Get it Together!

So encourage each other to build each other up. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Many of us know people who appear to have it all together. Sometimes we feel intimidated by people like that. They seem to have great marriages, great kids, good jobs, and are spiritually mature. And the fact is they may have or be all these things. However, that doesn't mean they don't struggle with issues just like everyone else. That doesn't mean that at some point they were not intimidated by others who looked like they had it all together too. It just means at some point during their spiritual journey, they realized things had to change, and they sought guidance from the One who really does have it all together. They grew spiritually and let God have more and more control over their lives. But by no means does that imply that they don’t have trials. Everyone has days when they feel less than adequate. They have frustrations, doubts, insecurities and go through hard times.
 
Then there are people who look like they are doing everything right and with ease. But that is only what they want others to think. In reality their lives, in part or in whole, may be in shambles. They are afraid to let anyone see what things are really like. Perhaps it is a control issue or they don't want to be embarrassed. Maybe they feel like they will let people down if they knew how things really were. In any case, there is no need for other people to feel insecure or intimidated by someone who appears to have everything under control. Fact is few people do.
 
When my children were preschoolers, a fellow mom and I were talking and she was surprised to hear me talk about being stressed. She said, “but you always seem to be so calm and together.” My jaw dropped, I'm sure. I almost looked around to see who she was talking to! I could have kept her there for days filling her in on my insecurities and self-described short comings. Once a new friend at church read a post of mine and told me, “it really makes me feel better to know that someone as spiritual as you has problems too.” I just stared at her, dumbfounded. I wanted to crawl under the table. Oh my, if she only knew! Yes, I knew scripture, but I often struggled putting them into practice just like she did. Spiritual? I sure didn't feel like it.
 
Most people who appear to “have it all together” are often just trying to keep it all together. They would welcome an encouraging word, or it would make their day to know that someone was thinking about them. We usually tend to reach out to those we know are struggling, and we should. But even those who appear strong sometimes feel weak. Life still gets hard and knowing someone cares could make all the difference.

In Disguise

Even Satan tries to make himself look like an angel of light.     2 Corinthians 11:14

I saw a license plate this week that had the number 666*---. I thought to myself, “I would ask for a different plate! There’s no way I would ride around with that license plate on my car.”  When I told my husband about it, he said, “Well, maybe they had it made that way.” 

“I don’t think so; it looked like a regular car that you and I would drive.” I replied.

The number 666 has always represented evil, so wouldn’t that person’s car look, well, black or beat up or have evil bumper stickers? Of course in my mind evil was supposed to be easily recognizable, visible to any observer. Not always so, the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 11:14 that “Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” Satan is dark and evil, light is good. So he disguises himself to be more appealing.

Sin is often that way. It appears to be pleasurable or “ok”, but in reality, it’s just Satan’s deception to blind an unbeliever to the truth of his need for Jesus. For a believer, he causes her to lose her joy and peace, maybe even her family and feel shame and regret. Many extramarital affairs start with compliments or “innocent” flirtations. Many people lose their careers over a choice to take money that “no one would miss.” Going out with friends is OK; you need to let off steam, but what happens when that occurs so often it takes you away from your family? You begin to want something else and become dissatisfied and discontent. Gossip can even be disguised as prayer requests!

So how do we know that something is a sin, even when it is disguised as something harmless or even good? Psalm 119:105 says “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” First of all, God’s word is THE first place for direction in our lives, the place to determine right and wrong. When we are full of God’s word, he will make the path clear. If you are still not clear on whether something is harmless or not, ask God. James 1:5 says, “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you.” He will not rebuke you for asking.” It never fails, when I have asked God for wisdom in a matter, he always comes through. However, whether we listen or not is up to us. The Spirit of God is here to help us do the right thing. (John 14:26)

We as Christians have available to us the help we need to discern between good and evil. We have to listen and obey. It is so very important that we do. “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” Proverbs 4:23.

Walk in Love

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. Ephesians 5:1,2

I had an aunt who has now passed on, that truly lived this verse. Whenever I read it, I think of her. Aunt Bertha’s life was a portrait of God’s love. She walked and talked love every day of her life. She taught on walking in love every chance she got. I fully believe it was her calling to share, teach and live God’s love to others; she did it so well.

It saddens my heart when I see and hear Christians, fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, not loving one another but instead hurting each other in attitude, word or deed. Jesus told his disciples in John 13:34, 35 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” How did Jesus say people would know we were his disciples? By how often we go to church? By how much money we give? By serving in many different areas of church? All these things are great, biblical and serve a purpose, but the way everyone knows we belong to Jesus is when we love each other.

When Paul wrote that we are to “walk in love,” he meant for it to be a lifestyle, a way of life, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Galatians 6:10). God gave us all strengths, and we all have weaknesses. We are to encourage one another and lift each other up. (Hebrews 10:24, 1 Thessalonians 5:11) We may not all get along like best friends. Some personalities just don’t mesh. That’s OK. There were even some disciples who didn’t quite get along all the time. However, we still have to love each other.

How do we do that? By reading God’s word and asking the Holy Spirit to help us live it out. 1 Corinthians 13 is a wonderful place to start. It tells us what love is and what it is not:

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains,but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Philippians 2:1-5 also has a great way to start, with humility. 

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus…

Love is not a feeling or an emotion. It is a choice we make. It’s a decision to treat people right and actually care about them. We as Christians should be an example to the rest of the world of what Christ’s love is all about. We are His ambassadors. 2 Corinthians 5:20, “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.” How can God make his appeal through us, if people don’t see us, the family of God, genuinely loving one another?

Joyful Worship

“Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” Psalm 100:2

We’ve recently been studying about God's Character in Sunday school. It has made my heart full and reminded me how wonderful, holy, loving and mighty God is. He deserves our praise and worship given by all that we are. In fact in Mark 12:30, Jesus tells us to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind and with all your strength.” He stresses every aspect, leaving no question that every part of who we are is to be entirely for God. If we love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength as we are commanded, wouldn’t we worship with all our heart, soul, mind and strength?

Psalm 9:2 "I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name. O Most High."

Psalm 35:9, 10 "Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and delight in his salvation. My whole
being will exclaim, "Who is like you, Lord?" (Emphasis mine)

Psalm 86:12 "I will praise you, Lord my God, with ALL my heart; I will glorify your name forever."

Did you notice the word "rejoice" in both the first and second verses? And "with all my heart" in the third?  Our worship time, especially with other believers, should be a joyful time of rejoicing in the Lord and we should praise him with all our hearts. Yes, we may come to church with burdens and heartaches, but worship is about God, not about us. When we lay ourselves aside in order to worship God, everything else fades in comparison to our realization of who we are praising. God is still God, no matter what problems we are facing. He still deserves our praise and worship.

When we come together in worship to sing praises to God, let's prepare our hearts, really listen to the words of the songs and remind ourselves that God is so worthy of our praise. He
deserves our ALL! To prepare our hearts, reading scripture about praise and worship is a good place to start. So is studying about God's character.  Try using the Bible app or other resources to suggest verses to read. When we take our minds off of ourselves or others around us and put our mind on God and his goodness, we glorify him and fill our hearts as well.

With Jesus

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13

Wow, that is a powerful thought! They took note that they had been with Jesus…Oh how I want that to be said of me! Not for bragging rights or to “toot my own horn,” but to know that my life reflects Jesus in such a way that others know it is Him in me.

As we look at this scripture, we see the religious and governing leaders didn’t think there was anything extraordinary about Peter and John… except their courage. Peter and John had been arrested for teaching that Jesus had been raised from the dead. They had healed a man, and they proclaimed that is was by the power of Jesus Christ. As they stood in defense of the “charges” brought against them, their accusers saw that there was nothing special about these men, but because of their courage in defending their faith during their difficult circumstances, they knew they had been with Jesus.

That’s when God is able to receive glory. When there is nothing special about us, but because we spend time in his presence, he graciously lets his glory shine through us. What a privilege!

Yes, we may fool people sometimes. We may put on a fake smile and use “churchy” lingo, and we may get by for a while. But what is inside will come out. What is in our hearts will radiate through our eyes and be spoken from our lips. (Luke 6:45) I want to be like Moses when his face shown with the glory of God because he had been in the Lord’s presence. (Exodus 34:29)

There’s so much that can be said of us, but for someone to take not that we have been with Jesus, what an honor!

Teach Me, Oh God

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing. Psalm 143:10
 
Life often has much to throw at us, sometimes good and sometimes bad. Many times we are torn between knowing what we should do in different situations. We often have so much on our plates that life becomes hurried and difficult. The important things in life often take a back seat to other things. Many times, Satan uses this to turn our attention away from what is right and good to what may seem better to our human nature.
Sometimes it isn’t necessarily something bad, but it is not God’s will for us right then. We often settle for the “ok” instead of striving for the “best”. Often times, though, it is sinful, but our spirits have been weakened by a lack of intimacy with God that we fall prey to Satan’s lies. This verse is actually a prayer that we too can pray. “Teach me your will, for you are my God.” I would think that this prayer from a sincere heart would be very pleasing to God. Can you imagine how you would feel if your child asked you sincerely to teach him/her what you wanted him/her to do? “What, really, did I hear you right? You actually want to know what I want you to do?” How great it is when our children are eager to obey. I know God is pleased when we are eager to know his will and obey it. 1 Samuel 15:22 says that obedience is better than sacrifice. How many bad choices would we avoid if we actually asked him to teach us His will?
“May your gracious Spirit lead me on a firm footing.” When we know God’s will for us and obey it, his Spirit leads us on a firm footing. Being lead by his Spirit is superior to being lead by our own desires or judgment. Better a firm footing, than a shaky one. When we follow God’s will, our foundation is solid. When we follow our own, it is not. Following our own desires is often a recipe for disaster. Even if our flesh tells us it won’t hurt anything or it will make us happy, God’s way is always better. The outcome of following God’s will is peace, and who doesn’t need that? (James 3:17) So, let’s ask God to teach us His will. He is much wiser than us. (Isaiah 55:9) He also wants the best for us. (Jeremiah 29:11)

Rest For Your Soul

I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from Him. Psalm 62:1 NLT
 
Sometimes I find myself running here and there doing, doing, doing. I feel like I am doing the right things...good things. Often though, at the end of the day, I still feel like something is missing. Do you ever feel that way? I am sure we all do at times. I think we expect that if we do what we feel God wants us to do, our hearts will be full and our minds at peace. Why is that not always the case?
Doing and serving is not enough. There is a difference between doing and sitting in the presence of God: quiet, still, and at peace, soaking in His presence with no other agenda than just being with my Lord. I don’t know about you, but that’s hard for me. I am not use to being silent and still unless I’m asleep! I don’t like lulls in conversations and too much silence makes me uncomfortable. But I am beginning to see that sitting quietly before God is where I will receive my victory and fulfillment. Allowing Him to speak to me and putting everything else out of my mind while I focus on Him fills that void that all the other “good stuff” doesn’t.
So, when you feel like you are starting to run on empty, even though you are doing all the right things, find time...no, make time, to sit quietly in His presence. According to our key verse, that is where we will find our victory.
 
Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from Him. NIV

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10
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