Are we always in such a hurry that...

 I just ordered my usual here at Starbucks…my favorite place to hang out, find new friends and write.  The barista was friendly as usual and carrying on a conversation with me…as he does with many others. Unlike some days, it’s a very laid back atmosphere here today.  The gentleman in line behind me, however, didn’t seem to care much for the pace of things today.  He did everything except literally shove me out of the way while I was waiting for my receipt and order.  I sensed this and did what I could to move out of his way…even though my flesh wanted to hang out a little longer…just because!  :)

This really made me think.  In our hurry up and wait world…are we missing out on “nuggets of life” in our rush to get wherever it is we’re going?  I think back to Jesus in the Bible.  When he was on his way to different places, throngs of people would always cry out to him to be healed.  You know what’s so cool about Jesus?  He stopped and had interaction with people…even when he was on his way from point A to point B!  He healed them and then went on with his journey.  We can really learn a lot from this. 

Are we always in such a hurry that we don’t stop and take the time to visit with someone who maybe just needs someone to talk to them?  Maybe the person on the side of the road with a flat tire needs help.  Or...maybe the lady at Wal-Mart with 5 screaming kids who’s trying to get the groceries and the kids in the car in 90 degree weather needs help.  These are the “nuggets of life” I referred to earlier. 

We need interaction with other people and in instances like these, we can be a huge blessing to someone else.  But, what’s really great about this is that when we bless someone in this way, we are blessed as well.  It’s a wonderful feeling to stop what we’re doing, help someone, and then move along with the task at hand.  I have found that I’m usually not late getting where I’m going, but even if I am, it was worth those miniscule seconds, in the whole scheme of things, to stop and do what was needed. 

Take some time to stop and be a blessing to someone.  I believe you’ll find that you’ll be blessed as well. 

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God...

For quite some time now, I have wanted to write about the full or whole armor of God as written about in Ephesians 6:10-18.  As I began to write about it, one thing kept coming back to my memory. 

Before I discuss the one thing that keeps coming back to me, let’s discuss the Bible.  It is God’s Holy Word.  It’s given to us as a guide for our lives and it is totally and completely relevant for now…whether that now is in this moment or 20 years from now.  If we as Christians say that we believe that the Bible is God’s word and true, why then, do so many pick and choose what they believe from it?  I have heard people say that the events in Acts were only for that time.  People have said that the lives recorded in the Old Testament really didn’t live that long…it’s just embellishment for the “story.”  I’ve heard people say that there’s no need to cast out demons…that God doesn’t work that way any longer.  All of these statements are lies of the enemy that folks have chosen to believe.

Now the one thing I mentioned earlier happened a few years ago.  I was volunteering in a ministry and after being involved long enough to see how it operated, I began to have a few questions.  One of which was, “Why aren’t we teaching these kids about the full armor of God?”  We were in a ministry that helped people in the trials of their lives…but we weren’t giving them all of God’s ways to combat these trials of life and/or the enemy.  So, I approached a leader and asked if we could do a skit and explain the full armor of God to these kids.  To my surprise…I was “chuckled” at for whatever reason...I won’t speculate.  Needless to say, nothing was ever done about this…or any other questions that I had either.    

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God…  1 Corinthians 3:19 

When we take things into our own hands and “think” that we have the wisdom to figure out what God is doing and how he’s going to do it….oh what dangerous ground we have stepped onto.

Believe what the Bible says, trust God to show you how to live your life.  The Bible is our manual to living life…period!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own* understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.  Proverbs 3:5-6   

*emphasis mine