When speaking the truth...

How is the truth being spoken?  Is it spoken in love or is it being screamed from a street corner with a bull horn or worse yet, from a pulpit by a screaming, spitting pastor?

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love,  I have become a gong or clanging cymbal. 1 Corinthians 13:1

From my own history, I can tell you that I was used to receiving what I believed to be truth without love…and often, that’s how I spoke the truth, as well.  I come from a highly dysfunctional family and it’s all I knew.  I thought it was normal to be critical, mean spirited and overbearing in “truth.”

When I became a Christian and began attending church, it seemed normal to have the truth yelled or screamed at me from the pulpit.  But when I truly began to understand the love of God, this yelling and screaming didn’t make any sense to me.  I began to question where the love was in it.  I can understand being passionate and intense in explaining something, but when it leads to someone yelling, screaming and pointing fingers at those who they consider sinners and calling other denominations cults simply because they believe they have the right to…I cannot stomach it.  I don’t want to hear a word that is being said.  I have been in church services where people, who felt the same way I did, got up and walked out.  There is no love in this type of message, even if there is some truth in what is being spoken.

So, yes…when speaking the truth, speak it in love.  The old saying, “you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar” speaks volumes.  Truth…speak it in love or don’t speak it at all…please?!

 

Just because you stand for what you believe...

Just because you stand for what you believe doesn’t mean you don’t love sinners.  Speak the truth in love, love the sinner. 

If you’re a Christian, persecution comes with the territory to a greater or lesser degree depending upon where in the world you live.  If we stand up for the truth of what God says about living a moral life, we’re persecuted. 

When Jesus told the Pharisees that whoever was without sin to cast the first stone, He was defending a woman who had been caught in adultery.  Jesus then spoke to the woman and told her to go and sin no more.  He spoke the truth to her in that she shouldn’t commit the sin of adultery any longer.  He was loving and kind to her.  He didn’t shy away from speaking the truth to her in love nor did He condemn her or, being the only One without sin, He didn’t stone her.

This is how we should, as Christians, handle similar situations.  In the times that we live in now, it seems that we can say that we’ve nearly seen it all…there’s nothing new under the sun.  There are some crazy things going on in our world and when we need to stand up for the truth, we need to speak the truth in love.  In 1 Corinthians it says that if we speak with tongues of men or angels but we don’t have love, we are like a clanging gong or cymbal.  Annoying!!  Speak the truth in love, but know that not everyone is going to like what you have to say.  Persecution is everywhere and should be anticipated.  Jesus said, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.  If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.   Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.   But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.  If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.” John 15:18-22

Don’t condone sin.  Speak the truth in love.  Know that we will be persecuted.  Remember that God is with us.  His grace is sufficient to get us through all things!

Don't let others fit you into their...

No one but you knows what you are called to do.  Don’t let others fit you into their mold of what they think you should do.  Be the you that God created you to be.

Several years ago, I was a pretty insecure person.  I worried about what others said and thought about me…I was a people pleaser.  That behavior is all that I knew…from childhood well into my adult life as well!   

Anyway, years ago when I was a kid, I remember that I loved to sing and even tryed to write songs…music has always done it for me!  One day I heard a couple of girls singing and I said to a close relative that I could sing as well as them.  This person laughed and said, “Oh no you can’t.”  I cannot begin to tell you how many years those words affected me…because I believed them!  After that, I never even considered singing aloud for others until I was well into my twenties.  It’s true!

One day, I remembered that situation.  I realized then, just how much I had let those four little words affect my life.  I made a decision that I would no longer let someone fit me into their mold of what they thought I was capable of doing.  NO MORE!  No one but God and myself know what He has called me to do.  (Of course I only know the details on a “need to know” basis.)  I will not let the opinions of others rule my life.  That was one of the best decisions that I could have ever made.

If we aren’t secure in who God has created us to be, how can we ever be fully effective within the Body o f Christ?  When you’re on a mission, so to speak, and you know that God has called you to do it, don’t let anyone stop you.  Keep your eyes on the Lord.  Don’t look to the right or the left.  God will see you through to the end!  

 

Because I know that God loves me...

 

While working outside in the yard today, I watched our dog, Stewie.  He would run around, randomly going about his business as dogs do and then from time to time he would start barking loudly…not at anything in particular. He cracks me up!  After a while he would go lie down in the shade and rest.  Then later, he would get up and start the process all over again.  I have a special whistle that I have always used for him and he knows that whistle.  When I whistled for him, he came running, full tilt! 

This made me think about myself and God.  As I run about in my daily life, do I have my ears tuned to hear God when he calls to me?  I hope I do…that’s my goal.  If I do, am I obedient in answering his call…or do I continue on with my own agenda? Yikes!!

Because I know that God loves me…his love for me (for us all) is immeasurable…I want to please him.  I want to make myself available to his calling to me at all times.  That’s my goal in life…to be all that God created me to be, through obedience to him.

Let’s make it our goal to keep tuned into the God of the Universe at all times…He’s always nearby…always pursuing us.  It’s us who breaks that communication…let’s be persistent in listening and chasing after him.

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  

Being transparent with people is...

Being transparent with people is the best way to have relationships.  If we’re honest with others about our own challenges in life, it can be a definite encouragement to others.  But being transparent can be a challenge in itself.  I have found that many folks don’t want to be transparent.  So many folks don’t want others to see their flaws…but we all have flaws…there’s no getting around it!  No need to pretend that you don’t...and no need to pretend that you have it all figured out, either!

 

When we overcome a flaw, being transparent with others allows us to share how the Lord has helped us to overcome and it encourages others that may be dealing with the same issue.  It also gives us a chance to share the things that we’ve overcome…giving us confidence.    

 

The trouble is judgment that can come from others when you’re being transparent.  From my own experience I have found that there are always those who want to tell me how to fix my issue, rather than listen to what I am saying…and usually they’re the folks who don’t like to be transparent.  I have learned to just blow it off or let it roll off like water off a duck’s back.  Now…that’s easily said here, but honestly, it has taken some time for me to get to that place…and depending on the subject, I still struggle with it from time to time. 

 

Remember that we’re all going through this thing called life.  We all have only 24 hours in a day and we all breathe the same air.  No one is more special than anyone else.  We all have challenges to overcome…some more than others...so don’t judge.  Be transparent with yourself and others.  You’ll find that the more transparent you become, usually the more transparent others around you will become as well.

 

Keep Jesus on the throne of your heart and remember that it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks about you.  It only matters what God thinks about you…and He loves you more than any word can express.