"Pets Are A Gift From God"

01, April 2017

"Pets Are A Gift From God"

‘The godly care for their animals.’ Proverbs 12:10 NLT

A man wrote to a hotel where he wanted to go for holiday and asked, ‘Could I bring my dog? He’s very well behaved'.  The hotel owner replied, ‘I’ve been operating this hotel for thirty years and in all that time I’ve never had a dog steal towels, bedclothes, silverware, or pictures off the walls.  I’ve never had to evict a dog in the middle of the night for being drunk and disorderly, and I’ve never had one run out without paying the bill.  Yes, your dog is welcome.  And furthermore, if your dog will vouch for you, you’re welcome too’.

Solomon writes, ‘The godly care for their animals’.  Ever consider godliness from that perspective?  Maybe you’re thinking, ‘This doesn’t sound too spiritual’.  Think again! ‘Every good gift … is from above, coming down from the Father …’ (James 1:17 ESV).  Many a grieving heart is comforted by a pet whose love and loyalty makes their loss more bearable and helps them to go on.

Did you know people with pets live longer, stay healthier, recover faster, and experience less depression?  Who will ever forget the dogs on 9/11 as they searched through the carnage of the World Trade Center, howling in distress because they couldn’t rescue those who perished?  And how about the skilled dogs that give sight to the blind and visually impaired?  That sounds pretty spiritual, right? When God created our pets He said, ‘It [was] good'.  Why did He say that?  Because so many have the virtues of mankind without its vices.  So let’s recognize them as a gift from God, be grateful for them, and take good care of them! 

"Christ Is In You" (Part #2)

30, March 2017

"Christ Is In You" (Part #2)

‘This mystery … is Christ in you.’ Colossians 1:27 NIV

Paul writes, ‘Christ lives in me’  (Galatians 2:20 NIV).  No other religion makes such a claim. No other movement implies the living presence of its founder in his followers. No wonder Paul refers to it as ‘the mystery’. We comprehend the idea of Christ for me, or with me, or ahead of me.  But Paul said it’s better than that—Christ in me!

In his writings Paul refers to this union with Christ 216 times.  John mentions it 26 times. They describe a Christ who not only woos us to Himself, but actually ‘ones’ us with Himself. John writes, ‘Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God’ (1 John 4:15 ESV).  Just as you own the home you live in, so the Christ who lives in you owns you ... And when you own a home you rearrange it the way you want it.  Likewise, Jesus moves in and commandeers your hands and feet, requisitions your mind and your tongue.

Do you sense things being rearranged in your life today?  That’s ‘Christ in you’!  And here’s what it means that He is in you:  ‘God, in His foreknowledge … chose them long ago; when the time came He called them, He made them righteous in His sight, and then lifted them to the splendor of life as His own sons’  (Romans 8:29 PHPS).

Ever hear the old saying, ‘Making a silk purse out of a pig’s ear’?  That’s what Jesus does when He takes up residence in your heart.  He has a plan for your life, and He also provides the power to fulfil it.  And what’s your part?  To surrender and cooperate fully with Him.

"Are You Resisting A Rest"?

17, March 2017

"Are You Resisting A Rest"?

‘Come away … and rest a while.’ Mark 6:31 NRS

Following Jesus should energize you, not leave you feeling burned out.  Jesus preached to farmers who used oxen to plough their fields. They also lived by religious rules that didn’t permit you to relax and experience God’s love and grace.  So Jesus told them: ‘Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you … and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light’ (Matthew 11:28–30 NLT).

Jesus had more to do than any of us, yet He never seemed to do it in a way that severed the life-giving connection with His Father, or interfered with His ability to show love when it was called for.  He regularly withdrew from the rat race in order to pray.  Even when His disciples returned, flushed with success from a busy time of ministry, He told them, ‘Come away … and rest a while,’ because as Mark records, ‘Many people were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat’ (Mark 6:31 NRS). Constant hurry is the mark of an un-prioritized life—a sure sign that second and third things have become first things.

Not only did God command us to rest every seventh day,  He told Jewish farmers to let their fields rest every seventh year so they’d produce better harvests. The problem is we want microwave maturity … to exchange wisdom for information and depth for breadth—but it doesn’t work.  Depth comes slowly. Following Jesus can’t be done at a sprint; you can’t go faster than the One who’s leading.

"Misconceptions About Success" (Part #2)

14, March 2017

"Misconceptions About Success" (Part #2)

‘Let the wise listen and add to their learning.’ Proverbs 1:5 NIV

Here are three more misconceptions about success: 

(1) We think success comes from having the right connections, so we strive to make them.  People who endorse this philosophy believe they’d ‘have it made’ if only they’d been born into the right family, or met the right person. Knowing good people has its rewards, but connections alone won’t improve your life if you’re off track.  ‘Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance'.

(2) We think success comes from having leverage, so we work for it. This notion is reinforced by people like industrialist Andrew Carnegie, who said, ‘Success is the power with which to acquire whatever one demands of life'.  Then we take it a step further by assuming all successful people have taken advantage of others in order to get where they are, and we look for ways to manipulate people too.  We think we can ‘muscle’ our way to success, but it doesn’t work—usually it backfires on us.

(3) We think success is the result of opportunity, so we wait for it.  People who work hard and don’t seem to get anywhere sometimes believe the only thing they need is ‘a break’.  Their motto is ‘If only’.   If only my boss would cut me some slack; if only our church was in a better area of town; if only I had start-up capital; if only I’d married someone different.  Listen, the door of opportunity is marked, ‘Push’!  The truth is, people who do nothing more than wait for success are neither able to see it—nor seize it—when it comes.

"Try To Be Kind Today"

27, February 2017

"Try To Be Kind Today"

‘A gentle answer turns away wrath.’ Proverbs 15:1 NIV

If you’re an organized, time-conscious, purpose-driven, make-it-happen kind of person, you can get upset with incompetence and low productivity in others.  And you can end up speaking words that hurt them and don’t bring the result you hope for.

In Proverbs chapter thirty-one here’s how Solomon describes a wise woman:  ‘On her tongue is the law of kindness’  (Proverbs 31:26 NKJV).  Speaking kindly to and about others was one of this woman’s core principles.  And when you think about it, there’s never any justification for being harsh or unkind in your communication.  Certainly not if you’re a Christian!

Hasn’t God been gracious with you?  Then ... extend that same grace to others. The old adage, ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me,’ isn’t true. Harsh words can impact a person for a lifetime.  Many so-called ‘social outcasts’ have been victims of verbal abuse at some point in their lives. They have suffered at the hands of parents, teachers, insecure spouses, and others battling their own emotional issues.  If you find you’re prone to speaking harshly to people, pray for God’s help.  Whatever it takes, including seeking help from a pastor or counselor, do it.

The Bible says, ‘He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city’  (Proverbs 16:32 NKJV).  Decide today to ‘rule your spirit’ and make kindness a hallmark and guiding principle of your life.

"Things You Must Overcome" (Part #1)

21, February 2017

"Things You Must Overcome" (Part #1)

‘Do not turn … to the right or … the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.’ Joshua 1:7 NIV

Sometimes we’re so afraid of mistakes we avoid situations where they might occur.  Yet that could be the biggest error of all.  For the next few days let’s look at some things you must overcome to succeed in life.

Situations:  Do you feel like you’re mired in a dead-end situation?  Maybe you’d like to train for a higher position but can’t afford it.  Or change jobs, but you feel trapped by your salary or the fear of forfeiting your retirement pension. Or you've made a decision that felt right at the time, but the outcome is slow to materialize.  Perhaps you feel trapped by a physical handicap or illness.  The secret to overcoming is to divide your circumstances into situations you can  change and those you can’t.  Nearly everything in life can be changed, or approached in a different way. Oftentimes, it can’t always be done right now ... patience is key.

Make a list of things you can change. Too many of us fail—and keep failing—because we persist in trying to change what can’t be altered.  Stop banging your head against a wall, and practice realistic thinking. Understand the difference between faith and fantasy.

Somebody said, ‘For every problem under the sun, there is a remedy or there is none.  If there’s a solution go and find it, and if there isn’t, never mind it'.  God has given you certain gifts. When you discover, develop, and deploy them He’ll give you success in the face of seemingly impossible odds.  Ignore what you can’t change, focus on what you can, and opportunities will reveal themselves.

As Hannibal said during his famous march across the Alps, ‘We will either find a way, or make one'.  You need that spirit too!

"Don’t Rush Into This Relationship"

20, February 2017

"Don’t Rush Into This Relationship"

‘He made … a woman, and … brought her to the man.’ Genesis 2:22 NKJV

Patience is a difficult skill to practice when it comes to relationships.  This is particularly so when you feel lonely, empty, and incomplete. When that happens you can jump the gun, and make a choice based on your limited perspective rather than the larger picture that would emerge if only you had sought more information and waited patiently.

To keep you from making a mistake that can negatively impact the rest of your life, here are three important steps you should take when it comes to forming a relationship:

(1) You must ask the right questions. Be curious, inquisitive, and hungry for all the pieces of the puzzle. Always, always, ask!

(2) You must find the answer to those questions. Sift through the surface impressions of what you see and hear and you’ll soon see a clearer picture emerging. This picture must harmonize with two things: (a) your participation in this particular relationship; (b) God’s will and purpose for your life.

(3) You must act when the time is right, and know that you are acting on the best and most comprehensive information available. If it doesn’t work out, you can relax in the knowledge that you did everything possible to make a wise decision.

Statistically, about half of all marriages today end in divorce.  But if you take these three steps, you could finish up in the right half. And even if the relationship fails, you can carry into your next relationship the wisdom gleaned from the last one.  ‘He made … a woman, and … brought her to the man’.  God knows just what you need ... so always seek His guidance.

"Take The High Road"

19, February 2017

"Take The High Road"

‘Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate.’ 1 Peter 3:9 NLT

It’s been said that the depth of your hurt determines the width of your response.  So it’s likely that when someone hurts you, your first impulse will be to get even. But any momentary satisfaction you experience will invariably be followed by a lingering sense of regret. Why is that?  Because you know you’ve failed God by retaliating.

We retaliate in two ways:

(1) ‘Tit for tat'.  Before you make your offender suffer, carefully consider these words: ‘Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone … never take revenge.  Leave that to …God.  For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord' (Romans 12:17–19 NLT).

(2) By involving others. Not only do you not have the right to strike back, you don’t have the right to tear down your offender in front of others. Joseph not only refused to punish his brothers for their betrayal, he refused to publish the details to those who worked in his courts. Why?  Because he saw God’s hand at work, and realized that what he’d suffered at his brothers’ hands had made him the man he was.

Peter writes: ‘Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and He will grant you His blessing’ (1 Peter 3:9 NLT).  So if you want to walk in the blessing of God today, take the high road.

"Don’t Let Fear Stop You" (Part #2)

14, February 2017

"Don’t Let Fear Stop You" (Part #2)

‘I was afraid, and … hid your talent.’ Matthew 25:25 NKJV

The master of an estate gave each of his servants a sum of money to invest for him. One man got five talents, the second two talents, and the third man one talent.  The servants with two and five talents turned a respectable profit, while the man with one talent told his master, ‘I was afraid, and … hid your talent in the ground.’

What’s the lesson here?  Simply this: fear makes you unproductive!

A seasoned pastor writes: ‘Fear will stop you from singing in the choir … witnessing … giving cheerfully … volunteering ... accomplishing a goal ... walking in love with your spouse …' The underlying issue is fear that God won’t do what He says.  But as believers we should be so full of the Word that fear can’t get a foothold … Jesus said, “Take no thought for your life” (Matthew 6:25 KJV).   Paraphrased: Why would you even think fearful thoughts when I’ve told you I’ll never leave you … I’ll protect you … and give you everything you need to do the job?

Bottom line: God is with you even when you can’t feel or see Him, and when others imply He’s abandoned you'.   Fear disguises itself behind many different faces.  We want to do things our way, or we say we’re not interested, or it’s not the right time.  What we’re coming up against isn’t a closed door—it’s repressed fear.  If you’re wondering why you’re not progressing in certain areas, see if hidden fear is holding you back.  And if it is, ask God to help you release your fears and start trusting what He says.

"Don’t Let Fear Stop You" (Part #1)

13, February 2017

"Don’t Let Fear Stop You" (Part #1)

‘Whom shall I fear?’ Psalm 27:1 NAS

Life is filled with fear-inducing situations: fear of sickness, unemployment, rejection, failure, other people’s opinions.  Left unchecked, fear will steal your inner peace.  But as Chuck Swindoll reminds us: ‘David met fear head-on at his front door with two questions. “Whom shall I dread?  Whom shall I fear? ” And he slammed the door in fear’s face by declaring, “My heart will not fear … I shall be confident” (Psalm 27:3). Then he walked back into his house, reminding himself how to counteract fear’s attacks.

Prayer: “I have asked from the Lord”  (Psalm 27:4).

Vision: “I behold the beauty of the Lord”  (Psalm 27:4).

God’s Word: “I meditate in His temple”  (Psalm 27:4).

God’s Protection: “In the day of trouble He will conceal me” (Psalm 27:5).

Worship: “I will sing” (Psalm 27:6).

Rest: “Wait for the Lord” (Psalm 27:13–14).

Determination: “Let your heart take courage” (Psalm 27:14)

Courage isn’t limited to the battlefield … Its real tests are broader … deeper … like remaining faithful when nobody’s looking … enduring pain when the room is empty … standing alone when you’re misunderstood … It can be as simple as saying “No” .... as uneventful as facing a mountain of laundry … God’s medal-of-honor winners are made in secret … away from public acclaim'.  When fear nips at your heels, God says, ‘Be strong and courageous!’ (Joshua 1:9 NAS)

Dick Mills writes: ‘Every commandment …comes with the assurance that we can perform it.  God doesn’t issue orders we’re not capable of fulfilling … It’s incongruous to say, “I’ve lots of courage but no strength,” or, “I’m a powerhouse of energy but I’m afraid”. Courage and strength were given to you by God.  'Courage motivates our will, and strength accompanies our effort’.

"What She Needs—What He Needs"

12, February 2017

"What She Needs—What He Needs"

‘Each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.’ Ephesians 5:33 NLT

The Bible says, ‘Male and female He created them’ (Genesis 1:27 NIV).  God created women to be more than a slightly altered version of men.  Adam was all male; Eve was all female—as different from each other as day is from night. They thought, felt, talked, and acted differently. Their priorities differed. They needed different things from each other. And just as getting along under the same roof was essential for them then—it is for us now. And it calls for things like understanding, patience, unselfishness, mutual effort, and showing grace.

Following Paul’s philosophy is fundamental to a happy marriage—the husband must understand that his wife needs his love, and the wife must understand that her husband needs her respect. Dr Emerson Eggerichs reminds us that men and women speak different relationship languages, based on their differing needs. Yes, both need love and respect, but husbands feel loved when they are given their wife’s unconditional respect, and wives feel respected when they are given their husband’s unconditional love.

Notice that Paul’s words are not simply wise words of counsel, but divine orders to be observed and obeyed. The husband 'must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband'.  God doesn’t require him to earn her respect, or her to deserve his love.

Jesus, our role model, respected and loved us unconditionally at the cost of His life.  And He calls us to do the same for each other.  As the author of marriage, God knows what really works; so follow His guidance.  

"Giving at a higher level"

11, February 2017

"Giving at a higher level"

‘She … has given everything she had.’ Mark 12:44 NLT

God doesn’t want your generosity to be restricted by fear. Either you’ll trust Him financially and experience the joy of participating in His purposes on earth, or trust your own earning ability and live with anxiety.

The danger of not moving to a higher level of giving is that you can miss out on something great that God wants to do for you—and through you. Count on it; at some point He’ll challenge you to give more than you’ve ever given before.  And at that moment your faith will cause you to say yes, or your fear will cause you to dismiss it as impractical. That’s a pivotal point in your life, because your response to God’s challenge will determine your future.

Some levels of giving are effortless, while others make us uneasy. Sooner or later we all hit a wall called fear, and unless you recognize it you’ll never be able to break through it. As a result you’ll live with less than God intends you to enjoy.

What’s the solution? Change your concept of ownership!

Adolphe Monod said, ‘There’s no portion of money that is our money and the rest God’s … It’s all His; He made it all, gives it all, and has entrusted it to us for His service'.  If you believe that, there’s no reason not to give. However, getting God involved in your finances means surrendering control of your money to Him ... And that can be scary. Jesus’ model for generosity was a widow who gave her last cent, without having anything to fall back on except God’s promise to meet her needs. When you reach that point, you’re on the threshold of the miraculous.

"The secret of having joy" (Part #3)

10, February 2017

"The secret of having joy" (Part #3)

‘In Your presence is fullness of joy.’ Psalm 16:11 NAS

The word happiness comes from the old English word happ, which means ‘chance'.  It corresponds to the Latin word fortuna, which means ‘luck’.  Both words suggest that when things happen the way we want them to we’re happy, and when they don’t we’re unhappy.

But such happiness is temporary and fickle; true joy is permanent and settled. Some Christians are so serious and solemn they’d lead you to believe God cringes at laughter and hates anything that smacks of joy and delight. The psalmist wrote, ‘In Your presence is fullness of joy.’

C.S Lewis observed, ‘Joy is the serious business of heaven'.  The truth is, the Bible is one of the most joy-filled books ever written. The words joy and joyful  are found there over 200 times. The word rejoice shows up around 150 times, and we’re instructed to be joyful and rejoice nearly 400 times!  That means joy isn’t an emotion, it’s an attitude.  An emotion can’t be commanded; no one can tell you to feel happy if you’re not.  But you can choose to be joyful regardless of your circumstances. And neither is joy a commodity that can be bought.  Many people find out too late that money can’t buy happiness, much less joy.

It’s been said that the poor are better off than the rich because, while the poor keep thinking money will buy happiness, the rich know better. Trying to find happiness and joy in materialism is like drinking salt water: the more you drink, the thirstier you get. The secret to lasting joy is in realizing that you’re unconditionally loved, valued, and accepted by God.

"The secret of having joy" (Part #2)

09, February 2017

"The secret of having joy" (Part #2)

‘A merry heart does good, like medicine.’ Proverbs 17:22 NKJV

The Bible says, ‘A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones'. Do you know that laughter is such good medicine that it can help to relieve stress, cure headaches, fight infections and alleviate hypertension?  Some doctors tell us laughing produces physical benefits similar to the benefits we get from vigorous physical exercise.  When you throw your head back and laugh out loud, the muscles in the abdomen, chest, shoulders, and elsewhere in your body contract, while your heart rate and blood pressure increase.  Just one burst of laughter can cause your pulse rate to double from 60 to 120, while your systolic blood pressure can shoot from a normal 120 to 200. Then once you stop laughing your heartbeat and blood pressure dip below normal—signalling reduced stress.

God created laughter because He knows it’s good for your health.  Don’t, however, confuse happiness with merriment. Merriment comes from joy, not happiness, and understanding this is crucial to your emotional well-being.

There are times when we can’t and shouldn’t be happy—when people are hurting, going through tragedy, or losing jobs and loved ones. In the face of injustice, happiness is inappropriate, if not impossible.

Yet the joy that comes from knowing that you are unconditionally loved and accepted by God enables you to remain joyful. That’s because: (1) Happiness is external; joy is internal. (2) Happiness depends on outward circumstances; joy depends on inward character. (3) Happiness depends on what happens to us; joy depends on who lives within us. (4) Happiness is based on chance; joy is based on choice.  So today—choose joy!

"The secret to having joy" (Part #1)

08, February 2017

"The secret to having joy" (Part #1)

‘That My joy may be in you’ John 15:11 NIV.

Jesus said, ‘I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete’.  The joy Jesus is talking about is unique:  ‘My joy'.  And it’s fulfilling in a way that the world’s happiness isn’t:  ‘That your joy may be complete'.  Being a faithful follower of Christ’s teachings brings inner joy that’s real and resilient regardless of economic indicators, interest rates, government deficits, and even disease or death.  You can’t be happy without being joyful, but you can be joyful without being happy!

How’s that possible?

Jesus had previously told His disciples that we enjoy a love which transcends all others—the love of our heavenly Father that’s unconditionally offered and, once accepted, is permanently experienced. Nothing can compare to the love of God. His love isn’t based on looks, personality, wealth, or even moral goodness.  It’s offered without any preconditions. And it’s neither fickle nor failing. You can’t do anything to make God love you more, and you can’t do anything to make Him love you less.

Furthermore, divine love doesn’t just give you ‘warm fuzzies’.  It’s constantly at work to direct you towards making wise decisions, to protect you from making poor ones, and to correct you when you make bad ones. God’s love guarantees His acceptance when all others have rejected you, His forgiveness when all others have judged you, and His mercy when all others have condemned you.

When you bask in His love, you experience a wellspring of joy bubbling up in your heart. And since the world didn’t give you this joy—the world can’t take it away.

"How Do You Come Across"?

07, February 2017

"How Do You Come Across"?

‘He made him a coat of many colors’ Genesis 37:3 KJV.

God gave Joseph a dream of future greatness—one in which his brothers would bow down to him ... But when he announced his dream, his brothers hatched a plan to kill him.  And to make things worse his father ‘loved Joseph more than all his children … and he made him a coat of many colors’. Try to see it from Joseph’s brothers’ perspective:  ‘How come he gets special treatment?  What’s wrong with us'?  There are important lessons here:

(1) Be careful how you come across to others; your enthusiasm can be interpreted as arrogance.

(2) When God blesses you, it’s always for the benefit of other people.  One day Joseph would wear a royal robe and ride in Pharaoh’s chariot, but that was just a fringe benefit.  His true calling was to preserve his father’s lineage, from which would come the Redeemer of the world.

(3) You must be generous towards those who have less than you.  Joseph’s brothers worked hard and deserved their father’s love too. The coat Joseph wore didn’t mean he was better than they were; it simply marked him as having a different destiny.

(4) The coat of his father’s favor didn’t exempt Joseph from hardship.  Actually, he suffered more than all of them because of it.  Why? Because the level of your assignment determines the level of Satan’s attack.

(5) Joseph’s character, not his coat, sustained him through years of betrayal, temptation, accusation and imprisonment.  How do we know that?  Because he was able to look back and see the hand of God at work: ‘You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good’ (Genesis 50:20 NAS).  

"Self-Control"

06, February 2017

"Self-Control"

‘Make every effort to add to your faith … self-control.’ 2 Peter 1:5–6 NIV

If you’ve the faith to believe, the moment you pray for salvation you receive it.  It doesn’t work that way with self-control. Yes, you should pray for it, but Peter writes, ‘Make every effort to add to your faith … self-control.’ It only becomes a reality when you ‘make every effort’ to practice it daily.  And here are three areas in life that will test you:

(1) Your temper. Your circumstances are no excuse for a short fuse and an explosive temper. The Bible says, ‘Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city' (Proverbs 16:32 NIV).  When you lose your temper, you lose respect and credibility with others.

(2) Your time. Time is the stuff life is made of, and wasted time really is wasted life. It takes time to build relationships, learn skills, execute meaningful actions, achieve goals, and fulfil plans. A mismanaged life is often the result of mismanaged time.

(3) Your tongue. The Bible says, ‘Let your speech be always with grace’ (Colossians 4:6 KJV).   Every day brings new opportunities to control your tongue; if you’re wise you’ll take them!  And if you must speak, let this Scriptural principle govern what you say: ‘Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone’  (Colossians 4:6 NIV).

Benjamin Franklin put it this way: ‘Would you live with ease, do what you ought and not what you please’  The word for you today is ‘make every effort’ to control your temper, your time and your tongue.

"Don’t Be a Critic, Be a Cheerleader" (Part #2)

03, February 2017

"Don’t Be a Critic, Be a Cheerleader" (Part #2)

‘Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad.’ Proverbs 12:25 NKJV

Why do we find it easier to be a critic than a cheerleader?

(1) Our self-importance.  Once we’ve achieved a certain level of success, we think that ‘we know best’ ... But sometimes what we are ready to teach, people are not ready to learn. ... And at that point we have a choice—back off and let God deal with them, or try to ram it down their throats.  In such times we’d do well to remember the old adage: ‘A man, convinced against his will, is of the same opinion still.’ Perhaps there was a time when you yourself were not very teachable ... so pray for them and allow God to work according to His time scale.

(2) Our gifting.  We don’t stop to consider that our talents and experiences are unique to us—given by the grace of God (see Romans 12:6). So we expect everyone else to come up to our level, and we put them down when they don’t. ‘Except the Lord builds the house, they labour in vain who build it' (Psalm 127:1 NKJV). Back off and let God work on them!

(3) Our earliest experiences.  We are moulded by the attitudes of our caregivers. They nurture in us the coping mechanisms, positive and negative, that we work with.  Indeed, some of our parents actually believed that praise would hurt us and criticism would help us.  So we must change our way of thinking and begin to line up what we say with what’s in the Word of God.  ‘Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad.’

"Love must be based on trust"

05, February 2017

"Love must be based on trust"

‘May the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another.’ 1 Thessalonians 3:12 NKJV

The real test of trust in a relationship is to be able to share your secrets and struggles, your inner fears and failures—intimacy based on honesty. It takes courage to be honest with God, and even more to be honest with one another.

The relationship between Adam and Eve is described in these words: ‘They were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed’ (Genesis 2:25 NKJV). They were open and transparent with one another because there was nothing to hide or be ashamed of.

Perhaps you’ve been so hurt by a relationship that you’ve said, ‘I will never trust anyone again’.  That’s because you’re not healed yet. To never trust again is like living in a tower. You’re safe from life’s threatening grasp, but you’re so detached from life that you lose consciousness of people, places, dates and events. You talk only about the past because you stopped living years ago. Good news! ‘He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds’ (Psalm 147:3 NIV).

God’s healing process can set you free to taste life again, trust again, and live without fear.  Don’t isolate, celebrate. Regardless of whether you’ve lost a marriage, a partnership, or a personal friend, you’re still alive!  Are you ready to live, or are you going to continue rehearsing what no one, including you, can change—the past?

Some of us are graced to live alone and feel complete and fulfilled. If you are one of them, go for it!  But if you’re not, trust God to bring the right person into your life at the right time.

"Always tell the truth"

04, February 2017

"Always tell the truth"

‘Nothing … impure will enter the city, nor anyone who … tells lies ..’ Revelation 21:27 GNT

When it comes to telling the truth, here are two stories:

(1) One morning a mother was out shopping when she bumped into her teenage son at a shopping center. Angry and alarmed that he’d skipped school, she demanded to know why he wasn’t in class. She listened patiently to his explanation and then replied, ‘I’m not accusing you of telling a lie, but I never heard of a school giving time off for good behavior.’

(2) A dentist with a hypodermic needle in his hand says to a patient sitting in his chair, ‘You might feel a little sting. On the other hand, it might feel as though you have been kicked in the mouth by a mule’. 
We smile, but the moral of these two stories is clear.

Sometimes the truth hurts—but never as much as being told a lie.  When you fail to tell someone the truth because you don’t want to hurt their feelings, you risk hurting them more. Truth is like a mirror; it allows those you love to see themselves as they really are and make the necessary corrections and adjustments. And when you fail to tell the truth about yourself you risk losing your credibility. When that’s gone it may take you a long time to get back, if ever. That’s why the Bible says, ‘Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed' (James 5:16 NLT).

When you open up and share your struggles, you set others free to do the same. And in the process you are both made whole.  So, the word for you today is: always tell the truth.