Why is there hardship in the world? Why doesn't God make everything just "good" and comfortable? Wouldn't we all love Him more and believe more in His goodness and mighty power if everything just went "right" for us all the time?
There are many articles, books, sermons, etc. out there about why
there is struggling in the world and why bad things happen to good
people (as well as why good things happen to people who do bad). I am
going to admit right now that, although I have heard some of the
thoughts and ideas from some of these resources, I have not done a lot
of reading or study in this area up to this current point in my life.
Yes, I'd love to read some of the books, articles, etc. - some day.
I
pray for salvation or deepened relationships with God for many people
and I've learned that this is a sticking point that holds some people back from believing and trusting God.
Before you read any more of this post, I'd like to ask you to open your mind. Be willing to ponder on what you read. Seek out your own thoughts about it. I'd also suggest prayer, if you are willing. Even if you don't typically pray and don't know for sure if you believe in God - give it a try with an openness to see what God can reveal to you. Come ready to learn something new about God, yourself, and the world around you.
I'll wait...Go ahead and open up your mind and heart. Let go of any walls of hardness.
Okay, here we go.
So many times, our relationship with God can be viewed as similar to that of a child with a parent. (And as much as we like to be in control sometimes, we are the "child" in this relationship and God is the "parent" - not the other way around.) If you are a parent (and even if you're not, you have had parents!), you can probably identify with some of the similarities. Children can be rebellious at times. Even if it is not outright rebellion, children push limits, test boundaries, and like to venture out on their own at times. We all do this with God as well. Just as kids get in tough situations and have to deal with the consequences of their decisions (or SHOULD be made to deal with the consequences), so must we all deal with the consequences of our own pushing limits, testing boundaries, and trying to do things on our own - rebellion. If children are not given consequences, they won't learn the lessons needed to grow and mature into responsible adults who can live with integrity and get along with others. If we don't persevere through hardships that present themselves in our lives, we will not grow and mature into those worthy to be called as members of the family of God.
If everything went the way we wanted them to all the time, would we really love and trust God more? Or would we think we don't need God, because everything is all good? I tend to think it would be the latter. Yes, I succumb to times of wishing everything would be "perfect": that people would all get along and speak kindly to each other, considering others; that we'd get everything done correctly and in time; that the weather wouldn't interfere with our plans; that the government would work effectively; that we'd have enough money to do some different things whether they be for added comfort or fun. Oh, I'm sure I could go on. But again, that is not God's will for us. Even if we believed that if everything went right we would love God more, that's not what God wants. He wants us to CHOOSE to love Him, even when things get hard. He doesn't want "robots" who just love Him because that's what He made them to do. He wants us all to have free choice. Think about this idea in regard to your other relationships. What if your significant other/child/parent only loved you because they had to, because they had no other choice? Would you really feel loved? What about having friends just because they had to be your friends? Wouldn't you rather them choose to be with you because they like you, enjoy you, care for you? Love that is chosen is much more meaningful than forced love would be. Forced love isn't really love, is it?
Disasters and difficulties do hurt. Sometimes, they cause people to fall away from God, but they can also serve to draw people to Him. I think the difference between the two is a person's attitude and perspective. If you are looking only at the problem and for solutions around you, then you will lose hope and think that even if there is God, then He is mean, unloving, uncaring. If you are looking for the good in the midst of the circumstances and straining to see the good on the other end, then you will have a more hope and peace. If you are looking for goodness throughout, especially if you ask God to reveal it to you, then you will find it.
One thing my family is going through right now is the soon-to-come death of my grandfather. We have lost eight other family members as well as at least five others in the last four years - my whole son's lifetime. It can be hard and some people would approach it with despair. They could cry out about how unfair it is to be losing this person, how they don't know how they can go on afterward. They would cry for themselves and the other person. Now, don't get me wrong: there is nothing wrong with crying and grieving. It is okay to be sad and miss the other person. It is okay not to understand why you have to go through certain circumstances, and it is okay to tell God that you don't understand that. You can even ask Him to reveal some reasons to you. Just know that God may not always tell you the reasons - or may wait until a time much later to reveal them. Some of the goodness that I can hold onto during our current circumstance: (1) I know Grandpa believes in Jesus, is not afraid of death, and is ready. (2) We know where he's going and we'll see him again some day. (3) We know his suffering is coming to an end soon. (4) We are getting the opportunity to spend some more time with him before he passes - something we haven't gotten in other instances.
I know when my father died suddenly a little over a year ago, many people said they were impressed by how well my family was handling it. My step-mother, siblings, etc. all had peace and could see the goodness throughout the circumstances, even though we were grieved about the loss of sharing life with him. We know where he is. We kept picturing him in God's throne room, rejoicing and singing loudly before Him. I tell you, my dad would be jubilant - bouncing, jumping, shouting, and singing with such great joy and happiness! How can we despair, knowing the joy that he had? I can say I would have more grief for someone who dies without knowing Jesus. The heart aches in a different way for these individuals.
Here are some points I got from a study called Always True by James MacDonald (hereafter JM) that I found to pertain to this topic. Maybe they'll be helpful to you, too.
- We tend to believe that God is good only when life is going well for us. JM wrote, "God is too good and He loves us too much to limit His great work in our lives to our small and narrow expectations."
- Suffering can be for our good and spiritual growth. If we are living our lives in complete comfort, that growth will likely not happen. Because we live in a world full of sin that has fallen away from God, then we can expect some suffering to occur. JM says, "God's good purposes include His commitment to use all of life's circumstances to bring us to maturity and completeness in Christ."
- JM wrote, "Everything He allows, everything He withholds, every difficult season, every stretching circumstance, He means for your good." (I'm also reminded that not everything that happens is about/for us personally. Sometimes we may go through something so that someone else may receive the benefit or grow from it. This applies to blessings as well as suffering. It is not always about just us!)
- God is more interested in our growth in wisdom, character-development, and moving toward righteousness than He is in us knowing all the details of our situation. JM says, "How much would you depend on Him if you already knew the answer to everything?...If you believe He is good and is working out your life for your good, you don't need to know all of the details now."
- Our relationship with Jesus deepens when we go through struggles while trusting Him.
I pray that these thoughts are helpful for someone reading this. I pray that someone is able to open their heart to God with vulnerability to trust and look for His goodness in the hard times. I hope to hear from some whom this reached.
Readings: James 1:2-4, 12, Hebrews 12:7-8, 11 (verses 5-11 might all be helpful to you); Proverbs 3:11-12, Romans 8:28, Psalm 34:8, Jeremiah 29:11-13, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, 9-10
Friday, February 7, 2014
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
One and Seven
I like to do an interview with my kids on their birthdays, asking about some of their favorites, things they like and dislike, etc. My daughter's birthday was recently, so she has some of the questions and answers still on her mind. Today at lunch, she was talking about her favorite numbers. I started thinking about my favorite number. For the last 15 or so years, I've said that my favorite number was 7. Today, though, I realized that I really like 1 as well.
My daughter asked me my favorite number, and I shared with her that for a long time it was seven, but I think right now, I really like one as well. I was wondering if she would leave it there or not - and she didn't. :-) That was fine with me. I was just going to wait for her to ask, though. Before she asked I had already been thinking about it and here are some of the thoughts I had and shared with her, and a few verses I found for some of them:
1 God
1 Savior
1 Man without sin (Hebrews 4:14-15, 1 Peter 2:22, 2 Corinthians 5:21)
1 Son of God (Jesus) (John 3:16)
1 Death (Jesus only had to die one time for all. The price has been paid once, not repeatedly.) (Romans 5:19)
1 Way to Heaven (John 14:6)
1 Salvation (Once you are truly saved, you don't lose your salvation.)
1 - for unity
1 - one church body with Jesus as the 'head' (Romans 12:5, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4:4)
1 - man leaves his parents and becomes one with his wife (Genesis 2:24, Ephesians 5:31, Mark 10:8)
1 - Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:4-13, Ephesians 4:4)
So, are you now wondering why 7 has also been a favorite? :-)
Seven in Hebrew is closely related to the word for Sabbath. It symbolizes completion, fullness, perfection. It is used throughout the Bible. Here are a few of the references.
7 Days of creation (Genesis 1)
7 Of every clean animal taken on the ark with Noah (Genesis 7:2)
7 Days in the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Exodus 23:15)
7 Lamps/lights on the lampstand (menorrah) in the first tabernacle (Exodus 25:31-40, especially 37)
7 - The seventh day of the week is supposed to be the Sabbath, a day of rest, a holy day. (Exodus 20:8-11, Exodus 35:2)
7 Days of isolation for people who get sick/infected (Leviticus 12-15)
There are so many more uses of the number seven in the Bible, but let me just end here with some of the uses in the book of Revelation:
7 churches, spirits (or sevenfold Spirit), golden lampstands, stars (in Revelation 1-4)
7 seals, horns, eyes, spirits (or sevenfold Spirit) (in Revelation 5)
7 angels, trumpets (in Revelation 8)
7 thunders (Revelation 10)
7 heads, crowns (Revelation 12)
7 angels, plagues, golden bowls, heads, hills, kings (Revelation 15-17)
There are other amazingly significant numbers used in the Bible, such as 12 (tribes, disciples...), 40 (days and nights it rained during the flood in Noah's time, days Jesus spent in the wilderness after being baptized..., maximum number of lashes that could be administered as punishment), and 42 (months - a time, times and half a time [years...3 1/2 years, which equals 42 months], 1260 days [again, 42 months]). The references for 42 months/time, times, and half a time/1260 days are from Revelation 11:2-3, 12:6, 12:14, 13:5 and Daniel 7:25. It refers to a time of tribulation, the time of the anti-Christ. Interesting side-note: The extermination camps in Nazi Germany during the Holocaust were operational for 3 1/2 years (http://www.1260days.com/1260days.htm). Another interesting side-note: 3 1/2 is half of 7.
It just amazes me how precise God is. He has a plan, a schedule, a perfect time worked out for everything. He has chosen to reveal pieces of it to us. How is God revealing Himself to you?
P.S. - Following our talk about favorite numbers, my daughter's mind wandered to favorite colors. Today, she said her favorites were red and purple. Red reminded her of Jesus' blood shed on the cross for our sins. Purple reminded her of the wine at the Last Supper, when Jesus referred to it as a symbol of his blood. Oh, this girl is always thinking!
My daughter asked me my favorite number, and I shared with her that for a long time it was seven, but I think right now, I really like one as well. I was wondering if she would leave it there or not - and she didn't. :-) That was fine with me. I was just going to wait for her to ask, though. Before she asked I had already been thinking about it and here are some of the thoughts I had and shared with her, and a few verses I found for some of them:
1 God
1 Savior
1 Man without sin (Hebrews 4:14-15, 1 Peter 2:22, 2 Corinthians 5:21)
1 Son of God (Jesus) (John 3:16)
1 Death (Jesus only had to die one time for all. The price has been paid once, not repeatedly.) (Romans 5:19)
1 Way to Heaven (John 14:6)
1 Salvation (Once you are truly saved, you don't lose your salvation.)
1 - for unity
1 - one church body with Jesus as the 'head' (Romans 12:5, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4:4)
1 - man leaves his parents and becomes one with his wife (Genesis 2:24, Ephesians 5:31, Mark 10:8)
1 - Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:4-13, Ephesians 4:4)
So, are you now wondering why 7 has also been a favorite? :-)
Seven in Hebrew is closely related to the word for Sabbath. It symbolizes completion, fullness, perfection. It is used throughout the Bible. Here are a few of the references.
7 Days of creation (Genesis 1)
7 Of every clean animal taken on the ark with Noah (Genesis 7:2)
7 Days in the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Exodus 23:15)
7 Lamps/lights on the lampstand (menorrah) in the first tabernacle (Exodus 25:31-40, especially 37)
7 - The seventh day of the week is supposed to be the Sabbath, a day of rest, a holy day. (Exodus 20:8-11, Exodus 35:2)
7 Days of isolation for people who get sick/infected (Leviticus 12-15)
There are so many more uses of the number seven in the Bible, but let me just end here with some of the uses in the book of Revelation:
7 churches, spirits (or sevenfold Spirit), golden lampstands, stars (in Revelation 1-4)
7 seals, horns, eyes, spirits (or sevenfold Spirit) (in Revelation 5)
7 angels, trumpets (in Revelation 8)
7 thunders (Revelation 10)
7 heads, crowns (Revelation 12)
7 angels, plagues, golden bowls, heads, hills, kings (Revelation 15-17)
There are other amazingly significant numbers used in the Bible, such as 12 (tribes, disciples...), 40 (days and nights it rained during the flood in Noah's time, days Jesus spent in the wilderness after being baptized..., maximum number of lashes that could be administered as punishment), and 42 (months - a time, times and half a time [years...3 1/2 years, which equals 42 months], 1260 days [again, 42 months]). The references for 42 months/time, times, and half a time/1260 days are from Revelation 11:2-3, 12:6, 12:14, 13:5 and Daniel 7:25. It refers to a time of tribulation, the time of the anti-Christ. Interesting side-note: The extermination camps in Nazi Germany during the Holocaust were operational for 3 1/2 years (http://www.1260days.com/1260days.htm). Another interesting side-note: 3 1/2 is half of 7.
It just amazes me how precise God is. He has a plan, a schedule, a perfect time worked out for everything. He has chosen to reveal pieces of it to us. How is God revealing Himself to you?
P.S. - Following our talk about favorite numbers, my daughter's mind wandered to favorite colors. Today, she said her favorites were red and purple. Red reminded her of Jesus' blood shed on the cross for our sins. Purple reminded her of the wine at the Last Supper, when Jesus referred to it as a symbol of his blood. Oh, this girl is always thinking!
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Voices in the Night
Last night, I was trying to fall asleep and started rehearsing Bible verses. During this time, the words, "Eloi, Eloi, Shabbat Shalom" started running through my mind.
These words are in Hebrew, of which I know very little, although I've heard some words and phrases through church and Bible studies. I knew that "Eloi" referred to God and "Shalom" means "peace," but I didn't know or remember what "Shabbat" means.
I looked it up this afternoon. It turns out "Shabbat Shalom" is a common greeting among Jews between sundown on Friday evening and sundown on Saturday evening. It basically means "peaceful Sabbath" or "May your day of no work be peaceful."
"Eloi" means "my God."
"Shabbat" literally means a ceasing or stopping and is the Hebrew word used to reference the Sabbath.
"Shalom" actually has more to do with being whole or complete than just being at peace. I love the definition provided by one website: "Peace, hello, goodbye, health and wholeness, tranquility, safety, well-being, welfare, contentment, success, comfort, wholeness, integrity, also a common greeting." (http://briangan.ms11.net/personal/dictionary.htm)
So, late on a Saturday evening, I find myself talking to God, my God, about a peaceful, whole, complete Sabbath. I'm not sure what to take from it, but being more intentional about observing the Sabbath day has crossed my mind many times recently.
Exodus 20:8-11 "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy."
Deuteronomy 5:12-15 "Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the LORD your God has commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox, your donkey, or any of your animals, nor the alien within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest, as you do. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the LORD your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day."
Genesis 2:2-3 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
(Websites referenced: http://jewsandjoes.com/what-is-the-meaning-of-shabbat-shalom.html, http://yehudafm.wordpress.com/2012/02/18/what-does-shabbat-shalom-mean/, http://briangan.ms11.net/personal/dictionary.htm. Please know that I don't endorse any of the content of these websites, as I have not reviewed them more than the specific pages viewed for this post.)
These words are in Hebrew, of which I know very little, although I've heard some words and phrases through church and Bible studies. I knew that "Eloi" referred to God and "Shalom" means "peace," but I didn't know or remember what "Shabbat" means.
I looked it up this afternoon. It turns out "Shabbat Shalom" is a common greeting among Jews between sundown on Friday evening and sundown on Saturday evening. It basically means "peaceful Sabbath" or "May your day of no work be peaceful."
"Eloi" means "my God."
"Shabbat" literally means a ceasing or stopping and is the Hebrew word used to reference the Sabbath.
"Shalom" actually has more to do with being whole or complete than just being at peace. I love the definition provided by one website: "Peace, hello, goodbye, health and wholeness, tranquility, safety, well-being, welfare, contentment, success, comfort, wholeness, integrity, also a common greeting." (http://briangan.ms11.net/personal/dictionary.htm)
So, late on a Saturday evening, I find myself talking to God, my God, about a peaceful, whole, complete Sabbath. I'm not sure what to take from it, but being more intentional about observing the Sabbath day has crossed my mind many times recently.
Exodus 20:8-11 "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy."
Deuteronomy 5:12-15 "Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the LORD your God has commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox, your donkey, or any of your animals, nor the alien within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest, as you do. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the LORD your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day."
Genesis 2:2-3 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
(Websites referenced: http://jewsandjoes.com/what-is-the-meaning-of-shabbat-shalom.html, http://yehudafm.wordpress.com/2012/02/18/what-does-shabbat-shalom-mean/, http://briangan.ms11.net/personal/dictionary.htm. Please know that I don't endorse any of the content of these websites, as I have not reviewed them more than the specific pages viewed for this post.)
Saturday, September 14, 2013
Promotions and Firings
I always intend to blog more frequently, but it just doesn't work out at this time! I have so many ideas that come to me and get jotted down. Some are still on paper at this time. I hope they make it here some day. :-)
The other afternoon, my daughter and I were having a conversation. It started with her saying that she loved Jesus' cross best because he didn't stay on it. Then she mentioned the two criminals who were crucified with him - one who would be with Jesus in heaven, and one who wouldn't (Luke 23:39-43). She then said she was praying for a family friend of ours, because they don't believe in Jesus as the Son of God as we do, and she prayed that this person would some day. She wants to see this person in heaven some day.
I don't remember all of the conversation, but it got me thinking - and I don't know quite how it took the course that it did, but here it is. In a very small way, it can be related to promotions and firings in a place of employment. We are all working together and then someone gets promoted or fired. If they are promoted, we are happy for them and we know they have gone on with achievement, recognized for their work, to better benefits, etc. If they are fired, we hurt for them because we know they will have hardships - searching for a new job, loss of pay and benefits, etc. Both ways, they are not in the same "office" any more and we've lost some physical/social relationship with them.
We all have a purpose in this life, whether we choose to accept it or not. God has a will about what we will do, who we will impact, etc. When that job is completed, whether successfully (leading to promotion) or unsuccessfully (leading to firing), we leave the position. Maybe the position is left empty or eliminated. Maybe someone else will come to fill it, continuing the mission set before the person who was there previously.
Earlier this week, we attended a visitation for an individual from our church and the discussion came up with the family that they felt both happy and sad - happy that they knew she was in heaven, and sad because she wasn't still here with them. That is how it is for believers who know their family member/friend knew God and believed in Jesus. It is a far different story when believers know the individual did not have such a faith. It hurts more. There is not a happy/sad feeling. It is a sad/sad, a heart hurt, a mourning. There is not the joy of knowing they have a renewed body, unspeakable peace and joy, and are living with the almighty king and others who have gone before. You know, I sometimes feel the same pangs of grief and pain for those who are still living, because I know they are so turned against or away from God. It really will take a miracle for some of them to turn to Him, and I don't see anything in them that even wants to consider it.
So, after you complete the job that has been given to you, what's your next step? Are you going to be one whom the Boss says "well done," (Matthew 25:21,23; Luke 19:17) and you get promoted, or are you going to be to be fired. By the way, did anyone else catch the connection between being "fired" and the fires of hell?
I can tell you sincerely that I pray for you with all earnesty for you to know God and live for Him - even if I don't know you personally. Maybe we'll meet some day in heaven! (...if not before then.)
The other afternoon, my daughter and I were having a conversation. It started with her saying that she loved Jesus' cross best because he didn't stay on it. Then she mentioned the two criminals who were crucified with him - one who would be with Jesus in heaven, and one who wouldn't (Luke 23:39-43). She then said she was praying for a family friend of ours, because they don't believe in Jesus as the Son of God as we do, and she prayed that this person would some day. She wants to see this person in heaven some day.
I don't remember all of the conversation, but it got me thinking - and I don't know quite how it took the course that it did, but here it is. In a very small way, it can be related to promotions and firings in a place of employment. We are all working together and then someone gets promoted or fired. If they are promoted, we are happy for them and we know they have gone on with achievement, recognized for their work, to better benefits, etc. If they are fired, we hurt for them because we know they will have hardships - searching for a new job, loss of pay and benefits, etc. Both ways, they are not in the same "office" any more and we've lost some physical/social relationship with them.
We all have a purpose in this life, whether we choose to accept it or not. God has a will about what we will do, who we will impact, etc. When that job is completed, whether successfully (leading to promotion) or unsuccessfully (leading to firing), we leave the position. Maybe the position is left empty or eliminated. Maybe someone else will come to fill it, continuing the mission set before the person who was there previously.
Earlier this week, we attended a visitation for an individual from our church and the discussion came up with the family that they felt both happy and sad - happy that they knew she was in heaven, and sad because she wasn't still here with them. That is how it is for believers who know their family member/friend knew God and believed in Jesus. It is a far different story when believers know the individual did not have such a faith. It hurts more. There is not a happy/sad feeling. It is a sad/sad, a heart hurt, a mourning. There is not the joy of knowing they have a renewed body, unspeakable peace and joy, and are living with the almighty king and others who have gone before. You know, I sometimes feel the same pangs of grief and pain for those who are still living, because I know they are so turned against or away from God. It really will take a miracle for some of them to turn to Him, and I don't see anything in them that even wants to consider it.
So, after you complete the job that has been given to you, what's your next step? Are you going to be one whom the Boss says "well done," (Matthew 25:21,23; Luke 19:17) and you get promoted, or are you going to be to be fired. By the way, did anyone else catch the connection between being "fired" and the fires of hell?
I can tell you sincerely that I pray for you with all earnesty for you to know God and live for Him - even if I don't know you personally. Maybe we'll meet some day in heaven! (...if not before then.)
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
People-Watching
In early July, my husband and I spent a little less than 48 hours to ourselves over a weekend. One morning at breakfast, I was watching others around me and noticed that they were all doing the same thing - watching people around them! How interesting that just about everyone was people-watching.
It really is part of our human character isn't it? We always watch others. We want to see what they are doing and how they are doing it, what they have or don't have and what they can get, who they are with, etc. People-watching can lead to things considered sin in the Christian life - envy, jealousy, coveting, sense of entitlement, sense of self-importance or "better than them" attitudes, gossip, judging incorrectly, etc. Ouch. But it's true, isn't it? We think things like, "Look at what they're wearing," or "I can't believe they just spoke to their children like that."
Maybe we should avoid people-watching. Then we could avoid all those opportunities to sin, right?
Then again, I realized the good that can come from watching others as well. What we see in others can have a positive effect on us, not just a negative one. Like the "pay-it-forward" concept - one person does something nice for someone else and, in turn, the second person does something nice for someone else. If we see a person helping another individual pick up their spilled popcorn, then we may think how nice it was that they helped, and hopefully then think that we could have done the same thing, or something similar.
As Christians, we are called to be examples of God's love.
*James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
*1 John 3:17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be that person?
*1 John 4:8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
*Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
* 2 Corinthians 5:20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.
Some thoughts to take away from this:
1. When you people-watch, look for the good. Give people the benefit of a doubt, because you don't know them and everything they have going on in their lives. Don't be too quick to judge.
2. Pray for the people you see. I read something about this once and really started just praying for people that I've seen walking down the street, sitting in restaurants, etc. It can be amazing to intercede for people you don't even know. I think about it as "pray as you go" praying.
3. Be the good example. Live in such a way, with such an undeniable integrity, that others will be drawn to that and want to live what they see in you. Show them Jesus through your words, actions, gestures, etc.
It really is part of our human character isn't it? We always watch others. We want to see what they are doing and how they are doing it, what they have or don't have and what they can get, who they are with, etc. People-watching can lead to things considered sin in the Christian life - envy, jealousy, coveting, sense of entitlement, sense of self-importance or "better than them" attitudes, gossip, judging incorrectly, etc. Ouch. But it's true, isn't it? We think things like, "Look at what they're wearing," or "I can't believe they just spoke to their children like that."
Maybe we should avoid people-watching. Then we could avoid all those opportunities to sin, right?
Then again, I realized the good that can come from watching others as well. What we see in others can have a positive effect on us, not just a negative one. Like the "pay-it-forward" concept - one person does something nice for someone else and, in turn, the second person does something nice for someone else. If we see a person helping another individual pick up their spilled popcorn, then we may think how nice it was that they helped, and hopefully then think that we could have done the same thing, or something similar.
As Christians, we are called to be examples of God's love.
*James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
*1 John 3:17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be that person?
*1 John 4:8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
*Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
* 2 Corinthians 5:20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.
Some thoughts to take away from this:
1. When you people-watch, look for the good. Give people the benefit of a doubt, because you don't know them and everything they have going on in their lives. Don't be too quick to judge.
2. Pray for the people you see. I read something about this once and really started just praying for people that I've seen walking down the street, sitting in restaurants, etc. It can be amazing to intercede for people you don't even know. I think about it as "pray as you go" praying.
3. Be the good example. Live in such a way, with such an undeniable integrity, that others will be drawn to that and want to live what they see in you. Show them Jesus through your words, actions, gestures, etc.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Choices, Choices...
Daughter is finished with school for a few months, but we're still working on some things together. She has a workbook to do to help "bridge the gap" between the grades. I'm reading to her; she's reading to me; we're doing character studies. In my readings to her, we read from the Bible, a book we love from her curriculum this past year called I Heard Good News Today, and other books as she requests and we have time. I got a whole bunch of character studies (about ten?) from Confessions of a Homeschooler (www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com) and thought this summer would be a good time to use them.
Last week's character study was on humility (vs. shifting blame and making excuses). Daughter was interested in the topic and was ready to discuss and talk about examples of situations with me. One day, we were talking about taking responsibility for our own actions and words, and not blaming others. We were talking about how some people in the Bible had blamed others and what the consequences were for their choices. For example, Adam blamed Eve for giving him the fruit. Eve blamed the serpent for tricking her. Aaron blamed the Israelite people for forcing him to make a golden calf for them to worship.
I don't remember exactly how it came up or how it was worded, but Daughter said something about God knowing beforehand what each of these individuals were going to do. Then she asked something like, "If God already knew that they were going to choose the wrong thing, then why did He allow it?"
I told her that God gives us choices. He doesn't want to force us to love Him - He wants it to be our choice, because wouldn't it mean more to both us and Him that way? I told her that it's like me asking her if she wants ice cream or watermelon? I know what her answer is going to be (ice cream) but I still ask and allow her to make the choice herself. Then I asked her if she would rather be kind to her brother or hit him and receive a consequence? She said she'd rather be kind. I pointed out again that, although I knew what her answer would be (not wanting a consequence), I still gave her the opportunity to make her own decision.
Later in the day, Daughter asked why the tree (of the knowledge of good and evil - the forbidden one) was in the Garden of Eden and why God would have even put it there. Why wouldn't He just remove all sin. We talked again about how God gives us choices. We must learn to trust Him and not ourselves. We will love more purely if it's our choice and not forced upon us.
A similar topic came up this evening as we were reading about Cain and Abel in the Bible (Genesis 4) - when Cain killed Abel and then God asked, "Where is your brother, Abel?" Daughter asked why God had to ask where Abel was? Instead of answering her directly, I asked what she thought about it. She said God was giving him a choice. Good answer, Daughter! Yes, God knew, but He gave Cain the opportunity to own up to his sins, to turn from them and repent. Instead, Cain chose to answer angrily to God and lie about it saying, "I don't know," adding yet another sin to his list (anger, murder, lying...).
So, what choices are you making? Are you choosing God and His ways?
But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." - Jeremiah 24:15
"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. - Matthew 6:24
You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. - James 4:4
Last week's character study was on humility (vs. shifting blame and making excuses). Daughter was interested in the topic and was ready to discuss and talk about examples of situations with me. One day, we were talking about taking responsibility for our own actions and words, and not blaming others. We were talking about how some people in the Bible had blamed others and what the consequences were for their choices. For example, Adam blamed Eve for giving him the fruit. Eve blamed the serpent for tricking her. Aaron blamed the Israelite people for forcing him to make a golden calf for them to worship.
I don't remember exactly how it came up or how it was worded, but Daughter said something about God knowing beforehand what each of these individuals were going to do. Then she asked something like, "If God already knew that they were going to choose the wrong thing, then why did He allow it?"
I told her that God gives us choices. He doesn't want to force us to love Him - He wants it to be our choice, because wouldn't it mean more to both us and Him that way? I told her that it's like me asking her if she wants ice cream or watermelon? I know what her answer is going to be (ice cream) but I still ask and allow her to make the choice herself. Then I asked her if she would rather be kind to her brother or hit him and receive a consequence? She said she'd rather be kind. I pointed out again that, although I knew what her answer would be (not wanting a consequence), I still gave her the opportunity to make her own decision.
Later in the day, Daughter asked why the tree (of the knowledge of good and evil - the forbidden one) was in the Garden of Eden and why God would have even put it there. Why wouldn't He just remove all sin. We talked again about how God gives us choices. We must learn to trust Him and not ourselves. We will love more purely if it's our choice and not forced upon us.
A similar topic came up this evening as we were reading about Cain and Abel in the Bible (Genesis 4) - when Cain killed Abel and then God asked, "Where is your brother, Abel?" Daughter asked why God had to ask where Abel was? Instead of answering her directly, I asked what she thought about it. She said God was giving him a choice. Good answer, Daughter! Yes, God knew, but He gave Cain the opportunity to own up to his sins, to turn from them and repent. Instead, Cain chose to answer angrily to God and lie about it saying, "I don't know," adding yet another sin to his list (anger, murder, lying...).
So, what choices are you making? Are you choosing God and His ways?
But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." - Jeremiah 24:15
"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. - Matthew 6:24
You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. - James 4:4
Friday, May 24, 2013
Bickering Kids
There has been a lot of arguing between the kids lately.
* Yesterday morning, I read this verse during my quiet time:
Titus 3:9-10 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them.
Hmm, I should help my children avoid foolish arguments that are useless and unprofitable. I should help them to recognize their arguments as such. I may warn the person causing the argument a few times, and then separate them from me and/or the other child.
* This week's character study with the older child is on arguing. During yesterday's reading, the Titus 3:9-10 verse came up again. Another one that came up was Proverbs 17:14 - Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam, so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out. Commentary with the verse said "Help children stop quarreling before it starts. Remove the child who insists on arguing, enforce a stop to argumentative conversations."
Well, that really spoke to me, too. I need to continue teaching my children ways to avoid arguments. I've also been working to remove the argumentative child.
* Then, one more verse from our character study today:
Proverbs 22:10 Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife; quarrels and insults are ended.
Again, remove the child who is causing the disturbance with his/her unkind words and actions, and the rest of the negative situation with diffuse.
*Another verse that came to mind today while dealing with such an issue with unkindness and arguing with the kids was Proverbs 15:1 - A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Of course, these verses could be applied in more situations than just with our children, but they have particularly blessed me over the last couple days.
* Yesterday morning, I read this verse during my quiet time:
Titus 3:9-10 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them.
Hmm, I should help my children avoid foolish arguments that are useless and unprofitable. I should help them to recognize their arguments as such. I may warn the person causing the argument a few times, and then separate them from me and/or the other child.
* This week's character study with the older child is on arguing. During yesterday's reading, the Titus 3:9-10 verse came up again. Another one that came up was Proverbs 17:14 - Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam, so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out. Commentary with the verse said "Help children stop quarreling before it starts. Remove the child who insists on arguing, enforce a stop to argumentative conversations."
Well, that really spoke to me, too. I need to continue teaching my children ways to avoid arguments. I've also been working to remove the argumentative child.
* Then, one more verse from our character study today:
Proverbs 22:10 Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife; quarrels and insults are ended.
Again, remove the child who is causing the disturbance with his/her unkind words and actions, and the rest of the negative situation with diffuse.
*Another verse that came to mind today while dealing with such an issue with unkindness and arguing with the kids was Proverbs 15:1 - A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Of course, these verses could be applied in more situations than just with our children, but they have particularly blessed me over the last couple days.
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