How can it be said any better than this? This is just a really cool video worth every bit of the 11 minutes it will take to watch. Enjoy! Blessed is Best.
Christ
All posts tagged Christ
Isaiah 48:17
“I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you,
who directs you in the way you should go.”
For years I’ve often said that my greatest strength is also my greatest weakness. Although technically undiagnosed, I believe a certain level of OCD resides within me. It can be a blessing when channeled in the right direction, destruction when it is not. This blessing which allows me to accomplish substantial tasks in record time, has also led me into paths of addiction at various times of my life. This attribute which caused me to complete all known assignments for a graduate level college class in the first two weeks is the same quality that causes me to so easily lose focus of the true priorities in my life.
It would seem so easy if we could have God lead us with a pillar of smoke and fire as He did the Israelites. Yet, they still managed to wander 40 years in the desert before receiving what God had promised them. Ironically enough, at 40 years old I am feeling as if for the first time in my life, I’m truly receiving the promises God has made to me. Many of my previous struggles have revolved around decisions to a commitment to “follow” or “not follow” God. Feeling that I’ve finally decided to follow, I now seek to be “lead” on a “moment-by-moment” basis.
There is nothing more wonderful than knowing that you are precisely where God wants you to be at a specific moment, doing exactly what he wants you to do. I believe it is in these places where God reveals himself to us at the most personal and intimate levels. The greatest challenge comes when we try to be “lead” each moment while managing and balancing our many responsibilities related to home, work, and ministry. To overly simplify the situation… there are bills to pay, children to raise, “lost” to be saved, and most importantly our God to seek.
I’ve shared all this so I may make one simple request, “Can it snow tomorrow?” If it does I promise I’ll make the time to take all 3 of my boys out and prove to them why I call myself the “Snow Ninja.” Can my wife ask me again to please tell her what (delicious) meals I’d like her to make this week. If it snows tomorrow, I’ll focus a little more on helping one child make that perfect paper airplane, take just a moment to see the newest level reached on “tank destroyer” by a 5 year old, or take a teenager out to drive for the first time on snowy roads. I missed out on all these precious moments yesterday because I was more focused on “working” on something I thought God would have wanted me to. Next time I’ll ask, rather than assume.
At times we can become so passionate about something, no matter how good (or Godly) it may be, that we fail to focus on doing what God would like us to be doing. We have no “Pillar of Smoke or Fire” to show us, but we do have the Holy Spirit within us. Among many names for the Holy Spirit, He is known to be our “Counselor and Guide.” I’m thankful at this moment that He is also our “Teacher.” At first I mourned for the “snow of yesterday” that I lost, I now rejoice in the “everything of today and tomorrow” I’ll now gain.
“God, may I seek and desire to be where You would lead me every moment of my life. May my calendar and daily schedule be set according to your appointments. I thank You for allowing me the freedom and flexibility to make choices and have options. Knowing this, may my choices be those that bring the most Glory to you, and blessing to others. One last thing, please let it snow.”
Matthew 5:5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”
Can you define the word “meek?” Is “meekness” a quality present in your life? Meekness is one of the 9 Fruits of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23. I believe it may be the least understood of all when compared to the remaining: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, and self-control. Meekness is sometimes incorrectly described as gentleness. The Bible describes Moses as meek, yet Moses came with great power. Meekness has also been summarized as “strength under control.” Considering meekness is a quality found in those that will inherit the earth, it certainly seems deserving of further examination.
The best way to know the meaning of a word is to study passages where it is used. When this is done we will see that meekness is an attitude or quality of heart whereby a person willingly accepts and submits without resistance to the will and desires of someone else. The meek person is not self-willed – not continually concerned with self, his own ways, ideas, and wishes. He is willing to put himself in second place and submit himself to achieve what is good for others. Meekness is the opposite of self-will, self-interest, and self-assertiveness.
In the Bible, meekness is primarily emphasized as submissiveness toward God (rather than toward men). This is an attitude or quality of mind (Romans 12:3), whereby a person holds low esteem or opinion of his own goodness and importance. Spiritually, one abases himself because he realizes his sinfulness and therefore he is willing to depend on God to meet His needs. It is the opposite of pride, haughtiness, and self-exaltation.
When directed toward God, meekness requires the following: recognition of sinfulness, dependence on God, submission to God’s commands, accepting circumstances according to His will, resistance to error and false teaching (meekly) in the lives of others, and honoring of others rather than ourselves. These all sound very similar to what we are asked to do according to the “Greatest Commandment” by loving God with all our heart and soul, and loving our neighbor as ourself. This all requires a significant level of humility, however, the focus is more specific to a humility before God, not man. It is very different than just being humble around others in regards to our possessions, talents, or position.
In my own life I recognize the need to focus more on serving the needs and interests of others. Philippians 2:4-5, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.” This kind of person is willing to inconvenience himself in order to help others. He is willing to forgo his own desires so other people can receive what they need. Jesus gives us a perfect model for this when He states, “The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted (Matthew 2:11-12).
May we seek more than ever to place God first in our lives. May we all have a greater understanding of “meekness” and the impact it can have on our relationship with God. Meekness IS NOT weakness. It is strength. It is LOVE.
***I actually started to write this blog post about 2 weeks ago prior to posting it. Even with all my research into this topic it seemed as if I still could not fully comprehend exactly what it meant by being meek. It was as if I was missing something, yet I did not know what it was. Over the past 2 weeks I’ve been asking God to reveal “meekness” to me and finally feel I’ve gained enough true understanding to post this. There is much I must do in my life to truly become meek, however, with His help it is not only possible, it will be fun and rewarding. I’ll challenge you to ask God to reveal “meekness” to you in your own life. Below there is a segment from a sermon in which a nice explanation is given regarding meekness. Enjoy and remember… Blessed is Best!
I arise this morning with some sickness in my body. This sickness placed a damper on yesterday but I refused to let it ruin my entire day. My family was excited to decorate for Christmas and my wife expressed her desire to get a “real” Christmas tree this year as opposed to using our artificial tree again. We got dressed and hiked around the tree farm until we found the tree that was perfect for us. We then went to Lowe’s and searched for new lights since our old tree was pre-lit. When we returned home the tree was put in place, wrapped in lights and the children begun to hang the ornaments. It was only 6:30 at this point but my body had exhausted any bit of strength it had. I headed off to bed leaving my family to add the finishing touches. This thought caused me some sadness, yet I was happy for all we were able to do today in spite of my sickness.
Before even taking a sip of my beloved coffee I had to turn on the tree to see what they had done. It’s beautiful. The tree illuminates the room as I sit here in otherwise darkness typing these words. Christmas is not about a tree, the tree is merely a symbol of life and hope. Christmas is about the birth of the Savior of the world. Many of us know this already, although (like myself) fail to understand the true magnificent significance. Sadly, there are countless more people who have not had their hearts opened to the true meaning of Christmas.
I’m now 40 years old and have had a tree in my living room every Christmas for as long as I can remember. Why is this tree so much more beautiful than each one before it? It really has nothing to do with the size, fullness, or decorations. It has everything to do with the condition of my heart. I pray that every tree hereforth continues to be more beautiful than the last.
For many of us, Christmas can bring back memories or hidden emotions we’d rather not have. They can harden our hearts and blind our eyes to the true “Reason for the Season.” Like myself, most people probably don’t even know the extent to which this may have happened. I’ll ask, “What will you see when you look at your Christmas tree this year?” After this morning I’ll never look the same again at our family Christmas tree.
Click on link below for a cool Christmas video (plays only on computer; not tablets or phone)
http://shortsbay.com/film/december
Luke 2:9-14
An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
The human body is designed to experience stress and react to it. Stress can be positive, keeping us alert and ready to avoid danger. Stress becomes negative when a person faces continuous challenges without relief or relaxation between challenges. Stress that continues without relief can lead to a condition called distress — a negative stress reaction. Distress can lead to many physical symptoms such as those listed below. Examine the list and give yourself a point for every symptom you experienced over the last 60 days. Don’t worry, the cure is described just below this long list of symptoms.
Physical Symptoms of Distress Involving Skeletal Muscles
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Tension Headaches
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Frowning
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Gritting or grinding of teeth
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Jaw pain
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Stuttering or stammering
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Trembling of lips or hands
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Muscle tenseness, bracing, and aches
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Neck aches
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Back pain
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Aggressive body language
Physical Symptoms of Distress Involving the Autonomic System
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Migraine headaches
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Increased sensitivity to light and sound
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Lightheadedness, faintness, or dizziness
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Ringing in ears
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Enlarged pupils
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Blushing
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Dry mouth
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Problems swallowing
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Frequent colds or bouts with the flu
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Hives
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Rashes
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Cold chills or goosebumps
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Heartburn, stomach cramping, or nausea
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Uneven or rapid heartbeat without exercising
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Difficulty breathing
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Sudden, suffocating panic, as if you are about to die
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Heart and chest pain
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Increased perspiration
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Night sweats
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Cold, sweaty hands
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Painfully cold hands and feet
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Gaseousness or belching
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Frequent urination
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Constipation
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Nervous diarrhea
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Lowered sexual desire/performance
Mental Symptoms of Distress
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Anxiety, worry, guilt or nervousness
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Increased anger and frustration
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Moodiness
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Depression
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Increased or decreased appetite
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Racing thoughts
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Nightmares
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Problems concentrating
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Trouble learning new information
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Forgetfulness
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Disorganization or confusion
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Difficulty making decisions
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A sense of being overloaded or overwhelmed by problems
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More frequent crying
Behavioral Symptoms of Stress
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Inattention to dress or grooming
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More frequent lateness
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A more “serious” appearance
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Unusual behavior
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Nervous habits, such as finger or foot tapping
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Rushing around or pacing the floor
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Increased frustration and irritability
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Edginess
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Overreaction to small things
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Increased number of minor accidents
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Perfectionism
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Reduced work efficiency or productivity
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Lies or excuses to cover up poor work
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Fast or mumbled speech
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Defensiveness or suspiciousness
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Strained communication with others
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Social withdrawal
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Constant tiredness
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Sleep problems
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Frequent use of over-the-counter drugs
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Weight gain or loss without diet
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Increased smoking
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Recreational drug use
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Increased alcohol use
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Gambling or overspending
(Taken from: “The Doctor’s Guide to Instant Stress Relief: A Psychological and Medical System” by Ronald G. Nathan, Ph.D., Albany Medical College, New York, Thomas E. Staats, Ph.D., Louisiana State University School of Medicine in Shreveport, Paul J. Rosch, M.D., The American Institute of Stress, New York.)
The most important factor in enjoying a peaceful, stress-free life is learning to be obedient to the Lord. Following the leading of the Holy Spirit will always lead you into peace. He will never lead you into stress, because He is the Prince of Peace. Common sense tells us that God’s not going to stress us out and lead us to do more than we can do; however, we often do this ourselves.
The Bible is filled with incredible promises from God. Meditating on these words of assurance can dispel our worry, doubt, fear and stress. Here are just a few examples of the Bible’s stress relieving verses. Blessed is Best!
Philippians 4:6-7
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Proverbs 17:22
“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.”
2 Peter 1:3
“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”
Matthew 11:28-30
“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.”
John 14:27
“I am leaving you with a gift–peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn’t like the peace the world gives. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”
Psalm 4:8
“I will lie down in peace and sleep, for you alone, O LORD, will keep me safe.”
1 Peter 5:6-7
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”
Matthew 6:25-34
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”
Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
John 14:1
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me.”
Isaiah 26:3-4
“You keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you.
4 Trust in the Lord forever,
for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.”
John 16:33
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Psalm 119:165
“Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.”
Romans 14:17
“”For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
Proverbs 17:22
“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.”
“The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, searching
all the inner depths of the heart.”
Drawing closer to God has recently become a priority in my life again. I know that I’m happiest when He is my primary focus, yet I seem to neglect this simple reality. It becomes more clear to me everyday how my relationship with Him affects my wife and children. As father and husband of this household, I have a special responsibility. “The righteous man walks in integrity; His children are blessed after him.” (Proverbs 20:7)
I want my children to be blessed after me, my wife needs to feel safe and protected. In order to become the “righteous” man that my family so desperately needs me to be, a renewing of my mind needs to take place. Romans 12:2 instructs us, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Are you prepared for the “testing that is required so that we may know…”
The scripture at the very beginning of this writing is Proverbs 20:27. When we desire God to reveal things in our life that are not of Him… Be ready. I’m so thankful that He is so loving when He reveals to me the inner depths of my heart. The revelation seems endless. It’s similar to buying a new car, rarely, if ever, do you notice how prevalent they are until you are driving it. Then you see your car all over the place, they were there all the time but we never took notice. It often seems to be like this with issues in our life.
Give it a try! Ask God to reveal something. Be open to allowing His lamp to search the depths of our hearts and bring light to what has been hidden. This is how we can renew our minds and come to know the perfect will of God in our lives. Is there anything better? Blessed is Best!
**Recommendation: Scroll to bottom of screen and play video/song while reading this. P.S. I’ll be offended if you don’t
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)
Most people would describe me as one laid-back, mellow, cool dude. Ok, so maybe I threw in the “cool” part. My reputation as a teacher is rooted in the perception that I’m very calm and not easily angered. For the most part this is accurate, and as a high school emotional support teacher I am very thankful for this. Anger and temper are two areas that God has worked on in my life over the years. There have been many times in the past that I’ve taken to rage as a perceived solution to my problems. Even today I understand that it could rear it’s ugly head at any moment if I’m not careful. In spite of this I’m still a laid-back, mellow, cool dude.
I struggle with being easily offended. I’m overly sensitive, quickly provoked, easily irritated and insulted. Yes indeed, I’m one laid-back, mellow, cool dude, and may I add loving father and husband. It is easy for me to accept hearing the positive qualities listed above, but realize God desires I resolve what He is revealing within me. Honestly, at first I was somewhat offended He might even consider such a thing about me. Uh oh, that sounds a bit like PRIDE.
The challenge begins with first understanding that our perceptions and expectations are seldom, if ever, equivalent to those of our loving Father. It is easy to become complacent and accepting of matters in our life. This is especially true when our measure is based on what others perceive and say, not what we are open to having God reveal to us. Since I’m such a laid-back, mellow, and cool dude, offensives that arise must certainly be because of others. Especially those who are closest to me, in particular, my wife.
The woman who has combined with me to become “one flesh” seems to be the one who can most easily offend me. “Stacy…..” My best friend, oh how I love her. Such a gift and blessing in my life. Thirteen years of marriage, she has never been more beautiful to me. A mother to my children beyond what I could have ever imagined. Someone who does more for me in a day than I do for her in a month. I’d have no problem continuing with statements like these for the next hour, but let her wake up right now, come down here and have the words out her mouth be related to why did I not “carry the laundry basket upstairs” like she asked (and probably twice). The loving thoughts and words I had about her just moments ago, they’d likely quickly be gone, for in my mind “can’t she at least say good morning first.” This is just one example of how quickly an offense can take place.
A situation as described above may not result in a sarcastic response or argument….. yet…. but something subtle changes inside me. Will it be the second, third, fourth, or fifth offense (according to me) that warrants a non-loving response? Uh oh, I just mentioned the word LOVE.
Could there be a connection between our ability to LOVE and the influence of PRIDE in our lives? Yes. Pride is a focus on the “I” in a circumstance. Pride will cause us to view ourselves as the victim. Our attitude becomes, “I was mistreated and misjudged; therefore, I am justified in my behavior.” We then hold back forgiveness because we believe we are falsely accused and innocent. This condition is hidden from us, it is not hidden from God. Left unconfessed, this drives a wedge between our ability to commune with and receive from God, this hinders our ability to love. If we do not have Love, what do we have?
Ecclesiastes 7:9 states, “Do not be quickly provoked in you spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.” May we combat this by understanding that pride keeps us from dealing with the truth by distorting our vision. We will never change when we think everything is fine. Pride hardens our hearts and dims our eyes from understanding the sincere truth. It will keep us from the change of heart and repentance that will set us free.
May we ask with a sincere heart that God reveal areas of pride in our life, no matter how subtle. Let them be replaced with love. May our speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that we may know how to answer every person. Be Blessed
