God

Change the Way You Think

July 31, 2017 0Comment

Sounds easy, huh?

In Mark 1:15 (God’s Word Translation), Jesus said, “The time has come, and the kingdom of God is near. Change the way you think and act, and believe the Good News”. I think every Christ follower would like to change his/her behavior. Maybe we would like change our behavior in a general way to be more Christ-like. Or maybe we would like to change our behavior in specific areas, such as anger or forgiveness, etc. Regardless of the behavior we want to change, Jesus tells us that we have to change the way we think before we can change the way we act.

It’s simple and straightforward. However, it can be extremely difficult. For example, I had a bad experience at work. Who hasn’t, right? Nevertheless, this experience was a “Judas” experience. It was particularly nasty, and mistakes were made by everyone. I was mature enough to forgive everyone fairly quickly. However, I still think about the experience occasionally. Then I make myself mad all over again. Now, some people would say, if I really forgave them, would the experience still make me mad? My answer is yes. I don’t think it’s a forgiveness issue. I forgave them once, and every time I get mad about it, I forgive them again. I think the problem lies in the fact that I haven’t changed the way I think about the experience. Basically, I need to re-program my thoughts.

Luckily, there are several ways to spin a bad experience. Firstly, it’s not like I’m the first person to be falsely accused of something. Jesus was falsely accused everywhere he went. Also, I know according to Paul, all things work out for the good of those called to His purpose (Romans 8:28). And if I’m completely honest with myself, I can already see where that bad experience is working out for my good. Furthermore, I know that the Lord will fight for me; all I have to do is be still (Exodus 14:14). So, if I know all of these things, why do I still get mad when I think about the experience? Because I choose to think about the experience instead of choosing to think about all the things I “know”. The key is to be self-aware and to catch myself when I feel those old feelings come up. Then I can remind myself about all the things I know. If I don’t catch myself, then my thoughts will cascade into negativity….again.

Charles Swindoll said that life is 10% of what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. How I react is entirely dependent on how I think.

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Grace

February 16, 2017 0Comment

One of my most vivid memories of college is not so pleasant. It was the first semester of my freshman year, and I must say….. I was enjoying it. I had an Economics 130 at 0915AM on Monday, Wednesday, and every other Friday. Without my mom around to wake me up, my attendance for the 0915AM class was less than stellar. Nevertheless, by mid-semester, I had an “A” in the class. Then I missed a class “to catch up on my sleep”. Apparently, during that class, the Professor scheduled a test, and I eventually missed the test. I could have accepted my fate, took a zero for the test, and probably still made a “C” in the class. However, I decided to lie, and I lied in a very dishonorable, but college-like way. I told the Professor that I missed the test because my Grandmother died. The Professor became suspicious, and confronted me about my story. I’m not a very good liar, and I told her the truth.

She kicked me out of the class and gave me an “F” for the semester. The “F” was bad enough. I had never gotten an “F” in my life, but I was also on a scholarship, and I needed to maintain a 3.0 grade point average to keep the scholarship. That “F” brought my grade point average down to 2.92.

I needed to call my Dad, but it was the absolute last thing I wanted to do. But I worked up some courage, grabbed a handful of quarters, and found a pay phone (yes, it was that long ago). I called Dad, and he could tell that I was upset. Actually, in my 18 year old head, the world was about to end. I’ll never forget what he told me. He said, “I guess she’s (my Professor) never made a mistake”. With that little bit of reassurance, I knew everything would be okay.

I still have an “F” on my official college transcript to this day, but I didn’t lose my scholarship. I also learned that little white lies are not so white to some people. And while I can’t say that I’ve always been a model for honesty, since that day, I’ve done much better.

However, for me, the real lesson is not about honesty. It was about my Dad showing love and compassion, when I obviously didn’t deserve it. I guess the real lesson was about grace. My earthly father read a situation and responded with love and compassion. How much more love and compassion will our heavenly Father respond with, if we take our problems to Him?

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Cow Patty World

December 15, 2016 0Comment

One of my favorite movies is the spy flick, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. In the movie, the characters are discussing foreign intelligence, when one of them says that the intelligence has been gold. Another character disagrees and says, “It’s just enough glitter amongst the chicken feed”. In other words, it was just good enough to convince them that it was good intelligence, when it was actually bad intelligence.

I believe that the preceding paragraph is a pretty good analogy for the world, but I have a better one. If I sprinkled gold glitter in a cow patty, that’s equivalent to the world. The world is full of death, disease, famine, and suffering. That’s a cow patty, my friend. The cow patty is sprinkled with money, fame, and power. That’s glitter. And the Bad Guy uses the glitter to his advantage. Firstly, he uses the glitter to keep us from focusing on the patty. If we chase money, fame, and power, we’re not interesting in doing anything about death, disease, famine, and suffering. Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, if we chase glitter, it keeps us from building a relationship with God.

The Bible is very specific. The following are just a few verses that further explain the cow patty and the glitter:

Luke 4:5-6 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he (Devil) said to him (Jesus), “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me (because of sin), and I can give it to anyone I want to. Hence, why the world is a cow patty.

Matthew 6:19 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Hence, money and wealth are just glitter.

1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. Hence, again, money is just glitter.

Matthew 23:12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. Hence, power and fame are glitter as well.

Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Hence, don’t conform to the cow patty, but seek God’s will.

There is hope, however. Jesus came and died so that we could ultimately be saved from death, disease, famine, and suffering. There is also hope in Revelations 21:5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything (including heaven and earth) new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” In other words, NO MORE COW PATTY.

I’m ending all my posts with an invitation to accept Jesus. If you would like to accept Jesus, simply pray the following prayer or one like it: “Dear Lord, I’m a sinner. I acknowledge that You sent Your son, Jesus, to die for my sins. I humbly accept Your son, Jesus, and I now further acknowledge that I am forgiven of my past sins, my present sins, and my future sins.” If you prayed that simple prayer, you are saved. Now, you need to follow Jesus. Start reading your Bible. I would suggest starting with Matthew, reading all of the New Testament, then reading the Old Testament. Also, find a good church. Christianity was never meant to be done alone. You need to be in community with other believers.

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In a Different Light

January 28, 2016 0Comment

After I wrote my last blog, I started thinking about how that dog made me want to rescue him. I thought how helpless and hungry he looked. Then I started wondering why I don’t feel the same way about homeless beggars…..

Everyone has seen that guy or girl, holding a sign and begging for money. Why doesn’t it strike the same feelings as a lost, hungry dog? Well, I’l be the first to admit it. The situation is complex. For instance, we don’t know if it’s a scam. Frankly, I’ve seen my share of them. I once saw a guy at the entrance of a shopping center with a nearby McDonalds. He was holding a sign that read, “Help, hungry”. Beside him was a power pole with a large concrete base. Behind the concrete base he had hidden 4 or 5 bags of McDonalds food. Apparently, some wise people had decided to buy him food instead of giving him money. However, undaunted, he had hidden the food and was still trying to coax cash out of people.

We’re called to be charitable, but we’re not called to throw money away either. Yet, we’re called to serve; we’re not called to judge. As I said before, it’s a complex issue. However, I think the most important issue for me is viewing the person in a different light. When I look at a beggar, I should see a fellow human being. I should see a person created in God’s image just like me. I should remember that God loves that person just as much as he loves me. If I view the person in that light, then the answers become clearer. It still might not mean that I give the person money. It may mean that I refer him to church. It may mean that I take him to a shelter. It may mean that I help him find a job. It may mean I that find him some drug treatment. It may mean many different things, but it’ll mean more if I view him in a different light.

Change the Way You Think

Grace

Cow Patty World

In a Different Light

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