The Gift Exchange

The Gift Exchange

 

About five years ago, my sister and I decided to exchange Christmas gifts in January at a restaurant.  We do this in January because December, as everyone knows, is already busy and filled with gift exchanges. 

 

We involve my daughter Julia and my sister’s daughter, my niece Megan in our gift exchange in January.  Cracker Barrel is usually the restaurant of choice.  We all gather at the restaurant, sit and eat and chat a while, and then it is time to open our gifts to each other.  It is a lot of fun and something to look forward to after the holidays are over. 

 

Gift exchanges, especially at Christmastime, are a reminder of the Ultimate Gift Exchange done between Christ and us.  Christ gave His gift to us first:  He went to the cross for us and gave His life in order that we might gain our lives back.  What is our gift to Him?  I believe the gift He most desires from us is our love and devotion.  

 

Christ’s gift to us:  His life.

Our gift to Him:  Our lives – loving and serving with love with Him.

The Best Gift Exchange Ever!

By Sue Menarchek with inspiration from His Spirit

Good Day

People often say to each other upon departing ways, "Have a good day!"  Being a positive-thinking person, I came up with an acronym for each of the letters in GOOD DAY, kind of detailing ways we can work toward having a good day every day!  Here goes:

G is for Get with God
O is for Other people are important, too
O is for Order your priorities.
D is for Decide to slow down.

D is for Do one thing at a time.  Multi-tasking is for crazy people!
A is for Always count your blessings!
Y is for Yield your plans to God's will!

Get with God!  Start each day in prayer and Bible study.  It will set your course on a positive path for that day!
Other people are important, too.  Selfishness leads to unhappiness.  If we are constantly thinking about ourselves, we will be miserable.  When we get our minds on other people and their needs, we stop focusing on our own needs.  When we reach out to help others, we end up helping ourselves.
Order your priorities.  Once we get overwhelmed with our To-Do lists, we tend to forget what's really important.  We should not lose sight that people are more important than things.  Slow down enough throughout each day to think about what is truly important and how you can be a blessing to someone.  Think about what you would regret in the future if you did not do it today.  Would you regret not cleaning the toilet or would you regret not sending that birthday card?  Prioritize!
Decide to slow down.  The word "busy" used to be synonymous with "important."  I believe that people used to say how busy they were so that others would think they were important.  However, I believe the meaning has changed.  Busy now means "crazy."  We have been so busy trying to be busy that we have succeeded!  Our society is now so busy that we have lost track of what it means to relax. We no longer are able to relax; we have forgotten how.  Therefore, we are always stressed, and our bodies no longer get sanity time.  Make a conscious decision to cross some things off your To-Do list.  The world won't end if you slow down.  And your heart might last a lot longer if you gain some peace by taking time to relax and just be.
Do one thing at a time.  Multi-tasking is for crazy people!  Lately, I have begun the practice of really focusing on the task I am undertaking at any given time.  If I am washing the dishes, I don't race through it to get to the next task.  I slow down, realize what I am doing, and I wash the dishes at a normal (or should I say godly) pace.  I remind myself that life is not an emergency.  Since I have begun this practice of focusing on what I am doing, I enjoy the moments of the day more.  It takes practice, but it is so worth it!
Always count your blessings!  Always!  Even when you are feeling down, and especially if you are feeling down!  We tend to easily forget how blessed we are.  Did you wake up today? (and I think you did if you are reading this) = blessed.  Do you have food in your cupboard? = blessed.  Do you have clothes to wear? = blessed.  Do you have someone who loves you? = blessed.  Do you have a job? = blessed.  I am sure your list goes on and on in regards to your blessings.  Focus on your blessings.  It's a reminder that things could be a whole lot worse!
Yield your plans to God's will.  Ever hear the saying, "Life is what happens when you're making other plans?"  I'm sure we have all experienced changed plans.  When making our plans, we should always consult The One who knows the outcomes of all our best-laid plans.  God gave us the gift of His Spirit so that we have Someone who is very willing to help guide us.  If you were lost and someone gave you a road map or a GPS, would you toss it out the window or refuse the help?  So why do we refuse to consult God before forging ahead with "our" plans?  Make it a habit to begin each day by asking the Holy Spirit to guide you in accomplishing His will for you that day.  And so we come full circle - G is for Get with God!  Now, my friends, go forth and have a good day!

P.S.  A few other tips:
~ Smiling when we are down helps us feel better--try it, it really does work!  You might end up making someone else's day better by smiling at them, too!
~Unconditional love is almost unheard of today, but we can at least shoot for getting closer to striving for it.  By that I mean striving to give it, not get it.  Instead of getting instantly angry at someone, take a step back, realize they probably have reasons for what they did or said, give them the benefit of the doubt, and think about the many times we disappoint God and he loves us anyway.  God's love for us is unconditional--meaning no conditions.  He may not always like what we do or say, but He never stops loving us.
~Judgmental people are ignorant people.  This is so true.  Which of us truly knows what is going on in someone else's life.  Yet we judge them so quickly, without knowing what is really going on with them.  That's called being ignorant (lacking in knowledge).  Only God has total knowledge of what is going on in someone's life, so only God should be judging.  And I'll bet God is oftentimes an easier judge than we are!
~A new cuss word for society today should be "busy."  Instead of always saying
"I am busy", we should respond "I am blessed!
Sue Menarchek

Follow Your Heart

Follow Your Heart

When you have an idea, which you think could make someone’s life better, even your own life, do it—even if it seems insignificant, or even if you think you don’t have the time today.  Do it because that thing you are thinking about is much more important than that load of laundry, or those dishes that need put away, or that floor that needs scrubbed.  Do it and you will be so happy that you followed your heart! 

When you have trouble deciding whether or not to take the time, stop and ask yourself these questions: Will it help someone?  Will it take all day?  Which task will bring more value to someone?  If I were on my deathbed, which task would I regret not doing?  Will it bring happiness to me or someone else?  Do I really have the time?  It depends on what time means to you—getting another household chore completed, completing another deadline for work?  We all have things we must accomplish, but we should not neglect the “from-the-heart” things either.  What do I mean by “from the heart?”  Does a friend need a card from you to know you care?  Could you visit a neighbor for a half hour once a week—even once a month?  Should you take the time to write down that inspirational verse you just read?  Yes!  By all means, yes!  You probably won’t even remember having read it a week later if you don’t write it down.  Take the time—you might be able to put that verse to good use some day to help someone else.  And how about putting it on the refrigerator?  If you are having a down in the dumps kind of day, maybe just spotting that verse as you open the fridge will put you in a different frame of mind.  You might even want to take the time to write or type it on pretty paper or scrapbook the verse.  Write it down—follow your heart!

Take 15 minutes out of your day to at least start the project.  Most times, 15 minutes is all the time the entire task will take.  Another way to think about it and make it easier is to think to yourself, “I will pick one thing to do today that I really would like to get to that is a “from-the-heart” thing.  Sometimes, it is just a matter of thinking of it as prioritizing people over things.  Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”  Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.”  The pattern of the world today is to prioritize work, but we must guard our hearts and not let work become our idol, serving it instead of people. 

The next time you question whether you should take 15 minutes to follow your heart, do it!  It will make you feel better all day long!  And remember, you are a person, too, so if you spend 15 minutes (or more) doing something kind for yourself, feel no guilt!  Everyone deserves love, and that includes you!  Andy Warhol is quoted as having said, “In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.” We all may or may not get our 15 minutes of fame, but fame is fleeting.  I believe God desires for us, not fame, but peace, so follow your heart most days, and get your 15 minutes of peace—and hopefully a lot more than 15 minutes!  If you know our Lord Jesus, you can have peace all the day long! Read the Bible and find out how—it will be the best thing you can do for yourself!

Take a Vacation

Take a Vacation

We all look forward to vacations!  Why?  Because it is a chance to get away from all that we do on a daily basis, and because we can slow down and get some rest.  But did you know that you can take mini-vacations every day?  You can and you should!  Everyone is very busy, but we are often too busy, abnormally busy.  We are not moving at a God-pace but often at a frantic pace.  It is not the pace God meant for us at all.  When we are racing around, we leave God out of our lives.  God should be the driver in our lives but not the race driver.  It takes an on-purpose mindset to slow down and think about God and to ask God to help you.  God is with us always, but we often ignore Him—not on purpose, mind you, but because we are busy making every moment of our lives an emergency.  God created everything, and He did not create everything in a hurry!  If God did not create us to be in rush mode all of the time, then we should heed what He wants for us:

Exodus 33:14 - And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Matthew 11:28-30--Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Psalm 127:2--It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.

Mark 6:31--And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.

Psalm 46:10--“Be still, and know that I am God.  I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

Isaiah 30:15--For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning[a] and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”  But you were unwilling,

Sounds to me like God wants us to slow down and get some rest!  Work has its place, but so does rest.  Stop and think:  Do I feel closer to God while rushing or when I slow down?

 Think about how you are using God’s name when you are rushing: 

“O God!  I’m never going to get this all done!” 

Now, when you make yourself slow down: 

“O God, You are so amazing!” 

Try slowing down for just one day and see if it doesn’t make a difference in your well-being.  

Bible Verses on Worry, Anxiety and Fear

Bible Verses On Worrying

Matthew 25:  Jesus Teaches About Worry:  That is why I tell you NOT to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. (This is Jesus talking, remember, so if He is telling you to stop, then STOP IT!  Stop worrying!)  Isn’t life more than food and your body more than clothing?  Look at the birds.  They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for YOUR heavenly Father feeds them.  And aren’t YOU far more valuable to Him than they are? (Yes, you are!)  Can all your worries ADD a single moment to your life?  (No, they can’t add to your life, but they can take away—don’t let them!)

And why worry about your clothing?  Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow.  They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.  And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for YOU.  Why do you have so little faith?

So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat?  What will we drink?  What will we wear? ( What if?, what if?, what if?)  These things dominate the things of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father ALREADY knows all your needs.  Seek the Kingdom of God ABOVE all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need. 

So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries.  Today’s trouble is enough for today.  (Remember, God’s already been to tomorrow, and He’s got your back, Live in the moment and stop worrying about tomorrow!)

Luke 21:34 begins: “Watch out!  Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life.  Jesus is talking about His return here, but when I look at this verse, it reminds me that worrying is very bad for us.  Jesus compares the ways in which our hearts can be corroded and made dull, so much so that we don’t have time for Him or for others.  He mentions worry right up there with carousing and drunkenness. 

What does drunkenness and carousing do to us?  The NIH lists the following effects of alcohol: 

·         affects the way the brain looks and works, changing mood and behavior

·         heart disease

·         arrhythmias

·         stroke

·         high blood pressure

·         liver problems

·         pancreatic problems,

·         cancer

·         immune problems. 

Okay, now let’s compare what stress, anxiety and worry do to our bodies:

·         Difficulty swallowing

·         Dizziness

·         Dry mouth

·         Fast heartbeat

·         Fatigue

·         Headaches

·         Inability to concentrate

·         Irritability

·         Muscle aches

·         Muscle tension

·         Nausea

·         Nervous energy

·         Rapid breathing

·         Shortness of breath

·         Sweating

·         Trembling and twitching

·         Suppression of the immune system

·         Digestive disorders

·         Muscle tension

·         Short-term memory loss

·         Premature coronary artery disease

·         Heart attack

·         Can eventually lead to depression and even suicidal thoughts.

As you can see, there are a lot of similarities between what drunkenness and worry can do to us, and the effects are not positive!  Jesus knew what He was talking about, and we need to pay attention to what He tells us.  Not trusting Him is detrimental to our health!  We must trust Him and have faith that He is taking care of us at all times if we are asking Him to do so.  Trusting is the opposite of worry.  The more you get to know Him, the more you understand this, but to get to know Him, you must spend time with Him.  Read your Bible and get to know Him better and better every day! 

Ben Franklin is known to have said, “Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”  I say, “Growing closer to Jesus makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise!”  When we know Him, we worry less and so are healthier, our wealth is not in money but in how much He loves us and how much we love Him, and we can turn to God’s word at any time and find all the wisdom we need right there!  Stop worrying; just stop it!

1 Peter 5:7 says, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you.  Webster’s dictionary defines “give” as:  1. To hand to someone.  2.  To place in someone’s care.  3.  To grant (permission, opportunity, etc.) to someone.  4.  To transmit or communicate.  So when you are worried about something or someone, use imagery to imagine yourself reaching up your hands and handing God your worry.  You are granting Him permission to take it from you and giving Him the opportunity to use your trust in His care to handle your problems better than you ever could.  Imagine a meeting with God whereby you transmit all your worries over to Him and walk away at the end of the meeting feeling much lighter, knowing your worries are in Great Hands!  God is a good, kind, caring, and loving God.  He made you, and He cares for you.

The reason people of God tell others to read the Bible is not because it is doing something good for God.  God does not need our help; we need His help!  If you are suffering and someone tells you about a solution to your suffering, will you ignore the solution?  It would be foolish and detrimental to do so.  I am telling you now—there is a solution for what is bothering you, and that solution is the Word of God.  Use the concordance in your Bible to find out what the Bible says about your particular problem.  Read all you can about it, and learn how best to deal with your problem.  If you choose to ignore God’s word, you are choosing to ignore help. 

Now, since I am writing about worry, fear and anxiety, I have gone to the Bible to see what I can find in it that addresses these particular problems.  I found so many verses regarding these problems that I chose only the following ones to use here, but again, there are many, many other verses in the Bible that deal with these particular problems, so I encourage you to find them for yourself and study and memorize them, so the solution is right at hand when you need it!  The Bible verses are highlighted or made bold.  My interpretation is in parentheses.

Proverbs 12:25 says, “Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up. 

(Think about this:  worry does make us feel weighted down—it’s that little niggling feeling you walk around with all day, the feeling that something in your life is not right.  However, when someone says something helpful, it lets us know they care, that they understand or are at least trying to understand, and that we are not alone, it helps so much.  Be an encourager—it will help you feel better, too!)

Matthew 7:9-11:  Jesus says, “Parents, if your children ask you for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead?  Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake?  Of course not!  So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to you children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him.” 

(God is not some big, old, mean Being sitting up in Heaven just waiting to disappoint us, laugh at us, and ignore what we need.  Hardly!  Actually, He is opposite—He is kind and loving and cares for us.  He loves to give us good things, and He has promised to help us when we turn to Him and ask!  So what are you waiting for—ask!  And remember, His ways are higher than our ways, so if things don’t turn out according to OUR plans, they will turn out better in the end, because God knows what is best for each and every one of us.  He has a plan for our good!)

Philippians 4:6:  Don’t worry about ANYTHING; instead, pray about EVERYTHING. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done.  Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you LIVE IN Christ Jesus. 

(Those are all-encompassing words we find in the Bible:  ANYTHING, EVERYTHING!  Wow!  God cares about the big things and the little things in our lives, which is awesome!  Another important word in the above verse is “thank.”  No one likes it when we do something for someone and get no thanks—God included!  When He helps you, thank Him.  And remember to always LIVE IN Christ Jesus!  He died FOR US so we could LIVE IN Him.)

Philippians 4:8-9:  “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing.  FIX your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely and admirable.  Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise…then the God of peace will be with you.”

(If we are anxious, we must change our thinking process.  God’s Word says we need to switch over to thinking about things that are positive, nurturing and good.  Be careful what you are thinking about, and to do this you must first be aware of what you are thinking about.  This pertains to T.V. shows, music, people you hang around with, etc.  You may need to change several things about your life, but we must FIX our minds on positive and lovely things or we will suffer anxiety rather than have peace.)

John 14:27:  Jesus tells the disciples, “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart.  And the peace I give is a peace that the world cannot give.  So don’t be troubled or afraid.”

(Who doesn’t love a gift?  Peace of mind AND heart is a gift that Jesus left us; he said so Himself.  Is there any greater gift that someone could give us?  I don’t think so.  The world, He said, cannot give us this peace; it is found only in Him.)

Matthew 5:13-15 Jesus says, “You are the salt of the earth.  But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor?  Can you make it salty again?  It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.  You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.  No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket.  Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 

(If we are to be salt and light, can we do a good job of it when we are stressed and worried and anxious ourselves?  No!  So we need to deal with ourselves before we can be salt and light for others.  And Jesus told believers, “YOU are the salt and light.”  That’s US—believers in Jesus Christ!  He tells us not to lose our flavoring; in order to do this, we need to live in Christ, be thinking about Him, and be studying about Him every single day.  Make time for Jesus!  We also have an obligation to tell others about Jesus’ love and His sacrifice for us.  We should be so filled with Jesus that telling others about Him does not feel like an obligation; we should be overflowing with Him that we can’t resist spreading our joy to others!)

The LORD is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid?   Psalm 27:1

(When you fear people, you must be lacking in faith in God, so be aware of this.  Our God is our stronghold (our well-fortified place).  “If God be for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31.  If you are outside on a dark night, you need a light to see where you are going; the same applies to our lives.  We cannot see the future, but God has already been to the future, so He knows where and how to lead you.  Trust Him to not let you fall, and trust Him to get you where you need to go.  Salvation means we have been saved from the power and penalty of sin.  Jesus died to rescue us from Satan’s power, and Jesus died to pay our price for our sins.)

Psalm 118:6:  The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

(Our fellow men and women can try to do a lot to us—gossip about us, lie about us, avoid us, etc., but if we resist retaliating and, instead, turn to God for His always-available help, we can keep our peace.  Joyce Meyer has a saying, “Don’t let others steal your peace,” and she’s right.  Go to God with your concerns and ask for His Way to deal best with people.  But be prepared for answers you may not like or with which you do not agree.  God will not bless those who become bitter, angry and wish ill-will on others.  You are not aware of others’ situations, so do not be quick to judge, just go to God when you need a listening ear!  Listen for His direction!  He will act on your behalf if you ask and allow Him, but in the meantime, pray for your enemies and do not seek revenge!  This is not the world’s way; it is God’s way!)

Deut 31:6:  Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

(Strong and courageous is opposite of weak and fearful.  God goes with us everywhere; there is no where we are that He cannot be.  People disappoint and desert us, but God promises NEVER to do so!)

When I am afraid, I will trust in you.  In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?  Psalm 56:3-4

(People feel fear--it is human, but the Bible tells us what to do when we feel fear:  trust God!)

Isaiah 41:10:  So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

(Three pretty terrific promises from God:  strengthen, help, uphold YOU!)

Isaiah 41:13:  For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.

(God is holding your hand right now!)

Romans 8:15:  For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ""Abba," Father."

(We have God’s Spirit in us if we have received salvation through Jesus.  We must remember this—we have God’s Spirit IN us!)

1 John 4:18: There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

(How to drive out fear?  Perfect love!  Know that God loves you perfectly, and strive yourself to love everyone.  If you are caught up in your own fears and concerns, get out and do something good for someone who is also suffering and probably a lot worse than you!)

Psalm 56:3:  When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.

(Fear happens, but we have a WAY to eliminate it—Jesus is The Way, The Truth and The Life!)

Psalm 34:4  I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.

(Seek:  To try to find, discover or obtain (Webster’s).  We must seek the Lord, and we do that by reading His Word, listening for His voice, and being with fellow believers who are close to the Lord.  He always answers, and He is able to deliver your from your fears if you practice trusting Him.)

1Peter 5:6-7  Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

(I read one time that if we think we are already humble, then we are not.  If we are still relying on our own strength, power, knowledge and resources, then we are prideful.  We can do all things through Christ, Who gave us life!  God made us, God wakes us up everyday, God gives us the air we breathe, God enables us to think, etc.  Everything we have comes from Him, and we need to rely on Him for everything.  God has the proper time in mind for everything we do, so relax and give Him that control.  Now let’s talk about casting.  In angling, casting is the act of throwing bait or a lure using a fishing line out over the water using a flexible fishing rod. The usual technique is for the angler to quickly flick the rod from behind toward the water (Wikipedia).  Think of this when you think about casting your anxieties on God—ALL of your anxieties.  Picture yourself standing before God, telling God your concerns and then asking Him to take control and work it all out at the right time and for your good and for the good of others.  Cast your concerns now, quickly, as soon as you start to worry!  Don’t let worry get the upper hand, but hand your problems to God—right away!  Now walk through your day ready to be flexible and relaxed, not rigid and uptight, and trust that God is already at work on your behalf.  Don’t pray and then start to worry!  That tells God that you don’t really trust Him.  He cares for you more than you can know, so He wants the best for you.)

Joshua 1:9:  Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” 

(When I go somewhere by myself, somewhere I wish I had a good friend by my side, I remind myself that I always have a Good Friend by my side.  Then, I picture Jesus walking beside me, and I know I am truly not alone!  Jesus actually commanded us to be strong and courageous!  A commander is one who is in authority over us!  Jesus is our Authority, He loves us, and He does not want us walking through life timid and afraid.  Remember, He is with you WHEREVER you go!)

Proverbs 12:25  Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad. 

(Feel weighted down with worry?  Go get your Bible and hear from God.  He wants your trust.  Go to church, and let the pastor’s sermon speak to you.  Talk with a Christian friend or counselor-another great way to hear from God!)

Luke 10:19  Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.

 (Jesus is telling us that He has given us AUTHORITY over serpents, scorpions and over all power of the enemy, and NOTHING shall hurt us!  It does not get any clearer than that!  We don’t realize how much power we have in Christ Jesus!  If we did, I think many of us would live differently, more free, more strong, more courageous, and less worried.  Jesus said, “BEHOLD!”  That means He wants us to look at and see the power we have in Him.)

Isaiah 43:1:  But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.

(Jesus knows our name!  How awesome is that, that the Creator of the Universe knows us each as individuals!  We are redeemed, which means our debt as sinners has been paid already!  We are saved, and we are free!  Jesus paid it all by choosing to die in our place!  God now calls us ‘His.’  How awesome!!!)

Psalm 91:1-16:  He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day.

(To dwell means to live or stay as a resident (Webster’s).  If you live with someone, you are usually in daily communication with them, you get to know them well.  The same should be said of our relationship with God.  We should be in daily communication with Him but also be sure to be quiet in His presence and listening for what He wants to say to us.  What does the above verse say that God does for us?  He is our refuge, fortress, deliverer, faithful, shield, and He has us covered!  Now, what’s to fear!  God’s got you covered!!!!)

Isaiah 54:17  No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.”

(We all have “people problems” from time to time.  God tells us how to handle them.  Go to Him, and He will help you.  Jesus tells us to pray for our enemies, and the above verse tells us that God will be involved in the dispute and help it get resolved.  But you must ask Him to help and do not hate, but pray for the one with whom you are in dispute.  It seems natural to want to retaliate or prove ourselves right, but God wants us to take the high road and resolve the conflict with His help and in His way.)

Lam 3:57:  You came near when I called on you; you said, ‘Do not fear!’

(God does not want us living fearful lives.  He wants us to rely on Him, because in relying on Him, we stay close to Him.  He loves each and every one of us.  He created us to commune with Him.  He is near you always, so there is never a need to be afraid.)

It's Just One Sin

It’s Just One Sin

Imagine one sin as one nail that pierces Jesus’ flesh.  All it takes is four sins to nail Christ to the cross.  I know, therefore, that I have nailed Christ to the cross many times over—sometimes in the period of only one week, one day even!  This is a sobering thought.  Was it right that I treated the clerk unkindly because she was grouchy and unfriendly?  (Treat others—not just those you like or think deserve it—as you would like to be treated).  Was that gossip session really so innocent.  Would I like it if someone said about me what I said about that person during my “friendly” visit.  Could I have, instead, found something positive and uplifting to say?  I sure hope so and will try to the next time.  That little white lie I told doesn’t really matter, does it?  Is a little white lie okay, but not okay if it’s a big, fat lie?  And who determines which is which?  I was not at all happy for the friend who got the new expensive purse I have been coveting.  Jealousy is really not attractive on me or anyone else.  I will try to be happy for her happiness.  What are some of our idols that we worship today?  It could be money, popularity, things, a person.  Is it less idol worship than when our ancestors worshipped false gods made of stone?  I don’t see how it is less sinful.  It seems that sin is sin.

If we stop to think before we act carelessly and/or sinfully—stop and think right before we act— maybe we can stop one nail.  Stop and think, “This act or this word or this thought will put one nail in Jesus,” and maybe, just maybe, hopefully, we will rethink what we do or say.  When we think of a sin as a nail piercing Jesus, it should not be so easy to tell ourselves it won’t matter this one time—because that one time is one nail, and it only took four nails to keep Jesus on that cross.  Don’t do what you know is sinful no matter how small or inconsequential you think the sin is.  Sin is sin, and a nail is a nail.  Jesus paid the ultimate price to redeem us.  We can never repay Him, but we can love Him with all our hearts, minds and souls—and love others like He asked us to.  NO MORE NAILS!

Faith is Like a Cup of Tea

Faith Is Like a Cup of Tea

I love tea!  I even love making tea!  Just the thought of the process of putting the water on to boil helps me to slow down and start to relax a bit.  When I need a break or just need to warm up a little on a cool day, I walk to the kitchen, fill the kettle with some water from the faucet filter, turn the burner up to high, and set the kettle on the burner.  Then I walk over to where I store my many varieties of tea and choose a flavor for this cup of tea.  Which do I want: black tea, green tea, loose tea or a bag, decaf or regular?  Somehow I always seem to know just which one I want.  I select the tea, put it in a pretty teacup (which I also had to select from amongst many different sizes and designs), and wait.  While I wait for the water to boil, I usually do some small chore that will only take me about as long as the water will take to boil; that way, I feel like I checked another box on my list of things to do today and helped make the time seem shorter until I could finish making my tea.  Once I hear the whistle on the kettle start to “scream,” I pour the water into my teacup and, again, I wait.  Now I can find another small chore that can be accomplished in a matter of 2 to 5 minutes while I allow the tea to flavor the hot water in my cup.  Yay!  Another small chore competed, and now my tea is just about ready.  I take the teabag or loose tea diffuser out of the cup.  I put a teaspoon or so of honey in my tea (although sometimes I will use a tsp. of sugar instead), sometimes add some soy milk (if I think this flavor of tea will be enhanced by it), stir, and then find a comfy chair in which to sit for a spell (a spell usually only being about 15 minutes or so, but a very nice 15 minutes).  Now, time to enjoy that delicious and relaxing cup of tea! 

I know you are probably wondering, “What does making a cup of tea have to do with faith?”  The next time you make a cup of tea, think of the symbolism involved with faith.  First there is the love of tea—symbolism here is our love for God and His love for us.  He is in love with us, and we should be in love with Him.  We should look forward to time with Him and look forward to stopping during our day to relax in the comfort that God is going through our day alongside us.  When we turn our thoughts to God, it helps us to slow down and breathe, just as we turn to making a cup of tea to help us slow down and breathe. 

God is like a teakettle.  It’s really not such a stretch to think of God when you look at your teakettle.  Just as we pour water into a teakettle, we pour our hearts out to God—our fears, our anxieties, our concerns, but also, hopefully, our praises and thanksgiving.  And just as our teakettle has a handle, God has a handle on our concerns and can handle every one of them perfectly!

Think of the water you get from the water filter, which you then pour into the kettle, and remember that you must filter what you allow your mind to think about.  Use your mind’s filter to filter out the world’s noise, confusion and negativity.  Focus instead on God and His love.  You can choose what you think about, but you do have to catch yourself as to what you are thinking about.  Focus!

Next, we set the teakettle on the burner and turn up the heat, expecting that the water will be heated to boiling.  We don’t second guess that the burner will get hot enough or that, for some other reason, the water won’t boil.  This is how strong our faith should be.  Just like we don’t second guess the burner will do its work, we should not second guess that God will work on our behalf if we go to Him and trust Him.  Trust is key here.  In Matthew 17:30 we read, "You don't have enough faith," Jesus told them. "I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it would move. Nothing would be impossible." You don’t have to be a superhero saint to get God’s attention, but you must practice some faith (when we practice something, we keep trying over and over again until we get better).  So have faith that God hears your prayers and expect Him to help all things turn out just fine.

The next time you choose which teabag you want, think about the Bible.  When we have difficulties and challenges or praises, we can choose particular Bible verses that speak to our particular needs.  Choose the Bible verses that help you, write them on index cards (or recipe cards—a recipe for how to make a solution with God’s help), or store the verses to memory.

What does the teacup symbolize?  Without the teacup, where would you put the hot water and teabag?  It acts as a receptacle for our tea.  It is open and ready to hold what we pour into it.  Likewise, without open and ready hearts, we would have nowhere to receive God’s love.  And just as we choose a beautiful teacup, we can choose beautiful words and thoughts, God’s words and thoughts, to pour into our hearts.  Why not choose one of your favorite teacups and begin the practice of filling it with your favorite Bible verses, written on small slips of paper.  Keep your teacup someplace special.  Then, when you need a reminder that God is with you, go to your special teacup and read through some of the Bible verses.  In this way, you refresh your mind and strengthen your trust in God. 

What does all of the waiting for the water to boil and waiting for the tea to steep symbolize about faith?  Waiting is part of life—a lot of waiting. Remember, when you set a kettle of water on to boil, you must wait!  The water doesn’t boil in the blink of an eye.  But while I wait, I like to accomplish a small task.  Similarly, while I wait on God to work, I don’t sit idly by and do nothing.  I pray, I worship, I do what I can to work towards a solution, but I try to wait patiently.  That’s the hard part, but one of the fruits the Spirit gives us is patience.  Trust that God knows all about your concerns, pray for his continual guidance, and have faith that He loves you and is working all things together for your good.  You have to trust that He knows what He’s doing!  If I didn’t wait for the water to boil, I would have lukewarm water and the flavor of the tea would be lost!  If you move ahead without praying and waiting on God’s timing, you will get lukewarm, if not bad, results to your problems, and life can lose a little bit of its flavor!

When I hear the teakettle “scream,” I know the water is boiling hot!  We often hear that God can speak to us in “a still small voice.”  But I believe God sometimes has to scream to get us to hear Him.  When someone treats you unkindly, how loud does God have to speak to you to get you to forgive?  When I hear my teakettle, I will try to think about whether there is someone with whom I am angry,  Matthew 5:23-24: “So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”  I’ll try not to make God have to scream in order to get me to hear Him.

Can even a used-up teabag cause us to think of God?  Sure!  When you are ready to throw out the used tea, think about throwing away your negative thoughts and doubts!  Dump them in the trash and be rid of them.  And just like our teabags, we need to get rid of negativity on a daily basis; it’s a continual process and something that needs to be done on a daily basis!  It gets rid of the stink!

Even the teaspoon with which we measure out our honey is symbolic of faith. Jesus talked about having a measure of faith. Jesus told us we did not have to have an abundance of faith to move mountains.  He said we need to have “…faith as small as a mustard seed, and you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 17:20.  Likewise, it sounds like Jesus is saying that we only need a teaspoon of faith to get God to act on our behalf.  Imagine what might happen, however, if you PRACTICE FAITH, and you end up with lots more than just a teaspoon.  I bet God would love that!  Practice, practice, practice, and without trials, we would not get any practice!

If you use honey or sugar in your tea, let this remind you of God’s sweet Spirit.  Pray that He will allow you to have that same sweet spirit toward whomever you encounter that day, even if the people you meet don’t deserve it!  God is sweet towards us, and Jesus died on the cross for us, and we didn’t and don’t deserve it!  Thank God for his grace and mercy!

Now your tea is made and you sit down in that comfy chair for a few minutes of relaxation.  Think of that chair as God’s lap!  He is ready to hold you, comfort you, and you are special to Him.  When you sit, take a few minutes to notice all your blessings!  It puts a whole new perspective on your mood! 

Enjoy your tea!  Enjoy God for He enjoys you!  He loves when you spend time with Him, think about Him, pray to Him, and worship Him!  He is so worthy!  The next time you make a cup of tea, think about faith, and may your “cup runneth over” with it!