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.