comparisons

Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else.

- Galatians 6:4

Social media can be really cool and fun, reconnecting with family and friends, and I really think that social media has been very helpful for us as we have been dealing with social distancing because even though we can’t physically be with family and friends, we are able to hang out on different platforms that were not available years ago. 

Easter Sunday my family had a virtual visit with family in 4 different towns in Iowa, Arkansas and Washington, family we had not seen since June of last year.

Each Wednesday my small group comes together virtually to discuss praises and share prayer requests and to learn more scripture.

But . . . what happens when social media turns into “everything you can do, I can do better”?

We start to compare ourselves to others.

Those of us that don’t teach or home school look at our friends that have been homeschooling for years and perhaps we feel like we are failing in that role.

Or maybe we have that friend with a home gym that has lost 30 pounds because they are working out from home, and our gyms are closed.

Even looking at the friends that have nicer houses or cars or the “perfect marriage”.

STOP IT.

God did not make you so you could compare yourself to others.

You are uniquely and wonderfully made, no one compares to you in the Father’s eyes.

You are individually special and guess what?  God loves you exactly as you are.

You don’t need to be a super star in anything when you are a child of God.

wisdom

So God replied, “Because you have asked for wisdom in governing my people with justice and have not asked for a long life or wealth or the death of your enemies— I will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever will have!

- 1 Kings 3:11-12

If you could ask for one thing from God, what would it be?

Wealth, happiness, love, success?

What if, you asked for wisdom, and working from that wisdom you were able to bring yourself to wealth, happiness, love and success?

Wisdom to make decisions is a valuable commodity, because wisdom can help you grow in so many areas of your life.

Next time you are faced with a decision, pray that God gives you the wisdom to do things according to His will.

You may be surprised at the results.

stress

Those who love your instructions have great peace and do not stumble.

- Psalms 119:165

We are all under some form of stress. (Especially right now with social distancing and working from home and home schooling!)  

Some carry it better than others, some completely wig out when in stressful situations (me).

I have noticed though, that when I turn my heart and mind to God, I am filled with peace, I no longer feel stress the same as I did before.

It’s like if you have $1,000 set aside in an emergency fund, and your clothes dryer broke, you could go buy a new dryer using your emergency fund, and you wouldn’t stress about where the money was coming from.

So consider God your “emergency fund”, read His Word, talk to Him and listen, you will start to have less stress and more peace.

forgiveness

If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.

- Matthew 6:14-15

There are a few rules about forgiveness, you have to forgive yourself and you have to forgive others.

My pastor said in one of his (amazing) sermons “God will not spend the blood of His son Jesus if you will not be a conduit of forgiveness to others.“

Whoa.

I have heard a few people argue the forgiveness thing, “how can I forgive this person for doing this to me?” “how can I forgive myself for letting this happen?”

Ya’all, listen: we are told to live more like Jesus, and guess what?  Jesus came to earth so we could be forgiven.

I am not discounting the fact that forgiving others is hard, those who know my story know that some pretty horrific things have happened to me, but as I have grown closer to Jesus I have realized that these pain these people caused is in the past, and by not forgiving them I am only hurting myself.

Why on earth would I want to keep hurting myself?

Forgiveness.  Try it.  You’d be surprised at how free you feel.

example

Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.

- 1 Timothy 4:12

Continuing my thoughts from yesterday, we should strive to set an example for others.

Think about the little kid that is watching you in a store, at the park, in church. 

What kind of example can you set for that child?

Do you want that child to see you texting and answering facebook and email, or listening to the sermon in church?

Do you want that child to see you being rude and cutting in line at the store or in the park, or see you being helpful and friendly to others?

It doesn’t matter how old or young you are there is always someone watching.

Set the right example.

watch

Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

- 1 Timothy 4:15-16

I am kind of going back to the “always do the right thing, even when no one is looking” thing here.

People see you.

People watch what you say and do, how you act and treat others, they want to know if you live up to your words.

I try to live up to expectations, but I know I am not perfect.

I want to be a good example, but I am pitifully human and I will make mistakes.

So are you – whether you want to admit it or not.

Let’s do our very best to live our lives the way we want people think that we do.

joyful and faithful

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

- Romans 12:12

Things should be getting back to normal in a few weeks.

Or so we have been told.

It is a three phase process, with businesses slowly re-opening and gatherings starting to happen again.

We are told to continue to be safe, so I imagine we will still see the 6 foot rule, masks and gloves, but the hope that we will be able to return to the office (for those of us working from home) and go to our places of worship, makes me joyful and well, I will continue to be faithful in that prayer.

You should too – be joyful and faithful and continue to be patient, there is an end to this madness in sight.

i know

I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!

- Job 19:25,27

Oh ya’all, Christ is alive!!

We celebrated His resurrection last week, but it was not a one day thing, He lives!!!

Song reference!

Who taught the sun where to stand in the morning?
And who told the ocean you can only come this far?
And who showed the moon where to hide 'til evening?
Whose words alone can catch a falling star?

Well I know my redeemer lives
I know my redeemer lives
All of creation testify
This life within me cries
I know my redeemer lives, yeah

The very same god that spins things in orbit
Runs to the weary, the worn and the weak
And the same gentle hands that hold me when I'm broken
They conquered death to bring me victory

Now I know my redeemer lives
I know my redeemer lives
Let all creation testify (aaah)
Let this life within me cry
I know my Redeemer, he lives
To take away my shame
And he lives forever, I'll proclaim

That the payment for my sin
Was the precious life he gave
But now he's alive and (aaah)
There's an empty grave

And I know my Redeemer (lives) he lives
I know my Redeemer lives
Let all creation testify (aah)
Let this life within me cry
I know my Redeemer, i know
(My redeemer lives) I know my redeemer lives
I know, know, know, know (my redeemer lives)
I know that I know, that I know, that I know, that I know
(I know my redeemer lives) my redeemer lives
Because he lives I can face tomorrow (he lives)
Whoo, whoo, yeah, yeah, yeah
I know, I know (he lives) he lives, he lives, yeah, yeah
I spoke with him this morning (he lives) he lives, he lives
The tomb is empty, he lives, he lives
I'm gonna tell everybody, yeah

He is alive!

Spread the word, because He is alive!

power

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

- 1 Corinthians 1:18

The power of God.

I know there are a lot of people that don’t believe, but those of us who do, those of us who have seen His work, we know His power.

I really strive to change the minds of those that don’t believe, I mean there are miracles around us every single day. 

YOU are miracle! 

Let’s make it a goal to talk about our faith, to change lives by changing hearts.

God’s power is amazing, why wouldn’t you want to share?

come back

God has given us this task of reconciling people to Him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And He gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making His appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”

- 2 Corinthians 5:18b-20

I don’t have a long comment on this one.

Come back.

God made you to love Him.

Come back.

It is OK if you have lost your way, you can always come back.

Let me know if I can help – He wants you back.

Come back.

Call me

‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’

- Jeremiah 33:3

God tells us that we can ask Him anything!

Anything at all!

At this point, many of us are wondering when the quarantine will end, please understand that I am not saying that God is going to give us a direct answer on this, no booming voice from the sky.

But

If you pray about it, ask Him to lead you, guide you and follow His will, I feel like we will hear an answer.

Another song snippet:

I'm so very ordinary, nothing special on my own.
Oh, I have never walked on water,
And I have never calmed a storm.
Sometimes I'm hiding away from the madness around me
Like a child who's afraid of the dark

But when I call on Jesus,
All things are possible
I can mount on wings like eagles' and soar
When I call on Jesus,
Mountains are gonna fall
'Cause He'll move heaven and earth to come rescue me when I call

God is listening – just call.  

I'll share

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.

- Acts 4:32

The hoarding and craziness of this pandemic is starting to slow down a bit.

I am not sure how many of the people that were buying out the store’s supply of toilet paper, hand sanitizer and cleaners really ever thought about what they were doing.

I don’t think they are believers, because they were not sharing.

I hope that none of my friends and family have to go without – people make jokes about what they do when they run out, but for some this is a very real possibility.

I used to think my grandmother was crazy because every week she bought Kleenex, paper towel, toilet paper and a few other “necessities”. 

When we cleaned her apartment because she had to go to assisted living, my family had enough paper towel to last a year.

I understand it now.

If you need something – anything – please let me know.  I will find a way to help.

I need you!

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

- Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

I know a lot of people are out cleaning up their yards right now, with social distancing and all.

Think about when you are raking up all those leaves and twigs and bagging them up for disposal, is it an easy job to do alone, or is the task made simpler when one person holds the bag and the other rakes the leaves in?

It is the same on our journey here on Earth.

We can walk alone, but there is no one to pick us up when we fall.

We can curl up under a blanket, but we get warmer when we have someone there with us.

We can fend off a wild animal, but two people have a better survival rate.

We can do life alone, but we were not made to do life alone, we were made to support each other and build each other up.

Come on this journey with me, spread God’s love and let’s do life together.

He's Alive!

Then He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”

- Luke 24:45-48

Happy Easter! He is alive, He is risen, He is risen indeed!!

Last week was rough for me, I was down pretty sick, but it was not nearly as rough on me as it was on Jesus!

Jesus knew it was coming, He prayed if there were any other way for God to take the other way.

But there was not another way.

Jesus went through pain that is not even conceivable to us, being beaten with whips that literally tore the skin from His back, having a crown of thorns shoved on His head so hard as to make Him bleed.

I can’t even begin to imagine His pain, and it did not end there.

He did this for US.

So that we could gain entrance to Heaven with Him.

We are forgiven, because He was forsaken.

Song reference (a snippet)!

I'm forgiven because You were forsaken

I'm accepted, You were condemned

I'm alive and well, Your Spirit is within me

Because You died and rose again

Amazing love, how can it be

That You, my King, should die for me?

Amazing love, I know it's true

It's my joy to honor You

In all I do, to honor You

In all I do, to honor You

You are my King

You are my King

Jesus, You are my King

You are my King

Hallelujah, the King is alive!

fear

The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?

– Psalm 27:1

There are so many song references I can put in here!

How about partial songs?

Matt Redmond – You Never Let Go

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I'm caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won't turn back
I know You are near

And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?

Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me

And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
We'll live to know You here on the earth

Zach Williams – Fear is a Liar

When he told you you're not good enough
When he told you you're not right
When he told you you're not strong enough
To put up a good fight
When he told you you're not worthy
When he told you you're not loved
When he told you you're not beautiful
That you'll never be enough

Fear, he is a liar
He will take your breath
Stop you in your steps
Fear he is a liar
He will rob your rest
Steal your happiness
Cast your fear in the fire
'Cause fear he is a liar

When he told you were troubled
You'll forever be alone
When he told you you should run away
You'll never find a home
When he told you you were dirty
And you should be ashamed
When he told you you could be the one
That grace could never change

Fear he is a liar
He will take your breath
Stop you in your steps
Fear he is a liar
He will rob your rest
Steal your happiness
Cast your fear in the fire
'Cause fear he is a liar

Francesca Battistelli – Fear You Don’t Own Me

Sick and tired of being sick and tired
Had as much of you as I can take
I'm so done, so over being afraid

I've gone through the motions
I've been back and forth
I know that you're thinking you've heard this before
I don't know how to say it
So I'm just gonna say it, yeah

Fear, you don't own me
There ain't no room in this story
And I ain't got time for you
Telling me what I'm not
Like you know me well guess what?
I know who I am
I know I'm strong
And I am free
Got my own identity
So fear, you will never be welcome here

Take a minute, let it settle in
You probably never saw it coming
Something's gotta give so I give up you, oh
There's no room for you here
Yeah, I've had enough
The "No Vacancy" sign on my heart is lit up
In case you didn't hear it
Here it is again,

Do you see a theme here?

Why are we running around being afraid of our own shadows, when all we need is God?

Let that sink in.

Love you all!

strength

It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; He causes me to stand on the heights.

– Psalm 18:32-33

Why would we turn anywhere but to God, when He is the one that gives us strength?

He is everything we need, He is amazing!

When we are facing tough times, we just need to go to Him.

Have a conversation with Him, even when we are scared.

Do you remember when you were a little kid, when you were frightened and you ran to the arms of someone who made you feel safe?

You are still a child, you are His child, and you can still run to His arms, be safe, and He will give us strength.

April Fool's!

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that He may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you — even Jesus.

- Acts 3:19-20

Yesterday we talked about how we are all sinners, and that we are forgiven, but there is a major step that we must first do, and I am not playing an April Fool’s day joke here!

We have to repent of our sins, and ask forgiveness.

It’s more than just saying “I’m sorry” repent means to “feel or express sincere regret or remorse about one's wrongdoing or sin”.  

Song reference!

It's the hardest thing to give away
And the last thing on your mind today
It always goes to those who don't deserve
It's the opposite of how you feel
When they pain they caused is just too real
Takes everything you have to say the word

Forgiveness, forgiveness

It flies in the face of all your pride
It moves away the mad inside
It's always anger's own worst enemy
Even when the jury and the judge
Say you've got a right to hold a grudge
It's the whisper in your ear saying set it free

Forgiveness, forgiveness
Forgiveness, forgiveness
Show me how to love the unlovable
Show me how to reach the unreachable
Help me now to do the impossible
Forgiveness, forgiveness
Help me now to do the impossible
Forgiveness

It'll clear the bitterness away
It can even set a prisoner free
There is no end to what its power can do
So let it go and be amazed by what you see through eyes of grace
The prisoner that it really frees is you

Forgiveness, forgiveness
Forgiveness, forgiveness
Show me how to love the unlovable
Show me how to reach the unreachable
Help me now to do the impossible
Forgiveness

I want finally set it free
Show me how to see what your mercy sees
Help me now to give what You gave to me
Forgiveness, forgiveness
Forgiveness, forgiveness

Confess your sin, (we all do it) don’t repeat the same sin, and ask forgiveness. 

It’s there, no fooling.