Plastic Bags

Men have presented their plans and philosophies for the remedying of earth's ills, but Jesus stands alone in presenting not a system, but His own personality as capable of supplying the needs of the soul.  A.C. Dixon

This morning I stopped at the in and out, quick gas station, (names have been changed for the protection of the innocent).  As I placed my purchases on the counter the guy asked me if I wanted a bag and before I could say yes he proceeded to tell me that as of January 1, 2015,  I would have to pay a nickel for every bag.  I thought he was joking.  He wasn’t.  When I figured out that he was serious, in my head I was thinking “Seriously”.  You are going to charge me for a bag? 

I’ll admit I am not the best recycler.  I realize there is a lot of trash in the world and we generate a lot of it.  What I want to know is has anyone done a study to see how much it costs each person to recycle?  Since I live in Dallas County if you don’t bring your own bag as of January you will be charged a nickel by the store you frequent for each bag if you don’t want to juggle your purchases to the car.

The following is an example of what Retailers must do in our area to offer single-use bags to customers.  Any comment in parentheses is my own.  This is actually on one City’s website:

1.     Register electronically or if you need to register using a paper form you can click on a link to the website, print the form (and then use 49 cents to mail it.)

2.     Retailers must assess a five-cent environmental fee for each single use bag; (but bless the government’s heart), this fee won’t be subject to sales tax.

3.     Print the total number of bags and fee on each receipt.  (I wonder how long it takes each retailer to reprogram their computers to assess the fee.)

4.     Keep records available for inspectors.  (Inspectors needed to be hired for this whole program.)

5.     Post signs in controlled parking lots reminding customers to bring their bags. (pay for signs in parking lots)

6.     Post signs in the store, within six feet of each register, per the ordinance. (they are generous enough to provide a paper sign that you can print from the website.)

Note: Retailers offering only reusable bags, as defined by the ordinance, have different requirements.

Customers have a whole different set of rules.  Customers are encouraged to “bring your bag” and “keep your change”.  (As opposed to what?  I don’t know what you do with your change, but I certainly don’t leave it at the register.  They already have their hand in my pocket for this whole “buy your bag” concept).

“Reusable bags” do not have the environmental fee, though the stores may charge customers to offset costs.  (So now I am paying for the inspector and the signs. So the retailers can offset the cost of the bag ban by charging me more). They go on to tell you what the reusable bags can be made of and I love this statement.  “However, any bag you bring with you to use is considered reusable since you are reusing it.” Duh!

Have you ever considered what it costs each person who recycles to comply with the rules and regulations of various city ordinances on recycling?  If you have to rinse your plastics and sort them into different containers, shouldn’t the city be paying the customer for doing such a great job of cleaning and sorting their trash? 

There are a few exemptions from this single-use bag program.  My favorite is “Single-use plastic bags used by restaurants to take away prepared food only where necessary to prevent moisture damage from soups, sauces, gravies or dressings.”

Finally, they give you a tip: “Remember to recycle the bags you can recycle appropriately.”

I then stopped at Starbucks and as I checked out, I asked the lady at the counter if they were going to start charging for bags.  She said no.  I said well I just came from a store that is.  She then said, “I know Dallas County has a new ordinance.”  I said well the other store I went to is in Collin County.   Maybe I shouldn’t have brought up the whole recycling thing.

I really don’t have anything against recycling.  I think we all generate a lot of trash and we should be responsible in how we dispose of it.  God created this world that we live in and He expects us to take care of it and as such, we are the earth’s stewards and trustees.  However, I do get tired of City’s with a budget crisis, passing the expense on to me. 

 

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, You gave us the earth and we are to be good stewards of it.  Help me to be a good trustee of all Your creation.  I don’t have all the answers, but I do know You will give me answers if I ask. I am not sure why this recycle thing about paying for bags bothered me.  Sometimes we make something simple, extremely complicated.  I want to do what honors You.  

  

Scripture: We don’t worship the earth; instead, we realize that God gave it to us, and we are accountable to Him for how we use it. After creating Adam, the first man, the Bible says, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it” (Genesis 2:15). God didn’t tell him to exploit the world or treat it recklessly, but to watch over it and use it wisely. Like a good ruler, we should seek the welfare of everything God entrusts to us—including the creation. The Bible says, “A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal” (Proverbs 12:10).  Billy Graham

New Year’s Resolutions

Sin is first pleasing, then it grows easy, then delightful, then frequent, then habitual, then confirmed; then the man is impenitent, then he is obstinate, then he is resolved never to repent, and then he is ruined. Robert Leighton

Do you have a New Year’s resolution?  When we decide on a resolution for the New Year we are basically deciding on a course of action for the upcoming year.  Why do we set resolutions anyway?  Maybe it is because we are disappointed in how the last year turned out or we want to improve on it. 

The following are the top 10 most commonly broken resolutions:

1. Lose Weight and Get Fit

2. Quit Smoking

3. Learn Something New

4. Eat Healthier and Diet

5. Get Out of Debt and Save Money

6. Spend More Time with Family

7. Travel to New Places

8. Be Less Stressed

9. Volunteer

10. Drink Less

As I looked at this list it struck me at how many of these resolutions, if they weren’t broken, have the potential to draw us closer to our Heavenly Father.  If we were to follow through with 1 & 4 by losing weight, getting fit, eating healthier and dieting, we would be honoring the body that God created.  If we completed 2, 5 & 10 by quitting smoking, drinking less and getting out of debt, we would knock out a lot of the problems in our life which would lead to number 8, be less stressed.  One of the reasons we do number 2, 5 & 10 is because we are stressed.  What if we kept resolution number 6, spending more time with family? How many of us can’t remember the last time we sat down to dinner with our family without cell phones or electronic devices.  I actually went to a restaurant and watched a family of 4 never speak to each other or even look up from their phones. How about number 3, learn something new?  Wouldn’t it be something to actually get to know your teenager or parent?  What about taking number 4 & 5, volunteering and traveling to new places, and combining them?  What would happen if we all volunteered and served meals to the homeless?

When we set resolutions our first priority should be to honor God.  I’m not suggesting that we tackle all of these at once, I mean it took me 52 years to get this messed up, so I am not going to get over my messed-up-ness overnight.  Pick one of the 10 most commonly broken resolutions and honor God with it.  You will be amazed at the blessings you will get in return. 

    

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, I am guilty of setting resolutions and then breaking them.  I am also guilty of making resolutions that are purely selfish.  Help me to start this New Year with purpose.  I want to love you and my family more, give up the things in my life that are stressful, quit doing the things that are harmful to me such as not eating right or not exercising.  I resolve to spend more time with You.  Every answer I will ever need about leading a God honoring life are in Your written Word.  

Scripture: All to the Glory of God

All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being.  1 Corinthians 10:23-24

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. 1 Corinthians 10:31-33

Self-Sufficient

Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.  Abraham Lincoln

Have you ever thought about what it means to be self-sufficient?  The dictionary states that self-sufficiency is needing no outside help in satisfying one’s basic needs or to be emotionally and intellectually independent.  So if we were to break these words apart and look at the definition of each of them it makes an interesting point.

Self means a person’s nature or character.  Sufficient means enough. One of the best examples of not being self-sufficient is in 2 Corinthians 12 where Paul talks about the thorn in his flesh.  We don’t know exactly what Paul’s issue was; what we do know is that Satan caused it.  It was something Paul asked God to remove from him multiple times. 

Have you ever looked at your own troubles in life and considered that they are a reminder to each of us that we are not self-sufficient?  God didn’t create us to be self-sufficient.  If we depend on ourselves for everything we think we need; we will fall short.  God’s purpose for us is that we will lean on Him for everything.  Not sometimes, every once in a while or once a year; not when times aren’t good or we are in trouble, but always.  If the Bible says God’s grace is sufficient we should believe it. 

My husband and I have an acquaintance who owned a business and later sold it for a large sum of money.  The one thing I remember him saying was that all it would take would be one illness or tragedy in his life for it all to be gone.

Job was one of the best examples of someone losing it all.  Satan was allowed by God to take it all away.  Job learned that God’s grace was sufficient and he was later blessed by God with more than he ever dreamed. When we learn that God’s grace is sufficient, we will understand that we aren’t self-sufficient and never will be.

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, Your grace is sufficient.  Through every troubled time in my life; You continue to show me that all I need is You. When Satan tempts me and trials come my way, help me to lean on and depend on You.  Everything I will ever need comes from You. Remind me daily that I am not self-sufficient and that You are enough. 

      

Scripture: The Thorn in the Flesh

And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.  2 Corinthians 12:7-10

What a Savior

You are saved - seek to be like your Savior.  Charles Spurgeon

If you ever had someone ask you why Christians place so much importance on Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, we need look no further than the written account of Him in the Bible.  I am thankful to God for giving me such a Savior.  When we die to ourselves and accept Him as our Lord and Savior, our lives are forever changed. 

Scripture promised Him                        Genesis 3:15

Abraham believed Him                          Galatians 3:6-8, 16-18

Moses lived for Him                               Hebrews 11:23-26

Isaiah prophesied about Him                 Isaiah 53

David knew Him                                    Mark 12:35-36

Israel hoped for Him                              Jeremiah 17:13-14

Elizabeth blessed Him                          Luke 1:43

Mary magnified Him                              Luke 1:46-47

Shepherds spoke of Him                       Luke 2:17-18

Wise men worshipped Him                    Matthew 2:11

Simeon looked upon Him                       Luke 2:25-30

Anna testified of Him                             Luke 2:36-38

John wrote of Him                                John 20:31

God anointed Him                                 Acts 10:38

Disciples walked with Him                     Matthew 4:19

Seekers talked with Him                        Luke 24:32

Believers received Him                         John 1:12

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, I praise You for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  O what a Savior who died a horrible death to save a sinner like me.  Every blessing I ever receive comes from You Lord, and the most important one is Jesus.  I can’t wait to meet Him face to face and sing His praises.  Thank you for loving me and sending Your Son to die for me. 

   

Scripture: The Humbled and Exalted Christ

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11

One of a Kind

The day that each person willingly accepts himself or herself for who he or she is and acknowledges the uniqueness of God's framing process marks the beginning of a journey to seeing the handiwork of God in each life.  Ravi Zacharias

I read a statement that really stuck with me.  “The way you see yourself influences everything else in your life.”  This is so true.  Why do we buy into what someone else tells us we are? 

From the time we are born until we die, we are surrounded by outside influences and those influences can make or break us.  They can turn us in the wrong direction away from God or lead us to Him.  How do you rid yourself of the negative things that people have said to you over the years?  Sometimes we buy into what people say more than what God has to say about us.  Too many times I think it is our need to be accepted for who we are and sometimes we even change who we really are to fit the mold someone places us in.

If we want to know our true worth and our great potential, we need to look no further than the One who created us.  When we look to God’s Word for our true worth we are set free.  One of the best examples of this is found in John 8:31-36.  “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.  And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’  They answered Him, ‘We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone.  How can You say, ‘You will be made free?’ Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

Each person that God created is “One of a kind”.  There are no two of us that are exactly alike.  When we stop buying the stuff other people are putting down about us, that is our first step to true freedom.  Freedom in knowing Whose we are and living for Him, not what others think about us.

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, there were times in my life where others said things about me or to me that made me doubt myself.  That doubt moved me further away from You.  You created me in your image and you created me for a purpose.  If I look to You instead of those around me, You will give me the true picture of who I am and what I have the potential to be in Your eyes.  I praise You for making me one of a kind.

Scripture: For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.  Psalm 139:13-16

Seekers of the Truth

When we help seekers diagnose which path they're treading, assist them in avoiding its pitfalls, and expose them to the logic and evidence that uniquely support the Christian faith, we're introducing them to the only spiritual option that truly qualifies to be called the way, the truth, and the life.  Lee Strobel

Did you know there are 309 uses of the word seek in the Bible?  I was thinking about why there were so many instances of it listed.  Why would God want us to seek or search for Him?  Eternal life is the answer. 

I remember back when I was in college I had courses that I really didn’t like.  All I wanted to do was get through them with a passing grade.  I was always thankful when a professor would give us the information that would be on the test, because it would tell me where I needed to study the most or what I needed to focus my attention on. 

So if there are more than 300 instances of seek in the Bible, it reminds me of those long ago professors who pointed us in the direction of where to spend our study time.  If I put this in perspective with the importance of the Bible, then I should be seeking God each and every day. 

What often happens is we depend on others to seek for us.  We become spectators instead of seekers.  Instead of digging into the Word as if it were priceless treasure, we depend on our Pastor, or friends and acquaintances to tell us what we should do.  If we are ever going to have a relationship with God that matters, we need to be seeking Him every day.

  

In Deuteronomy 4:29 Moses tells the people “But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” This was the best advice he could have given to the people entering the Promised Land.  This advice is also still the best for anyone in this generation.  Are you seeking God with all your heart and soul?  You will find Him if you seek Him.

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, the more I read the Bible the more I learn about Your amazing love and grace.  Keep me focused on You and Your Word.  You tell me if I seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness, all these things will be added to me.   Thank you for giving me a heart that wants to seek You.   

Scripture: The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You. Psalm 9:9-10

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.  Matthew 6:31-34

A Temporary Assignment

God gives us gifts, graces, and natural talents, not for our own use, but that we may render them to Him.  Their grand use is to be offered in a continual sacrifice to Him; and by this He is most glorified.  Jeanne Marie Guyon

So many times we say that we can't serve God because we aren't whatever is needed. We're not talented enough or smart enough or whatever. But if you are in covenant with Jesus Christ, He is responsible for covering your weaknesses, for being your strength. He will give you His abilities for your disabilities!  Kay Arthur

Do you ever think about your purpose here on earth?  Remember when you were in school and the teacher passed out the homework assignment.  This was a test.  Homework assignments were used to test your skill and knowledge.  If you completed the assignment and if you did it correctly, you received a reward.  That reward depended on how well you completed the assignment.  In the world we live in, we assign a lettering system to grade how well you accomplished the assignment.  You could get an A, B, C, D or F. 

Our life on earth is a temporary assignment and we will be graded on how well we complete the assignment.  God gave each of us talents to share with others.  Our talents are intended to be used to bless others.  How well we handle this temporary assignment will matter in heaven.  If you are talented in art, carpentry, music, math, speaking; the list is unlimited, then God expects for us to use it for His benefit to bless others.

How well are we handling our temporary assignment?  Would we pass or get a failing grade?  The irony of how God blesses us is that when we give ourselves away for others, God gives us more than we ever dreamed.  How well we handle our temporary assignment on earth matters.  It is the most important assignment we will ever receive and there are other's whose eternal life depends on how well we handle our assignment.

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, I don’t always handle my God given assignment well.  There are times when I neglect the talents You gave me in my pursuit of something of this world. Remind me that I am on temporary assignment here and that other’s lives depend on how well I handle the responsibility You’ve given me.  Help me to use my talents to bless others.  I can do all things through You because You give me strength. 

Scripture: Serving for God’s Glory

But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.  If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.  1 Peter 4:7-11

Til the Son Comes Round Again

Psalm 104:33  I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.

Do you ever get joy out of simple things?  Music always touches my heart.  Maybe this comes from growing up in Louisiana, but music just does something to me.  I love hearing a saxophone or blues played on a piano.  You all know I want to be a singer, although I don’t really have the talent for it.  So last week I went on iTunes and bought some songs.  I spend my drive time on the way to work and home singing.  The beauty of this is if I am alone in the car I can sing as loudly as I want.  God’s the only one who can hear me. 

My husband and I have the exact same taste in music.  He will hear a song and he just knows I will like it and the same goes for me.  So last week I bought a song.  Did you know that you can find God in anything?  This song is what I call country blues.  It has the piano in the background and the guy singing has a soulful voice.  As soon as I played the song in my car I couldn’t wait to get home and have my husband listen to it.  It was more the music than the words that touched me at that point.

So when my husband got home I gave him my earphones and had him listen to it.  He loved the song.  So I tell him, “Why don’t we go out to my car (the one with the great surround sound system) and listen to it there.  About now is the time you are going to say my husband and I need to get a life. So our Saturday night date was going out to the car in the driveway, turning up the radio real loud and singing together to this really great song.

About now you are asking, “What does this have to do with seeing God?”  Well there was a line in the song that said “I’m going to love you til the sun comes round again.”  This one line reminded me of Jesus.  He loved me enough to give his life for me, so I am going to “love Him, til the Son comes round again.

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, I praise you for giving us music.  Music touches something deep inside me that I can’t even explain. Thank You for opening my eyes to see You in all kinds of circumstances.  Music is just one of the ways that I see and hear You speak to me.    

Scripture: The Ark Brought to Jerusalem

Again David gathered all the choice men of Israel, thirty thousand. And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, whose name is called by the Name, the Lord of Hosts, who dwells between the cherubim. So they set the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it but of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart. And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill, accompanying the ark of God; and Ahio went before the ark. Then David and all the house of Israel played music before the Lord on all kinds of instruments of fir wood, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on sistrums, and on cymbals.  2 Samuel 6:1-5

So David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me instead of your father and all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel. Therefore I will play music before the Lord. And I will be even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight. But as for the maidservants of whom you have spoken, by them I will be held in honor.” 2 Samuel 6:21-22

Passwords

There are two hundred and fifty-six names given in the Bible for the Lord Jesus Christ, and I suppose this was because He was infinitely beyond all that any one name could express.  Billy Sunday

Do you ever get tired of passwords?  I was going to go out and buy some tunes on iTunes last night.  What should have taken a few minutes turned into an hour and I must say I can never remember my Apple ID.  And since I am now in the “Cloud” that password is different. I keep getting a warning on my phone that tells me it has been 6 weeks since my “iCloud” has been backed up and then it asks me for a password I don’t remember.  Do I care?  Not really.  I am not sure what secure information it is trying to back up anyway.  My only concern at this point is that I can dial 911 when I need it. 

Does anyone else have this problem besides me? I had to change my password three times before it would accept it and there is no guarantee it will accept it the next time I try it.  I even did the most unsecure thing you can do; I wrote my new password on a piece of paper so I wouldn’t forget it.  I mean I needed at least eight characters, one capital letter, one lower case letter, one symbol and it couldn’t be a password I had used before.  Prior to this I tried to go to my security questions to retrieve it and when it asked me my birthday it didn’t accept that either.  The final straw that broke the camel’s back was it only gave me two tries before it totally locked me out. 

I understand the need for security, but seriously.  I mean, if I don’t know my birthday who does?  You would have thought I was trying to break into Fort Knox.

I leave for work this morning and I have a code to get into my car, a password to get into my iPhone to listen to the tunes I bought on iTunes.  Since I am in the “Cloud” I also have a password to get into my email on my phone.  I stop to get gas and I have to enter my pin for my credit card and once I am at work I have a key card to get into the office, different passwords to get into my computer, Brix, Lotus, the Intranet, Buzzsaw and any number of other software programs that I use for work. 

I am beginning to think the Internet and technology isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. I spend more time trying to get into the programs I use at work than I actually spend working.  Then there are those reminders that your password is going to expire in 2 days.  That just throws me into a panic.  What will I use this time that has 8 characters, one cap, one lower case, one symbol and hasn’t been used before?  I’ve already used my dog’s name, my husband’s, my neighbor’s address, my nephew’s birthday. I’m beginning to run out of options.  

    

Then I had an epiphany.  I am going to use the one thing that doesn’t need a password “the Bible”.  If I use names in the Bible I will never run out of passwords and when I go look up my new password, I can study about the person’s name I will use and that will remind me what my new password is and the added benefit is I will be spending more time with God.  Bonus!!

 

I am so glad we had this talk.  I feel so much better.  I got all of that off my chest and came up with a naming convention for future passwords.  God is Great and God is Good! 

    

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, You are never far from my thoughts.  Sometimes things of this world frustrate me.  We humans have a tendency to make things extremely complicated when it doesn’t need to be.  Thank You for Your gift of the Bible.  It is the greatest Book ever written and I don’t need a password to access it. 

      

Scripture: The Value of Wisdom

My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you, so that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; Yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; He guards the paths of justice, and preserves the way of His saints. Then you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path. Proverbs 2:1-9

Not Knowing What To Do

The longer I live the more convinced I become that life is 10 percent what happens to us and 90 percent how we respond to it.  Chuck Swindoll

Do you ever question what to do with events in your life?  This morning that happened with me.  I was leaving my house to drive to work.  I pulled out of my alley and drove to the corner near our house and I saw a man.  At 5:30am there are not many people out and about, much less awake, so seeing someone walking down the sidewalk at that time of morning is slightly unusual.    

So I pull up to the corner and this man is walking down the sidewalk.  He looked to be about 6 feet tall, had on a tan coat, dark pants, a hunting cap with ear flaps and was carrying a backpack.  You really don’t ever want to come into my neighborhood because if I see you I will give the police a good description of you. 

Anyway, in less than a minute I looked at the man, determined what he was wearing, turned the corner and was pulling onto the freeway.  In the span of a minute several scenarios ran through my head.  This man didn’t look like he was out getting exercise or walking his dog. There was no dog.  I next thought about my husband asleep in our house and this guy is crossing the street in front of our house. Then I thought about why the guy was carrying a backpack.  My next thought was maybe he is homeless. Then I pictured this guy breaking into our house or one of the neighbor’s houses and so I decided to call 911. 

I don’t often call 911 so when my speaker came on in my car I said call 911 and she dialed a banker we do business with whose name is in my contact list.  So I had to figure out how to quickly end that call and try another option.  I finally hit call and when she came on again I said very loudly and slowly, “9”---- “1”---- “1”.  She finally got it right this time and the 911 operator came on the line.  I gave her the description of the guy and then hung up.

I thought about this incident the whole way to work. Several things came to mind.  God calls us to love our neighbor as ourselves.  The homeless man scenario came back to mind so I prayed for him.  I do have a healthy sense of self-preservation so I am not going to stop and ask him if he needs help.  I didn’t know his circumstances but God does.  Then I prayed for the police officers who might show up to find out what he is doing in our neighborhood.  Then I prayed that if this was one of my neighbors; that they would forgive me for calling the police on them.  Then I got sort of paranoid and thought; what if this guy remembers what I look like, knows what my car looks like, and saw me come out of the alley.  It wouldn’t be much of a stretch to find out where I live.  So I prayed that God would protect me and remove the fear. 

I admit there are more times than not that I don’t have the answers and I will often ask myself what should I do in any given situation.  Since the Bible has all the answers I will ever need, I think I will go back there and spend some more time with God.  He will give me the answers if I search and ask.   

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, I am not sure why seeing this man in my neighborhood bothered me.  Maybe it was the way he looked or the time of morning I saw him, but it concerned me enough to do something about it.  I became fearful and possibly judged this person unfairly.  I pray that you will help me to overcome fear and to not judge others.  I pray that if this man is homeless that you would allow the police officers to help him.  I ask for your guidance in circumstances such as this where I am unsure of the right thing to do in Your eyes.  I want to honor and glorify You in everything I do.  Even with a stranger in my neighborhood. 

Scripture: Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’  Isaiah 41:10

Looking for God in All the Wrong Places

What I am anxious to see in Christian believers is a beautiful paradox. I want to see in them the joy of finding God while at the same time they are blessedly pursuing Him. I want to see in them the great joy of having God yet always wanting Him.  A.W. Tozer

Do you ever observe other people?  People fascinate me.  By that I mean sometimes I will go to an event and if we are not busy I will observe people.  You can learn a great deal about someone from their actions and facial expressions.  If you think about it, the majority of the people you see are searching for something and many times they don’t know what that something is.

I believe that when God created us he placed in us a need for Him.  There is in every person a need for our Heavenly Father.  The problem is we often get sidetracked by our search in the wrong places for Him.  Some of us don’t even realize He is what we need.  So what do we do?  We look for the missing part of us in other people or we pursue the things of the world to try to fill the void in us. 

One of the things that needs to happen is we have to want God wholeheartedly and be willing to give everything else up in our pursuit of Him. 

Remember the parable of the rich young ruler.  He asked Jesus how he could have eternal life. Jesus responded by telling him that to enter into eternal life he must keep the commandments.  The ruler proceeds to ask Jesus which ones.  Jesus tells him, “You shall not murder, commit adultery, steal, bear false witness and you must honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.  The young ruler tells Jesus that he has done all these things from his youth.  He then asks Jesus, “What do I still lack?”  Jesus responded by telling him to sell what he had, give to the poor and follow Me.  When the young ruler heard that, he went away sorrowful because he had great possessions.

I am guilty of not wanting God enough.  I want things of the world when they are temporary.  The things of the world only give temporary satisfaction.  If I am looking for God; the temporary things will not fill the void in me.  Only God can fill that void.  When we understand that He is what we need; we will give up what we have in this life to pursue Him with everything in us.  If we talk to God but don’t hear from Him, maybe we don’t want Him enough.  

    

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, I am guilty of not wanting You enough.  I often get distracted by the things in this world and my relationship with You suffers. Please help me to keep my focus on You, to believe in Your promises and follow You.  Help me to keep my eyes focused on You so that I don’t look for You in all the wrong places.

Scripture:  But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to the Lord your God and obey His voice (for the Lord your God is a merciful God), He will not forsake you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them.  Deuteronomy 4:29-31

God Doesn’t Change, We Do

God cannot change for the better, for He is already perfect; and being perfect, He cannot change for the worse.  A.W. Pink

I was thinking about God’s unchanging character.  It’s amazing really; that He would still love us even though we don’t deserve it.  If we think about it, we change, not God. God’s character never changes.  He is perfect and we aren’t.   

There are two ways we can change.  We can draw closer to God or further away.  It is all in the choices we make.  God doesn’t go further away from us, we make choices in our lives that hinder our relationship with Him and then we look up and He doesn’t feel as close to us.  God didn’t move; we did.

If we are to become more like Him, we need to change.  This can mean changing lifestyles, careers and even jobs.  We don’t get into the bad choices in life by being good and change doesn’t happen overnight.  If we are in the middle of sin we aren’t going to be closer to God. 

Our best example of God’s character is Jesus.  Jesus didn’t walk away from the sinners of this world.  He walked toward them.  He ate with them, talked to them and spent time with them.  His disciples were some of the worst sinners.  It wasn’t Jesus who changed; it was His disciples. 

The one thing that never changed about Him was His character.  He didn’t change who He was.  He lived for one reason, to save us and He never stopped loving us.  If we are to become more like Him, change is required and that change will be in us not Him.

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, I want to be more like You.  I am a sinner in need of change.  You never move away from me, it is me who does the moving and often in the wrong direction. When I feel like You are moving away from me; remind me that it is not You who is moving, it is me.  Draw me closer to You.   

Scripture:  Our Final Victory

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

“O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?”

The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:50-58

God’s Glory

The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us; just as the roof of a sunhouse does not attract the sun because it is bright, but becomes bright because the son shines on it.  C.S. Lewis

Do you ever think of God’s Glory as a physical thing that you could see? 

  

It has always fascinated me that Moses asked God to show him His glory.  The thing is Moses couldn’t look at God’s face as He passed by because as God told him; “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.” Moses only got to see God’s back as he passed by.

The only way I can think of to describe God’s Glory is like this.  You know when you go to the eye doctor and they dilate your eyes.  That is what I think it would be like to see God as Moses did.  It would be painful to just see a glimpse of Him just as when your eyes are dilated you can’t see when you walk out into the light. 

If as in Matthew 5:16 it says to “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father who is in heaven” the goal of my life on earth should be to live it so that when people get to know me they will say, “God is Glorious.”

How do we do that?  How do we live in such a way that other people in the world will see God instead of us?  If we let pride get in our way, then we will take credit for anything good that happens in our life.  If we have a road sign that points to God each time we treat another person with kindness; other people will see God instead of us.  What happens is we don’t take credit for God living in us.  We point others to God as the source of our joy.  I have joy through my tragedy only because He lives in me. 

Have you ever met someone who had so much tragedy in their life, but still managed to reflect joy in the midst of their trials?  That is what looking at God’s glory is all about.  Jesus entire life on earth was spent showing others God’s glory.  Our life should be the same.    

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, You live in me and I want to reflect You.  Give me the light of You and help me to point others to You when they ask how can I be joyful during trials and tragedy.  I want others to see the Glory of You in everything I do.   

      

Scripture: The Promise of God’s Presence

Then Moses said to the Lord, “See, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people.’ But You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found grace in My sight.’ Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people.”

And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here. For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth.”

So the Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name.”

And he said, “Please, show me Your glory.”

Then He said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.” And the Lord said, “Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.”

Hebrews 1:3

God’s Son has all the brightness of God’s own glory and is like him in every way. By his own mighty word, he holds the universe together.

After the Son had washed away our sins, he sat down at the right side of the glorious God in heaven.