If you read the title and thought of the Beatles, congratulations! You're officially old. Or maybe just a Beatles fan but either way, it reminds us that love is an important thing in everyone's life. With Valentine's Day just around the corner, much emphasis is being placed on showing the people we love how we feel about them. My question is: Why do we need an official holiday to remind us to do that??
God mentions the word love, or various forms of it, approximately 700 times in the Bible, depending on which version you are reading. 700 times! Does that not seem excessive to you? Obviously it is something He thinks is important and not just in February.
While doing my devotions one morning, I had an epiphany. Why it was an epiphany and not just a well known fact for me is not really clear but nevertheless, it was an "aha" moment. If I am having difficulty loving someone, it is not their problem; it is mine. The more I love God, the easier it is to love people so if I'm having an issue with another person, then I need to check my relationship with Jesus. The closer I get to God, the more love will overflow from me to others.
Picture a glass of water. The more you pour into it, the fuller it gets. When it gets to the top, it has no choice but to overflow and spill out all over whatever the glass is touching. The same is true with our Christian life. The more we pour into it--going to church, studying the Bible, meeting others' needs, fasting and praying, humbling ourselves--the better chance we have at overflowing all over those we come in contact with.
Take a look at your glass today. How full is it? Are you overflowing or just staying half full? I doubt the Beatles really knew the wisdom of what they were singing about so many years ago but the fact of the matter is that, yes, all we really need is love. Everything else will fall into place when we get that one thing right.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
Vain Labor
Ever had one of these days? You mop the floor then watch as the dog comes inside with muddy paws and tracks up all your efforts. You vacuum then watch as your 2 year old crushes a cracker right in the middle of the living room floor and gleefully proceeds to sling the crumbs as far as he/she can. You get all the clothes washed, folded and put away only to discover the laundry baskets are almost full again.
This is what I call "laboring in vain" because it seems that no matter what we do, there is always someone coming along behind us UN-doing everything. Things are looking great one minute and the next, you are right back where you started. Sure makes a gal (or a guy) want to throw up our hands and shout, "What's the use??"
Now, we moms can probably relate to this on a domestic level but I want to expand this to our jobs (guys AND gals) and to our spiritual life. Sometimes we just don't think we'll ever get ahead. You get one fire put out and three more pop up. You get one weak area of your life under control only to have another area scream for attention. You get one issue resolved just in time to deal with two more. So what's our motivation to keep going?
"Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord." 1 Cor. 15:57-58
Yes, it sounds simple enough but when you're in the trenches of your life and frustration is mounting, it is hard to keep these words in mind. That's why I have them written on an index card and taped to my desk. When I shift my focus from working for myself to working for the Lord, things begin to come into perspective. And if I'm not doing it for the Lord, then my frustration is self-made and I need to refocus.
So, whatever you do, do for the Lord and your labor will not be in vain. I sure am hoping, though, that there won't be muddy floors, nasty carpets or dirty laundry in heaven. I think I'll ask for the mansion that comes with a maid...
This is what I call "laboring in vain" because it seems that no matter what we do, there is always someone coming along behind us UN-doing everything. Things are looking great one minute and the next, you are right back where you started. Sure makes a gal (or a guy) want to throw up our hands and shout, "What's the use??"
Now, we moms can probably relate to this on a domestic level but I want to expand this to our jobs (guys AND gals) and to our spiritual life. Sometimes we just don't think we'll ever get ahead. You get one fire put out and three more pop up. You get one weak area of your life under control only to have another area scream for attention. You get one issue resolved just in time to deal with two more. So what's our motivation to keep going?
"Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord." 1 Cor. 15:57-58
Yes, it sounds simple enough but when you're in the trenches of your life and frustration is mounting, it is hard to keep these words in mind. That's why I have them written on an index card and taped to my desk. When I shift my focus from working for myself to working for the Lord, things begin to come into perspective. And if I'm not doing it for the Lord, then my frustration is self-made and I need to refocus.
So, whatever you do, do for the Lord and your labor will not be in vain. I sure am hoping, though, that there won't be muddy floors, nasty carpets or dirty laundry in heaven. I think I'll ask for the mansion that comes with a maid...
Friday, January 7, 2011
Odd Man Out
Dear Faithful (and Occasional) Blog Followers,
I have neglected you shamefully over the past few weeks. You would think that with Christmas break, I would have had all this time to devote to writing pearls of wisdom but alas, I chose the path of laziness and decided to actually relax on my break! I know, it was a selfish act but so be it. :)
In an attempt to redeem myself, I will endeavor to scratch out a few thoughtful words on this surprisingly quiet Friday morning. I'll have to write fast though because quietness and Fridays don't generally go together and circumstances can change in a heartbeat.
Let's talk for a minute about being ODD. The definition of odd in Webster's is, "...different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion." Synonyms bring even more colorful descriptions: bizarre, curious, far-out, funny, kinky, outlandish, peculiar, quirky, strange, wacky, weird. I know what you're thinking, "Thanks for the English lesson but what's that got to do with anything?"
If you search on the word "odd" for most Bible translations, you won't find any results but Jesus definitely talked about being "different from the ordinary." "If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you." John 15:19
So, if you react to situations in a way that is contrary to how the majority of society would react, you could be called odd, bizarre or strange. If you turn the other cheek when treated unfairly, you could be called peculiar, wacky or weird. If you chose love over hatred, you could be called curious, outlandish or quirky. But be of good cheer, you are in good company. I have no idea what the Hebrew word for "odd" is but I'd be willing to bet that more than once, someone described that Jesus character from Nazareth as some odd duck. And I'd be willing to bet that if Jesus overheard these remarks, his response would be, "Thank you."
I have neglected you shamefully over the past few weeks. You would think that with Christmas break, I would have had all this time to devote to writing pearls of wisdom but alas, I chose the path of laziness and decided to actually relax on my break! I know, it was a selfish act but so be it. :)
In an attempt to redeem myself, I will endeavor to scratch out a few thoughtful words on this surprisingly quiet Friday morning. I'll have to write fast though because quietness and Fridays don't generally go together and circumstances can change in a heartbeat.
Let's talk for a minute about being ODD. The definition of odd in Webster's is, "...different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion." Synonyms bring even more colorful descriptions: bizarre, curious, far-out, funny, kinky, outlandish, peculiar, quirky, strange, wacky, weird. I know what you're thinking, "Thanks for the English lesson but what's that got to do with anything?"
If you search on the word "odd" for most Bible translations, you won't find any results but Jesus definitely talked about being "different from the ordinary." "If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you." John 15:19
So, if you react to situations in a way that is contrary to how the majority of society would react, you could be called odd, bizarre or strange. If you turn the other cheek when treated unfairly, you could be called peculiar, wacky or weird. If you chose love over hatred, you could be called curious, outlandish or quirky. But be of good cheer, you are in good company. I have no idea what the Hebrew word for "odd" is but I'd be willing to bet that more than once, someone described that Jesus character from Nazareth as some odd duck. And I'd be willing to bet that if Jesus overheard these remarks, his response would be, "Thank you."
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