Care

Titus 3:14 (NLT) Our people must learn to do good by meeting the urgent needs of others; then they will not be unproductive.

In our world, we like to pretend that we care. We tote the causes we support, attend fundraisers and sometimes even volunteer.  But do we care enough to sacrifice?

It is easy to write a check, to give money or in-kind goods to a cause. It is easy to be moved by the powerful testimony of a life transformed by a particular program. But do we care enough to get to know those who are in the front lines helping?  Do we take time to connect with those who are being helped?  Money is earned, so you can always earn more to replace what is donated.  Time however is given, and can never be taken back. 

It is great to go to events and socialize with friends and meet new people to support a good cause.  It's great to have entertainment our hear a moving story, but do you care enough to share that cause with someone not there?  Do you care enough to be moved beyond that event to really get involved and make a difference?  Do you care enough to follow-up after for more than a tax receipt?

Do you care enough to volunteer, not just for the position, but for the need.  A lot of people want to volunteer for the board position that gains them recognition, or the one time event that they can say "I volunteer there" but aren't willing to get to know the true needs of the cause. Realize that the needs change, even in long standing organizations. Do you care enough to really understand the why's and how's behind the who's and dos?

I'm not suggesting people over commit. There are causes that you write a check to cause it's a friend cause or an immediate need that you can meet. But everyone has some time that they can give to really get connected too. It should be something you care about that makes you want to get involved.  Make and take the time to do it.  

I live in a wonderful community. We have a lot of great causes, with wonderful, compassionate people who truly care about the people they help.  They sacrifice more than most people realize because they care.  

I don't personally believe that organizations were called to provide thus care. The church was called by God to care and meet needs. However, I do believe that since these organizations exist, the Church should develop personal relationships and come along side these organizations.  The organizations know the need, the who, the why, and the how and the Church should become the do. We are called to care, and to be the hands and feet of Christ.

Take time to care.  Your sacrifice will change someone's life and you will be surprised that usually that life is yours.

Adjust

It seems that I am always having to adjust things in my life.  It is so easy to get out of balance. Just when I get one area set, another area creeps out of balance. So how do we get the right perspective on what to adjust and when should we adjust.

Quickly take an inventory of the top five things that are important to you. Be specific.  I find these are usually the areas that we need the most adjustment.  You can make this list as long as you want, but be realistic.

For  example: 

1) God 

2) spouse 

3) my children 

4) my extended family 

5) service to others - women, children, military, church

Second list where you spend the majority of your:

 1) time.  Again be specific, either in hours or time frames.  You might need to look at your calendar, or write down your activities for a week. Whatever you need to see where you are spending your time.  Does where you spend your time reflect what is important to you?  

2) money.  Again be specific, either in dollar amounts our percentages. Online banking and programs like Quicken make this easy.  Look at where you spend your money. Does where you spend your, money, and what you spend your money on reflect what is important? 

If your list of where you spend your time doesn't match your priorities, you need to adjust. If you find you spend money on things that don't strengthen and support your top properties, you need to adjust.

Another area where we usually need to adjust is our attitude.  Sometimes, or maybe it's just me, my attitude it's the hardest thing for me to realize I need to make an adjustment.  It helps to have a strong friend or family member that can give honest feedback, speaking the truth in love  when your attitude is out of line. 

One other thing to remember when making adjustments, don't best yourself up. If you need to apologize, do it. Then just start working towards adjusting your priorities.

Thanksgiving

1 Thessalonians 5:18  

In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Most of us have been through something that as we were going through it, we were anything but thankful.But the scripture in I Thess. 5:18 says to be thankful in everything.  I have heard it explained that we don’t necessarily thank God for the circumstance, we just have to be thankful while we are going through it.  Like I can go through something terrible and thank God for my dog and count it good.  but as I looked up this scripture in the Blue Letter Bible the verse reads:

In each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things, everything be grateful, feel thankful, give thanks for this thing is the will, choice, inclination, desire, pleasure of God in Christ Jesus into, unto, to, towards, for, among you

It is possible to give thanks in all circumstances, if we keep our focus on God.  It doesn’t matter how bad the circumstances are, we can thank God through them and in spite of them at all times.  However, to give thanks is a choice.  

Other than the fact that God commanded us to give Thanks in all circumstances, I want to share some other reasons why we should give thanks

1. It gives honor to God  Psalm 69:30   Then I will praise God’s name with singing, and I will honor him with thanksgiving.
2. It makes His deeds known to others Psa 105:1     O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.
3. It is a sacrifice Psalm 107:22  Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and sing joyfully about his glorious acts.

As I look back on my life, I can think of many terrible circumstances that I have faced, and looking back on them I can find many reasons to be thankful.  I think that sometimes we find it easier to give praise and thanks on the other side of the journey.  I know for me personally, my thanks goes deeper because I can look back and see God’s hand in the situation.  While giving thanks after the fact is good, how do you keep your focus on God so that you can keep an attitude of thanksgiving in the present?  

1. Remember that you are His representative in word and action  Colossians 3:17  And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.
2. Remember that He is there for you and you can trust Him Psalm 28:7 The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.  
3. Give thanks for the people that are involved  1 Timothy 2:1  I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.
4. Get your praise on  Psalm 95:2 Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him.   Psalm 100:4  Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name.
   
   We must be intentional with our thanksgiving,  Not just one day out of the year but in all seasons.  
   

Life

Life should be about the things that are really important. Today I saw the most beautiful, yet unusual sight. 

I was driving past the town square and out of the corner of my eye I saw this man in dress pants, shirt, and tie running.  He wasn't running because He was late for a meeting. His hand was attached to a little girl who was happily running around the fountain with her dad in tow. 

The happiness on both those faces showed what was really important in life. Not work, but family.

Somewhere our society got off track. But today I saw hope that we have realized life is not about the job we have or the money we make.  Life is about the moments we take and the lives we touch.

Away

Many things in my life have been taken away.  Although there are people that I wish were never taken away, I know that God has used everything to shape me in to the person that I am today.  Their lives, however short or long, touched my life in profound ways.

My best friends from childhood were taken away, one by illness another by tragedy.  I was not prepared for either, but their life continues to impact mine today.  Understand I don't live in the past, but their lives shaped who I am and how I live.  I think of them often, but God was there to comfort me.  I know they are both in a better place and one day I will see them again.

My parents were taken away.  My father to death, my mother to dementia.  Again, I wasn't prepared for either.  I stood in faith that my father would be healed.  When he wasn't healed this side of Heaven, I broke.    With my mom, it is a slow journey, I find myself pulling away, and then feeling guilty because her time here is limited.  God was there to catch me when I fell, and is there as I journey through this with my mother.

Dreams I had have been taken away.  Many have just changed as I have grown in my relationship with God.  He has shown me that He has better things for me than what I thought I wanted.  For every dream I thought was taken away, He replaced it with more than I could ask.

I remember when I walked away.  I admit there are days when things are tough that that thought crosses through my mind, but that away is the only one that I can't find a positive in.  When I walked away from God, my life took me places that although He has used for His glory, were never things He wanted in my life.  As a result of me, walking away from Him


 

Work

Matthew 5:16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

The attitude that we have while working should give glory to God.  Wow.  That is a sobering thought.  How many times have I sighed deeply, or blown my bangs up with a deep exhale to express my frustration with a job I am doing?

I am reminded of the childhood song "this little light of mine".  There is a verse, "don't let Satan blow it out, I'm gonna let it shine".  It is times of frustration that he doesn't blow out my light, I do. 

My good works are nothing if Christ's light is not shining in me continually while I do it.  The Bible doesn't say my good works give glory to God. It is my light shining while I do them that brings Him glory.

My light can only shine if  I stay connected to the Source.

Rest

Matthew 11:28 Then  Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.


In our society, rest has become something that is gained in hour long massages and not a daily practice.  This has lead to increased stress and stress related illnesses.  God designed us to rest, we were made in His image and He rested on the 7th day.  

I admit that I for the past fifteen years I have not rested.  I was on call 24/7 and not just to my family.  I knew to come to God.  I could tell, as could everyone around me, if I had missed a church service and not had daily time with Him.  

 I knew I had to come to Him, because He was the only one that I could share my burdens as a child welfare worker and then as a therapist. The burdens were much to heavy for me to carry.  I knew I could bring them to Him.  I came to him frequently, and I saw the impact it made in my life and the lives of those I worked with, because when I came, I brought them to Him in prayer and often desperation.

What I didn't know was that I was weary.  Other people saw that, but I couldn't.  It took some young ladies that I ministered to to show me that.  When circumstances stopped me in my tracks and rest was the one thing that was certain, they would comment on how I didn't seem so wore out.  I was happier.  I thought my mask hid that, I was wrong.

In that time, I learned that I can give everything to God.  Not just the things I didn't think I could handle.  Anything that was a burden, He will take.  He designed me to sleep and rest, and He loves when I do it in Him instead of out of complete exhaustion.  If rest was good enough for God, I should take advantage of it too!