Saul, who was King of Israel, became jealous of David. Instead of praising God for the strength and courage given to David, Saul’s jealousy overtook him and eventually led to his death.
Stealing isn’t just taking physical possessions. “Thou shall not steal” must also be accompanied by a state of righteous and moral living. By planting the seed of faith in our children, we armor them with protection for the fight against temptation. We’re not asked by God to do this, it’s required of us. His laws were created because of His love for us, providing a divine shield against an immoral life. The Laws handed down to Moses combined with the teachings of Christ represent the fullness of living favorably in God’s eyes.
Today, may our children be blessed with God’s wisdom through parents who lead by example, are encouraged to read the Bible, teach their children God’s ways over the world’s, and may we all pray for discernment so that we can know the difference.
“The Lord our God commands you this day to follow these decrees and laws; carefully observe them with all your heart and with all your soul. You have declared this day that the Lord is your God and that you will walk in his ways, that you will keep his decrees, commands and laws and that you will obey him.”
(Deuteronomy 26:16-17)
As parents, it’s easy for us to say we don’t raise children who steal, or we can’t be accountable for everything our children do. But is the act of stealing limited to taking physical possessions that don’t belong to us, or does it encompass much more?
I believe the face of stealing wears many disguises. In corporate America, we think of stealing as manipulating reported earnings or fudging our expenses, but it also includes robbing someone of their successes. I once worked for someone who notoriously took credit for accomplishments that weren’t rightfully hers. There are also bosses who steal from their employees by focusing only on the negative aspects of their performance and fail to acknowledge the successes. Even as a mom, I’m painfully reminded of a number of times I robbed my children of their accomplishments by drawing attention to the one bad grade they received among all of the good grades. I was an expert at stealing the thunder and focusing on the rainstorm.
Or how about when God blesses us with something wonderful in our lives and we pass it off as being at the right place at the right time. Are we not robbing God of His joy and gifts?
I think one of the most dangerous disguises used in stealing is jealousy. Haven’t we all been jealous of someone for something wonderful that has happened in their life? Instead of being happy for them, jealously turns to envy and we rob them of God’s generous blessings.
I’m reminded of the story of David and Goliath where a young man named David kills a giant-sized Philistine warrior who for years tormented the people of Israel. Saul, who was King of Israel, became jealous of David. Instead of praising God for the strength and courage given to David, Saul’s jealousy overtook him and eventually led to his death.
Stealing isn’t just taking physical possessions. “Thou shall not steal” must also be accompanied by a state of righteous and moral living. By planting the seed of faith in our children, we armor them with protection for the fight against temptation. We’re not asked by God to do this, it’s required of us. His laws were created because of His love for us, providing a divine shield against an immoral life. The Laws handed down to Moses combined with the teachings of Christ represent the fullness of living favorably in God’s eyes.
Today, may our children be blessed with God’s wisdom through parents who lead by example, are encouraged to read the Bible, teach their children God’s ways over the world’s, and may we all pray for discernment so that we can know the difference.
“The Lord our God commands you this day to follow these decrees and laws; carefully observe them with all your heart and with all your soul. You have declared this day that the Lord is your God and that you will walk in his ways, that you will keep his decrees, commands and laws and that you will obey him.”
(Deuteronomy 26:16-17)
Monday, September 21, 2009
When God Speaks
One evening, I was listening to my twelve year old son share with me the details of his day. He was upset over a comment one of his friends made about him and was contemplating ending their friendship. His heart was hurting and I was trying to determine what words would bring him comfort. The only thing I could think of was asking my son if he’d pray before making a final decision. He told me when he prays, he doesn’t hear God speak to him.
I kissed him on the head and asked if he would pray one more time, assuring him that our prayers never fall upon deaf ears.
As I thought about our conversation, it occurred to me how often many of us have shared this same sentiment. Do you hear God when He speaks to you?
Truthfully, I didn’t hear God for a long time, although I knew from reading Scripture, He speaks to us all the time. Perhaps I was waiting to hear His voice in the same way Moses did when God spoke through a burning bush. But that’s just it. We want to hear God with our ears and often He doesn’t speak in a way we’re accustomed to. We also want immediate answers and God doesn’t always answer in our time line. Therefore, we turn to friends who are happy to share their advice, but how often does God’s advice differ from the world’s? God’s voice isn’t always audible, but can be heard in the hearts of those who earnestly seek Him.
For example, have you ever regretted saying something after the fact and now you’re feeling guilty? I believe the guilt is God’s way of speaking to our hearts, telling us to ask for forgiveness as He forgives us.
Or perhaps, you’re upset over something, and then realize it’s not worth getting upset over. Maybe this is God telling you to, “Let it go.”
The next day, my son had to face his friend. Once again, this boy was harsh with his words. When my son came home from school, I asked him how he dealt with it. I was waiting to hear his rebuttal remarks or maybe he gossiped behind this boy’s back, building an army of defense. But neither of these things happened. My son chose a different solution. He walked away quietly from the situation. The friendship was more important than engaging in a fight.
That night, as my son and I were saying goodnight, I told him his response was God’s voice speaking to his heart. My son knew in his heart what the right course of action would be. I was so proud of my son for hearing God and most importantly, obeying Him. We all have a track record of knowing what God expects of us, but not always obeying His Word.
Today someone may offend you and there’s even a greater possibility your words will be the wrong response. As we face our daily battles, pray and listen with your heart for God’s guidance and direction. The Apostle Paul stated,
“Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the power of this dark world and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12)
When we see our battles from this perspective, God’s voice becomes audible over the noise in our lives. Begin today by seeking God through prayer. What you’ll hear is His quiet still voice speaking to the hearts who earnestly seek Him.
“Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.”
(1Kings 19:11-12)
One evening, I was listening to my twelve year old son share with me the details of his day. He was upset over a comment one of his friends made about him and was contemplating ending their friendship. His heart was hurting and I was trying to determine what words would bring him comfort. The only thing I could think of was asking my son if he’d pray before making a final decision. He told me when he prays, he doesn’t hear God speak to him.
I kissed him on the head and asked if he would pray one more time, assuring him that our prayers never fall upon deaf ears.
As I thought about our conversation, it occurred to me how often many of us have shared this same sentiment. Do you hear God when He speaks to you?
Truthfully, I didn’t hear God for a long time, although I knew from reading Scripture, He speaks to us all the time. Perhaps I was waiting to hear His voice in the same way Moses did when God spoke through a burning bush. But that’s just it. We want to hear God with our ears and often He doesn’t speak in a way we’re accustomed to. We also want immediate answers and God doesn’t always answer in our time line. Therefore, we turn to friends who are happy to share their advice, but how often does God’s advice differ from the world’s? God’s voice isn’t always audible, but can be heard in the hearts of those who earnestly seek Him.
For example, have you ever regretted saying something after the fact and now you’re feeling guilty? I believe the guilt is God’s way of speaking to our hearts, telling us to ask for forgiveness as He forgives us.
Or perhaps, you’re upset over something, and then realize it’s not worth getting upset over. Maybe this is God telling you to, “Let it go.”
The next day, my son had to face his friend. Once again, this boy was harsh with his words. When my son came home from school, I asked him how he dealt with it. I was waiting to hear his rebuttal remarks or maybe he gossiped behind this boy’s back, building an army of defense. But neither of these things happened. My son chose a different solution. He walked away quietly from the situation. The friendship was more important than engaging in a fight.
That night, as my son and I were saying goodnight, I told him his response was God’s voice speaking to his heart. My son knew in his heart what the right course of action would be. I was so proud of my son for hearing God and most importantly, obeying Him. We all have a track record of knowing what God expects of us, but not always obeying His Word.
Today someone may offend you and there’s even a greater possibility your words will be the wrong response. As we face our daily battles, pray and listen with your heart for God’s guidance and direction. The Apostle Paul stated,
“Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the power of this dark world and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12)
When we see our battles from this perspective, God’s voice becomes audible over the noise in our lives. Begin today by seeking God through prayer. What you’ll hear is His quiet still voice speaking to the hearts who earnestly seek Him.
“Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.”
(1Kings 19:11-12)
Monday, September 14, 2009
What's A Blog Anyway?
What’s A “Blog” Anyway?
This question was asked of me from a dear friend who is seventy-eight years old. Quite frankly, I didn’t know the correct technical response, so I’ve decided to come up with my own definition. My hope is this Blog will be a constant reminder for us to:
Be Like Our God.
As I started writing, a particular individual came to mind as I was thinking about my definition. It’s funny how God will place people in your life if only for a season. My season was this past January during one of the most difficult moments of my life; the death of my mother. I remember flying in the week before she died, not knowing what to expect. Her health had declined dramatically and the role of caretaker had reversed. When I landed in St. Louis, I made arrangements for a car service to drive the three remaining hours to my hometown because I didn’t need the added stress of facing icy roads. As I was walking towards the baggage claim area, I silently prayed for something miraculous to happen. Perhaps God would send me a beautiful angel draped in white to come to my rescue, wrapping his wings around me and provide assurance that everything would be ok. Well, that’s not exactly what happened.
As I approached the baggage claim area, a tall, heavy set black man approached me. He had the hugest smile which exposed the gaping holes where teeth once resided. I noticed his coffee-stained shirt was too small as the buttons struggled to stay in their buttonholes. He introduced himself as Jimmy, the man who would be driving me to my hometown. I chuckled to myself because this wasn’t what I prayed for. I envisioned a beautiful angelic being and instead, I received a large “Santa Claus” type man. As we were waiting for my bag, he kindly asked what the occasion was for my visit. I looked up at his big broad smile and quietly stated, “My mother is dying.”
Well, you can imagine the thick silence that formed between us. Nothing more was spoken until we got into his van. While exiting the airport, Jimmy asked if he could pray for my family. I said that would be nice, but again, the unexpected happened. Jimmy started to pray out loud quoting Scripture and singing psalms of praise. For a moment, I wasn’t sure what was happening. I contemplated jumping out of the van, but we were traveling seventy miles an hour and my family certainly didn’t need two funerals to plan. Jimmy must have noticed my expression in the rear-view mirror. He asked if I believed in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. I responded that I did. He then proceeded to share the Gospel of Luke and the story of Jesus’ return to earth. I found myself listening intently to every word and was simply amazed at this man’s passion for Scripture. I asked Jimmy if he was a preacher and he chuckled at my question. Jimmy shared with me his dark past of selling drugs as a young man to support himself and his family. He confessed he never killed anyone, but the thought had certainly crossed his mind. The last thing he said was at the lowest point in his life is when Jesus Christ revealed His love.
Tears were streaming down my cheeks as we pulled up to the hospital where my mother was staying. I hugged Jimmy in the parking lot and asked if our paths would ever cross again. I will never forget his response: “Oh Ms. J, you can be certain of that. I’ll see you at the feast!”
When he released me from his bear hug, it felt like an angel releasing me from his wings. I suddenly felt that no matter what, everything would be ok.
I haven’t seen or heard of Jimmy since my mother’s death, but I know my prayer that day in the airport was answered. God did send me an angel, although I didn’t recognize him because of my judgmental eyes. Outwardly, Jimmy didn’t look like an angel, but inwardly, he reflected the qualities of Christ more than I had ever seen. Praise God for the Jimmy’s of the world who strive every day to Be Like Our God.
“He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”
(Psalm 91:4)
This question was asked of me from a dear friend who is seventy-eight years old. Quite frankly, I didn’t know the correct technical response, so I’ve decided to come up with my own definition. My hope is this Blog will be a constant reminder for us to:
Be Like Our God.
As I started writing, a particular individual came to mind as I was thinking about my definition. It’s funny how God will place people in your life if only for a season. My season was this past January during one of the most difficult moments of my life; the death of my mother. I remember flying in the week before she died, not knowing what to expect. Her health had declined dramatically and the role of caretaker had reversed. When I landed in St. Louis, I made arrangements for a car service to drive the three remaining hours to my hometown because I didn’t need the added stress of facing icy roads. As I was walking towards the baggage claim area, I silently prayed for something miraculous to happen. Perhaps God would send me a beautiful angel draped in white to come to my rescue, wrapping his wings around me and provide assurance that everything would be ok. Well, that’s not exactly what happened.
As I approached the baggage claim area, a tall, heavy set black man approached me. He had the hugest smile which exposed the gaping holes where teeth once resided. I noticed his coffee-stained shirt was too small as the buttons struggled to stay in their buttonholes. He introduced himself as Jimmy, the man who would be driving me to my hometown. I chuckled to myself because this wasn’t what I prayed for. I envisioned a beautiful angelic being and instead, I received a large “Santa Claus” type man. As we were waiting for my bag, he kindly asked what the occasion was for my visit. I looked up at his big broad smile and quietly stated, “My mother is dying.”
Well, you can imagine the thick silence that formed between us. Nothing more was spoken until we got into his van. While exiting the airport, Jimmy asked if he could pray for my family. I said that would be nice, but again, the unexpected happened. Jimmy started to pray out loud quoting Scripture and singing psalms of praise. For a moment, I wasn’t sure what was happening. I contemplated jumping out of the van, but we were traveling seventy miles an hour and my family certainly didn’t need two funerals to plan. Jimmy must have noticed my expression in the rear-view mirror. He asked if I believed in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. I responded that I did. He then proceeded to share the Gospel of Luke and the story of Jesus’ return to earth. I found myself listening intently to every word and was simply amazed at this man’s passion for Scripture. I asked Jimmy if he was a preacher and he chuckled at my question. Jimmy shared with me his dark past of selling drugs as a young man to support himself and his family. He confessed he never killed anyone, but the thought had certainly crossed his mind. The last thing he said was at the lowest point in his life is when Jesus Christ revealed His love.
Tears were streaming down my cheeks as we pulled up to the hospital where my mother was staying. I hugged Jimmy in the parking lot and asked if our paths would ever cross again. I will never forget his response: “Oh Ms. J, you can be certain of that. I’ll see you at the feast!”
When he released me from his bear hug, it felt like an angel releasing me from his wings. I suddenly felt that no matter what, everything would be ok.
I haven’t seen or heard of Jimmy since my mother’s death, but I know my prayer that day in the airport was answered. God did send me an angel, although I didn’t recognize him because of my judgmental eyes. Outwardly, Jimmy didn’t look like an angel, but inwardly, he reflected the qualities of Christ more than I had ever seen. Praise God for the Jimmy’s of the world who strive every day to Be Like Our God.
“He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”
(Psalm 91:4)
Monday, September 7, 2009
"It's ok God, I Have it Covered"...
“It’s Ok God, I’ve Got it Covered”…
As I’m writing this, I can’t help but chuckle over the number of times my actions reflected this exact sentiment; “It’s ok God. I’ve got it covered.”
I had a personal track record of taking matters into my own hands. I often prayed God would lead me in the right direction, but truthfully I was choosing the direction I wanted to take. It’s not that I didn’t trust God. The truth is I placed more trust in what I could see than what I could not.
My life is a testimony of God placing us in situations which are beyond our capabilities. I do believe in most cases, we are exactly where God wants us to be. But God does have a track record of pulling people out of their comfort zone so that His purpose for our lives can be fulfilled.
I wasn’t supposed to be a Christian writer. I was supposed to be a CEO of a company, or better yet, have my own company. I was climbing the corporate ladder of success when suddenly, my situation changed. I was placed between a rock and a hard place, having to choose between integrity or profitability. After many sleepless nights, I knew I shouldn’t be praying, but obeying by doing what God would expect of me no matter what the cost. I chose integrity but that choice ended my career because I could no longer play the corporate game. I was now facing the question,
“What do I do now?”
God had another purpose for my life which differed greatly from my own. After finally surrendering my life over to Him, my prayer became, “God, help me to be what You need me to be.”
The lesson I learned is be careful what you pray for. By placing God first in our lives, He reveals through Scripture how often our actions go against His Ways. It’s no longer about conforming to the ways of the world, but transforming to the ways of Christ.
When we decide to relinquish our control over to Him, we begin trusting Him more than our own instincts. Placing our trust in God eliminates the desire of wanting to have all the answers. In fact, it’s a relief knowing that when my life seems out of control, God remains in control. Yet, if God knows our struggles even before they happen, why do we want to take matters into our own hands rather than giving it all to Him?
Surrendering control is not an easy thing, especially for people like me who naively believed I was in control. Now when I find myself facing uncertain times, I know one thing is certain. God is sovereign and no matter what, He has it covered.
If you find yourself facing uncertain times, God’s desire is to help you through it. Anything important to you is also important to Him. Daily prayer is the remedy for receiving peace even in the midst of a storm. The Bible says the only thing we need to fear is God. We should find great comfort in this because the one thing we should fear is the One who loves us most. God is the One who has it covered.
“Be still, and know that I am God.”
(Psalm 46:10)
As I’m writing this, I can’t help but chuckle over the number of times my actions reflected this exact sentiment; “It’s ok God. I’ve got it covered.”
I had a personal track record of taking matters into my own hands. I often prayed God would lead me in the right direction, but truthfully I was choosing the direction I wanted to take. It’s not that I didn’t trust God. The truth is I placed more trust in what I could see than what I could not.
My life is a testimony of God placing us in situations which are beyond our capabilities. I do believe in most cases, we are exactly where God wants us to be. But God does have a track record of pulling people out of their comfort zone so that His purpose for our lives can be fulfilled.
I wasn’t supposed to be a Christian writer. I was supposed to be a CEO of a company, or better yet, have my own company. I was climbing the corporate ladder of success when suddenly, my situation changed. I was placed between a rock and a hard place, having to choose between integrity or profitability. After many sleepless nights, I knew I shouldn’t be praying, but obeying by doing what God would expect of me no matter what the cost. I chose integrity but that choice ended my career because I could no longer play the corporate game. I was now facing the question,
“What do I do now?”
God had another purpose for my life which differed greatly from my own. After finally surrendering my life over to Him, my prayer became, “God, help me to be what You need me to be.”
The lesson I learned is be careful what you pray for. By placing God first in our lives, He reveals through Scripture how often our actions go against His Ways. It’s no longer about conforming to the ways of the world, but transforming to the ways of Christ.
When we decide to relinquish our control over to Him, we begin trusting Him more than our own instincts. Placing our trust in God eliminates the desire of wanting to have all the answers. In fact, it’s a relief knowing that when my life seems out of control, God remains in control. Yet, if God knows our struggles even before they happen, why do we want to take matters into our own hands rather than giving it all to Him?
Surrendering control is not an easy thing, especially for people like me who naively believed I was in control. Now when I find myself facing uncertain times, I know one thing is certain. God is sovereign and no matter what, He has it covered.
If you find yourself facing uncertain times, God’s desire is to help you through it. Anything important to you is also important to Him. Daily prayer is the remedy for receiving peace even in the midst of a storm. The Bible says the only thing we need to fear is God. We should find great comfort in this because the one thing we should fear is the One who loves us most. God is the One who has it covered.
“Be still, and know that I am God.”
(Psalm 46:10)
Monday, August 31, 2009
How Do You Define Popular?
As we were pulling up to school one morning, my daughter pointed out a group of girls standing in a circle. She told me these were the “popular” girls at the school and went on to say that this group had the self-ordained power to determine which group a person belongs in: The Popular, The Nerds or The Losers.
I asked her which group she fell into. “I’m either part of the nerdy group, or I guess I’m a loser,” she answered. My heart sank as I observed how she identified her importance by a title someone else had given her. I remember being so upset, I had to do everything possible not to run my car up the curb and give those girls a piece of my mind. How could anyone be so cruel to judge another human being like that? Well, before my anger reached a boiling state, I was quickly reminded how I was no different than those girls. Suddenly I recalled a list of times I exerted my “self-ordained” judgmental attitude. In a flash, this list became so long I actually pulled my car over, took a deep breath and prayed, “I’m sorry God. Help me to be what You need me to be.”
I felt like a puppy being punished, slinking away with its tail between its legs. Yet God’s divine discipline is what helps us distinguish between His ways and the world’s ways. God was right and I was wrong. The fact that I even judged those girls showed me how quickly I could become guilty of this sinful nature too.
The conversation with my daughter stayed on my mind throughout the day. It made me think about what group Jesus must have belonged to while He walked on this earth. He certainly wasn’t part of the “popular” group since this group had Him crucified. I suppose He would have been placed in either the nerdy or loser group. In fact, if we consider the people whom He chose to be His disciples, they were probably in one of the latter groups also.
We’re all guilty of judging others and often our opinions are based on outwardly appearances. We love to live our lives vicariously through the rich and famous, yet God wants us to live our lives through Him. He looks inwardly while the world looks outwardly. His Word teaches us that our most priceless asset stems from the depth of our faith.
God doesn’t care about the possessions we have or outwardly appearances. He looks for the contents of our hearts. Moses, a poor Sheppard was chosen by God to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt. David, a poor Sheppard and musician became one of the greatest kings ever. So if God is capable of looking inside our hearts, why is it so difficult for us? A common dilemma we face is deciding whose favor we seek more: God’s or the world’s?
If your child is not part of the popular group, remind them that Jesus wasn’t either. Jesus didn’t come to this earth to win a popularity contest. His mission was to save us from our sinful nature. No matter what group the world places us in, there are no groups in God’s eyes. We are all His children whom He loves and designed in His image.
When we read the Bible, God teaches us His ways are often unpopular with the world, but living like Christ means loving Him more than loving the world. When you place God first, chances are you won’t be popular, but what you gain from having faith exceeds anything this world has to offer.
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only at your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 2:3-5)
I asked her which group she fell into. “I’m either part of the nerdy group, or I guess I’m a loser,” she answered. My heart sank as I observed how she identified her importance by a title someone else had given her. I remember being so upset, I had to do everything possible not to run my car up the curb and give those girls a piece of my mind. How could anyone be so cruel to judge another human being like that? Well, before my anger reached a boiling state, I was quickly reminded how I was no different than those girls. Suddenly I recalled a list of times I exerted my “self-ordained” judgmental attitude. In a flash, this list became so long I actually pulled my car over, took a deep breath and prayed, “I’m sorry God. Help me to be what You need me to be.”
I felt like a puppy being punished, slinking away with its tail between its legs. Yet God’s divine discipline is what helps us distinguish between His ways and the world’s ways. God was right and I was wrong. The fact that I even judged those girls showed me how quickly I could become guilty of this sinful nature too.
The conversation with my daughter stayed on my mind throughout the day. It made me think about what group Jesus must have belonged to while He walked on this earth. He certainly wasn’t part of the “popular” group since this group had Him crucified. I suppose He would have been placed in either the nerdy or loser group. In fact, if we consider the people whom He chose to be His disciples, they were probably in one of the latter groups also.
We’re all guilty of judging others and often our opinions are based on outwardly appearances. We love to live our lives vicariously through the rich and famous, yet God wants us to live our lives through Him. He looks inwardly while the world looks outwardly. His Word teaches us that our most priceless asset stems from the depth of our faith.
God doesn’t care about the possessions we have or outwardly appearances. He looks for the contents of our hearts. Moses, a poor Sheppard was chosen by God to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt. David, a poor Sheppard and musician became one of the greatest kings ever. So if God is capable of looking inside our hearts, why is it so difficult for us? A common dilemma we face is deciding whose favor we seek more: God’s or the world’s?
If your child is not part of the popular group, remind them that Jesus wasn’t either. Jesus didn’t come to this earth to win a popularity contest. His mission was to save us from our sinful nature. No matter what group the world places us in, there are no groups in God’s eyes. We are all His children whom He loves and designed in His image.
When we read the Bible, God teaches us His ways are often unpopular with the world, but living like Christ means loving Him more than loving the world. When you place God first, chances are you won’t be popular, but what you gain from having faith exceeds anything this world has to offer.
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only at your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 2:3-5)
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
How do we define our significance?
What roles do titles playing in defining our significance? Do we measure our worth by the titles we wear, or the standards of our faith? Do we fear losing our titles more than we fear God? Only an honest answer can come from our hearts. When we live for the things of this world, the answer becomes very clear. Living for this world means defining our purpose by the world's standards, and not by God's Word.
What is the purpose behind our titles? Is it solely to generate revenue, analyze reports, or manage a team? Sadly to say, I never considered God's role in my business life. In fact, the only time I spoke with God was on Sunday mornings. When Monday came, I never asked God for advice on business matters. I had a team of experts to provide the answers. Then, one day, God humbled me by pointing out, He is the ONLY expert.
Even worse, I allowed my title of Vice President to become more important than the title God had given me of motherhood. My significance was tied to the size of my paycheck and the title on my business card, until the day I didn't have a job or a paycheck. I remember waking up, feeling very insignificant.
We have to remember that our purpose in life may be different than God's purpose for us. I went twenty years without ever considering this notion. Whatever title you have at work, be proud of your accomplishments and work hard. But remember, our titles represent such a small part of a much greater purpose for our lives. God wants everyone to be successful, but it's important to know our success is His blessing upon our lives.
Take a moment today and reflect on everything you have in your life. These are more than gifts, they are blessings given to us by our Creator. God does not define our significance by the titles we wear. God defines significance by the depth of our faith.
Jennifer W. Johnson
Published Author of the book, "What Have You Done For Me Lately?"
What is the purpose behind our titles? Is it solely to generate revenue, analyze reports, or manage a team? Sadly to say, I never considered God's role in my business life. In fact, the only time I spoke with God was on Sunday mornings. When Monday came, I never asked God for advice on business matters. I had a team of experts to provide the answers. Then, one day, God humbled me by pointing out, He is the ONLY expert.
Even worse, I allowed my title of Vice President to become more important than the title God had given me of motherhood. My significance was tied to the size of my paycheck and the title on my business card, until the day I didn't have a job or a paycheck. I remember waking up, feeling very insignificant.
We have to remember that our purpose in life may be different than God's purpose for us. I went twenty years without ever considering this notion. Whatever title you have at work, be proud of your accomplishments and work hard. But remember, our titles represent such a small part of a much greater purpose for our lives. God wants everyone to be successful, but it's important to know our success is His blessing upon our lives.
Take a moment today and reflect on everything you have in your life. These are more than gifts, they are blessings given to us by our Creator. God does not define our significance by the titles we wear. God defines significance by the depth of our faith.
Jennifer W. Johnson
Published Author of the book, "What Have You Done For Me Lately?"
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