Excuses are a personal pet peeve of mine. I've learned not to offer them for my own shortcomings because they sound so lame, and I don't like hearing them from anyone else. I appreciate a person's candor much more than I do some story they might concoct as to why they did or didn't do something. Even silence is better.
I know many teachers, and I wonder, on the average, how many excuses they hear from their students in the course of a work week. I expect young children and teenagers to try excuses because their character is still under construction. I'm sure some of the responses they give are very amusing. Excuses from adults are not funny though. They're a character flaw. It's far better just to man-up or woman-up, tell the truth and soldier on. It's a sign of maturity. I came to the realization many years ago, and although it can make you initially uncomfortable to tell the truth, you will gain respect from it in the end because people will know that you're being straight-up with them.
I did have one occasion on which my honest response angered someone. She was a telemarketer. I tried to interrupt her before she started her spiel, but she shouldn't let me get a word in edgewise to tell her I wasn't interested. I let her ramble on for what seemed like ten minutes and at the end she asked, "Are you ready to take advantage of our offer today?" By that time I was already irritated she had used up my time and hers and I simply replied, "no." "NO!? What not? Why wouldn't you want to take advantage of this offer?" She sounded angry and incredulous. I said, "because it's my prerogative to say no." Wow! That really set her off. She launched into a tirade of expletives and I simply hung up on her. I don't have to listen to that.
I recalled this while I was reading my daily devotional this morning. I noticed that excuses don't carry truck with the Lord either. In Luke 14: 16-24, Jesus tells the parable of the great banquet. In the Middle East in those times it was customary to send out an initial first invitation for a response--much like we would send out an RSVP today. The invited guests in this parable had already accepted the first invitation and committed themselves. However, by the time the second invitation arrived summoning them to the banquet, they reneged because they had changed their minds. They didn't tell the host they had changed their minds, but they all gave excuses. The host was furious! He cut off any future invitations to those people and called others to enjoy his feast.
There are no good enough excuses for not serving God, and verses 25 through 27 of that same chapter tell us that our commitment to the cause of Christ supercedes all other relationships--even those with our family.
Are we offering God excuses rather than our service? There are no "yes, buts" with Him. There's no straddling the fence. Jesus says in Luke 11: 23, "He who is not with me is against me...." Joshua urged the Israelites in Joshua 24: 15 to commit either way to whom they chose to serve. He declared that he and his house would serve the Lord. Be honest with Him and yourself and make a choice to go either direction.
Love ya,
God Bless!
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Saturday, January 3, 2009
The Sound of Silence
Wasn't that a Simon & Garfunkel song? Anyway, I'm sort of bummed. Okay, no, I'm a lot bummed. I'm going through a valley right now--a valley of discouragement. The sound of silence I'm referring to is that I've yet to hear God's answer to a long held prayer. I'm undecided about whether I should continue praying about the matter or just stop altogether mentioning it.
I know that I'm not the only person who has ever become discouraged. In 1 Kings 17, Elijah was disheartened after fleeing from Jezebel after her death threats. He was hiding in the Kerith Ravine. He felt abandoned but God had not left him. God sent the ravens to sustain him with food. In Genesis 21, Hagar felt she had been abandoned with her son and left to die in the Desert of Beersheba. God provided her answers there.
I'm hanging on. I've examined myself and tried to repent of everything I'm aware of that could be hindering my prayer from being answered. Hopefully, He'll send word (through results) soon.
Love Ya,
God Bless!
I know that I'm not the only person who has ever become discouraged. In 1 Kings 17, Elijah was disheartened after fleeing from Jezebel after her death threats. He was hiding in the Kerith Ravine. He felt abandoned but God had not left him. God sent the ravens to sustain him with food. In Genesis 21, Hagar felt she had been abandoned with her son and left to die in the Desert of Beersheba. God provided her answers there.
I'm hanging on. I've examined myself and tried to repent of everything I'm aware of that could be hindering my prayer from being answered. Hopefully, He'll send word (through results) soon.
Love Ya,
God Bless!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Are You Free?
I'm certain my parents didn't plan it to be so, but I was born on the Fourth of July. God meant for me to be born on that date. He knew how much I would cherish my freedom. When I think of myself, I'm like a wild mustang running free, enjoying each lung-filling breath. When my husband proposed to me he said something that some would consider a contradiction. He said, "I want to marry you and set you free." He meant that he loved me so much that he wanted to claim me as his, but not squelch my spirit.
I am priviledged in many ways, none the least of which that I was born in a free country. I love my free time. It's a precious commodity to me. I enjoy doing what I want to when I want to unfettered by anyone or anything. I get really defensive if anyone plans my time for me. I enjoy speaking my thoughts when I feel like it without fear of being arrested, beaten or imprisoned. It's a charmed life, for sure. However, I am human and make many mistakes. Sometimes I sin...okay, often I sin. It is then that I turn to God the Father and ask His forgiveness (sometimes this requires my asking others to forgive me as well--sometimes not). He freely forgives when I "woman up" and own my transgressions (Psa. 32:5; 79:8-9; 86:5-7). My personal favorite verse about His removing our sins is Psalms 103: 11-12 which states, "For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." That is what makes us truly free for John 8: 34-36 states, "Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." Galatians 5: 1 tells us, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."
Are you free? Do you want to be? It's yours for the taking if you'll but ask Him for it.
Love Ya,
God Bless
I am priviledged in many ways, none the least of which that I was born in a free country. I love my free time. It's a precious commodity to me. I enjoy doing what I want to when I want to unfettered by anyone or anything. I get really defensive if anyone plans my time for me. I enjoy speaking my thoughts when I feel like it without fear of being arrested, beaten or imprisoned. It's a charmed life, for sure. However, I am human and make many mistakes. Sometimes I sin...okay, often I sin. It is then that I turn to God the Father and ask His forgiveness (sometimes this requires my asking others to forgive me as well--sometimes not). He freely forgives when I "woman up" and own my transgressions (Psa. 32:5; 79:8-9; 86:5-7). My personal favorite verse about His removing our sins is Psalms 103: 11-12 which states, "For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." That is what makes us truly free for John 8: 34-36 states, "Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." Galatians 5: 1 tells us, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."
Are you free? Do you want to be? It's yours for the taking if you'll but ask Him for it.
Love Ya,
God Bless
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Loving Others Just One More Day
Our Sunday school class has been studying the book of John for some time now. We were in chapter 15 today. Jesus was saying to his disciples that if they loved him they would keep his commandments. The teacher asked an open-ended question: What is friendship? Most responded that it's when you share similar interests with others and you check in and are present for the events in their lives and vice versa. You care for them on a personal level and are interested in their welfare. I agree that that's what I consider the ideal for friendship. He asked if we are to put stipulations on our friendship like Jesus did in this statement. I don't think so because we're not deity. However, I've found that friendships don't always develop and you sometimes have to abandon the effort because you cannot carry on a one-sided friendship. You can open yourself to inviting someone into your inner sanctum of trust and try to build a relationship with them, but that doesn't mean that they will want to or that they will reciprocate. One person responded that she thinks you're supposed to love people regardless of whether they love you or not. I agree with her. I told her later that I did, and that I love lots of people who don't love me back. I can't help it. I'm just turned that way. I do get discouraged, disappointed, and my feelings hurt when dealing with others; but I remember that the Lord loves me even when I've let him down too. He's never given up on me. Likewise, I just refuse to give up on people. What if one more day would have made a difference? Would they have finally obeyed the gospel? Would they have finally been restored? Would they have finally started mending lives broken by past bad decisions? One more day could make a difference with so many people.
Diamond Rio has a song that came out years ago called "One More Day." It talks about wishing for just one more day with someone who's now gone. I don't like songs or movies that make me cry, but that song does and I love it anyway. When another day has come and gone and things remain unchanged, I think to myself, "just one more day--just love them one more day."
Love Ya--Mean It,
God Bless!
Diamond Rio has a song that came out years ago called "One More Day." It talks about wishing for just one more day with someone who's now gone. I don't like songs or movies that make me cry, but that song does and I love it anyway. When another day has come and gone and things remain unchanged, I think to myself, "just one more day--just love them one more day."
Love Ya--Mean It,
God Bless!
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Anger Management 101
Probably my worst personal besetting sin is with my inability to deal with anger properly from time to time. I have paid dearly for it, too, sometimes in destroying a relationship or in having it manifest itself physically and cause me pain. I have found it will literally eat you alive from the inside out.
Anger itself is not sinful, but it can cause one to sin. We Christians are told to "put it away" (Eph. 4; Col. 3). The Bible has a lot to say about anger and it's not good. Proverbs 29:9-11 says that a fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man will remain silent or control himself. Proverbs 29:22 says an angry person stirs up trouble and a person with an out of control temper commits many sins. It can stem from sinful inclinations and become a character flaw (Col. 3:8).
There are a few causes of anger. Biologically, it can stem from one's gene structure, blood chemistry, or brain disease. When those things occur, one may have a natural propensity towards anger. It can be a learned behavior in that one can become conditioned to act in anger from past abuse at the hands of others. We also pick it up from TV or from other environmental influences. Additionally, anger can be caused from rejection or fear of rejection, lack of progress towards a goal, or from our own assumptions about matters.
It's the consequences of anger that are the worst. It hurts others. We seem to automatically want to get even after we've gotten mad at someone. We might say things that hurt people and damage our relationships with them. Some may stab people in the back and even resort to violence.
Holding that anger in causes depression and sadness. It causes hypertension, strokes, and cerebral arteriosclerosis. It can cause nausea, ulcers, fatigue, and sleep problems, which I know about personally.
There is a good type of anger, called constructive anger. This would describe God's anger towards evil. Anger expressed in a controlled manner can accomplish good. It is indicative of a problem that needs addressing. However, we're not to fly off the handle in anger (Prov. 16:32; Jas. 1:19-20). Constructive anger leads to reconciliation and healing (Mt. 5:23-24; 18:15-18).
An angry person has three choices: to vent, suppress, or process the anger. The latter is the best choice. It's best to learn to control your anger and not let it control you. The more maturely you handle it, the less likely you are to lash out, pout, or try to get even. Think it through. Decided the pros and cons of where you're headed with your anger before you express it. There were times that I was so angry I had to just walk away when I really wanted to go atomic about something.
For me, I've prayed for God's guidance and strength to overcome it. I know that whatever I ask for in faith, God will give it to me as long as it's in accordance with His will (1 Jno. 5:14-15; Mt. 21:22; Jas. 4:2-3).
In conclusion, consider the following points:
1. Love and respect others (Jno. 15:12-17; 1 Jno. 4; Phil 2:2-4);
2. Overlook what others do (Prov. 19:11);
3. Don't be so quickly angered (Eccl. 7:9; Prov. 15:18; Jas. 1:19);
4. Give a soft answer (Prov. 15:1; Psa. 119:11); and
5. Meditate on God's Word (Psa. 1; 119:11).
For me, this is a process. I've asked forgiveness, but I'm still trying to recondition myself not to respond in certain ways. We only have a short time on this earth. Let's try to make it as pleasant as possible for others as well as ourselves.
Love Ya,
God Bless!
Anger itself is not sinful, but it can cause one to sin. We Christians are told to "put it away" (Eph. 4; Col. 3). The Bible has a lot to say about anger and it's not good. Proverbs 29:9-11 says that a fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man will remain silent or control himself. Proverbs 29:22 says an angry person stirs up trouble and a person with an out of control temper commits many sins. It can stem from sinful inclinations and become a character flaw (Col. 3:8).
There are a few causes of anger. Biologically, it can stem from one's gene structure, blood chemistry, or brain disease. When those things occur, one may have a natural propensity towards anger. It can be a learned behavior in that one can become conditioned to act in anger from past abuse at the hands of others. We also pick it up from TV or from other environmental influences. Additionally, anger can be caused from rejection or fear of rejection, lack of progress towards a goal, or from our own assumptions about matters.
It's the consequences of anger that are the worst. It hurts others. We seem to automatically want to get even after we've gotten mad at someone. We might say things that hurt people and damage our relationships with them. Some may stab people in the back and even resort to violence.
Holding that anger in causes depression and sadness. It causes hypertension, strokes, and cerebral arteriosclerosis. It can cause nausea, ulcers, fatigue, and sleep problems, which I know about personally.
There is a good type of anger, called constructive anger. This would describe God's anger towards evil. Anger expressed in a controlled manner can accomplish good. It is indicative of a problem that needs addressing. However, we're not to fly off the handle in anger (Prov. 16:32; Jas. 1:19-20). Constructive anger leads to reconciliation and healing (Mt. 5:23-24; 18:15-18).
An angry person has three choices: to vent, suppress, or process the anger. The latter is the best choice. It's best to learn to control your anger and not let it control you. The more maturely you handle it, the less likely you are to lash out, pout, or try to get even. Think it through. Decided the pros and cons of where you're headed with your anger before you express it. There were times that I was so angry I had to just walk away when I really wanted to go atomic about something.
For me, I've prayed for God's guidance and strength to overcome it. I know that whatever I ask for in faith, God will give it to me as long as it's in accordance with His will (1 Jno. 5:14-15; Mt. 21:22; Jas. 4:2-3).
In conclusion, consider the following points:
1. Love and respect others (Jno. 15:12-17; 1 Jno. 4; Phil 2:2-4);
2. Overlook what others do (Prov. 19:11);
3. Don't be so quickly angered (Eccl. 7:9; Prov. 15:18; Jas. 1:19);
4. Give a soft answer (Prov. 15:1; Psa. 119:11); and
5. Meditate on God's Word (Psa. 1; 119:11).
For me, this is a process. I've asked forgiveness, but I'm still trying to recondition myself not to respond in certain ways. We only have a short time on this earth. Let's try to make it as pleasant as possible for others as well as ourselves.
Love Ya,
God Bless!
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
"EVERY"
I'm writing this on the fly and it's really just a stream of consciousness thing. I've been watching and reading the news blogs, which is my daily addiction, and I'm constantly blown away by the flippant nature of those who do not believe in God and love to persecute Christians and to call us feeble-minded. They would aver that believing in God is an opiate for stupid people; a crutch. Case in point is Bill Maher's movie, "Religulosity," a new release which makes fun of anyone who would dare to admit they believe in a higher intelligent being. Please don't go see it and give it the dignity of a rating or your hard-earned money. If you must go see something, go see "An American Carol" which spoofs the liberals. Hey, time about is fair play and we might as well have some fun at their expense and give them a dose of their own medicine.
The cult of celebrity plays a leading role in America's increased depravity. What passes for entertainment these days is such rubbish. Network mogul Ted Turner thinks people who believe in God are "bozos" (his exact words) and pulls no punches in what he thinks about those who seek to follow the tenets of Christianity. Such brain-damaged skanks as Tila Tequila and others have a devastating effect on our young women. Teen women are tomorrow's mothers, teachers, health care practitioners, and corporate leaders. Their education in character development is crucial. The same applies to young teen men as well. I call them "women" and "men" because they are young adults--old enough to start seeking a real direction in life.
That is why I've chosen the thought "every" for today. "Every" is a key word in Phillipians 2: 9-11 which reads in pertinent part: "Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
This means Saddam Hussein. This means Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, et al. This means Bill Maher. This means Ted Turner. This means Tila Tequila, Lindsey Lohan, Paris, Brittney, and the legions of glamorous people in Hollywood. This means the extreme elitists at their swanky cocktail parties who look down on people like you and me who dare to cling to our Bibles and our personal moral convictions. This means the militant, butch, buzz cut wearing, Subaru driving, Indigo Girl listening lesbians and their tinkerbell male counterparts. (As an offside, I wish my gay male neighbors would break in and redecorate our house while we're not here.) This means every person, regardless of however evil they have chosen to live who's screamed at the top of their lungs that there is no God. On a more subdued level, this will also include regular, good everyday people who left God completely out of their life's plans. Sadly, and most tragic to me personally, this will also apply to those who were once Christians and have forsaken God. This is going to be a frightening experience for those people. For the Christian, it will be awesome day of extreme elation and expectation. I don't want my friends and family to every be awe-stricken out of fear in this manner. I want them to aim for Heaven so we can live together for all eternity.
Love Ya,
God Bless!
The cult of celebrity plays a leading role in America's increased depravity. What passes for entertainment these days is such rubbish. Network mogul Ted Turner thinks people who believe in God are "bozos" (his exact words) and pulls no punches in what he thinks about those who seek to follow the tenets of Christianity. Such brain-damaged skanks as Tila Tequila and others have a devastating effect on our young women. Teen women are tomorrow's mothers, teachers, health care practitioners, and corporate leaders. Their education in character development is crucial. The same applies to young teen men as well. I call them "women" and "men" because they are young adults--old enough to start seeking a real direction in life.
That is why I've chosen the thought "every" for today. "Every" is a key word in Phillipians 2: 9-11 which reads in pertinent part: "Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
This means Saddam Hussein. This means Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, et al. This means Bill Maher. This means Ted Turner. This means Tila Tequila, Lindsey Lohan, Paris, Brittney, and the legions of glamorous people in Hollywood. This means the extreme elitists at their swanky cocktail parties who look down on people like you and me who dare to cling to our Bibles and our personal moral convictions. This means the militant, butch, buzz cut wearing, Subaru driving, Indigo Girl listening lesbians and their tinkerbell male counterparts. (As an offside, I wish my gay male neighbors would break in and redecorate our house while we're not here.) This means every person, regardless of however evil they have chosen to live who's screamed at the top of their lungs that there is no God. On a more subdued level, this will also include regular, good everyday people who left God completely out of their life's plans. Sadly, and most tragic to me personally, this will also apply to those who were once Christians and have forsaken God. This is going to be a frightening experience for those people. For the Christian, it will be awesome day of extreme elation and expectation. I don't want my friends and family to every be awe-stricken out of fear in this manner. I want them to aim for Heaven so we can live together for all eternity.
Love Ya,
God Bless!
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
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