As most of you know, I rarely do this, but I came across this quote and felt it needed to be shared with anyone willing to read it. Such a beautiful picture of self-denial...
"When you are forgotten or neglected or purposely set at naught, and you sting and hurt with the insult or the oversight, but your heart is happy, being counted worthy to suffer for Christ -- that is dying to self. When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, your opinions ridiculed and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart, or even defend yourself, but take all in patient loving silence -- that is dying to self. When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, any irregularity, or any annoyance, when you can stand face to face with waste, folly, extravagance, spiritual insensibility, and endure it as Jesus endured it -- that is dying to self. When you are content with any food, any offering, any raiment, any climate, any society, any attitude, any interruption by the will of God -- that is dying to self. When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation, or to record your own good works, or itch after commendation, when you can truly love to be unknown -- that is dying to self. When you see your brother prosper and have his needs met and can honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy nor question God, while your own needs are far greater and in desperate circumstances -- that is dying to self. When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself, can humbly submit inwardly as well as outwardly, finding no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart -- that is dying to self." -- Author Unknown
Somewhere in the world, someone clearly "gets it," and to me that is comforting - because I'm still trying, as I'm sure are most of you. I think I'll print this quote out and hang it up as a good reminder that He is everything, and next to Him I am oh so small.
"He must become greater; I must become less." - John 3:30, NIV
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Random Acts of Kindness
Every week before I go out to the barn to ride horses, I usually stop at my local Chick-FIl-A to grab breakfast (riding a horse on an empty stomach is not advised). Usually I'm kind of rushing around as a result of trying to squeeze in just a few extra minutes of sleep. This morning as I got into my car, I turned on our local Christian radio station 91.9 WGTS. Then I remembered. The radio station is encouraging listeners to go to any drive through and when paying for their meal at the drive-thru window, go ahead and pay for the person's meal in the car behind you. On my way to Chick-Fil-A, I decided, today was the day, I'm gonna do it! I drive up and I order, there is no one behind me! I waited and waited, still no one. Finally, as I reached the window to pay for my order, a guy in a black Mazda sedan had just ordered behind me in the drive-thru. The teller barely opened the window, and I said I'd like to pay for the person's order who is in the car behind me. The teller said, "well, ok!"
He handed me my food, charged my debit card for my meal, and then informed me the guy in the car behind me had ordered $7.80 worth of food. I handed him my debit card again, got a receipt and away I drove. I was beyond excited! Such a simple act, costing me less than $10 and I'm sure the guy behind me had no idea he'd get a free meal today! This got me thinking, acts of kindness bring us joy because they bring God joy. However, acts of kindness don't have to be so random - giving or receiving.
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. - Colossians 3:12, NIV
When I was in Ireland, I was set to go out and ride horses that day but was unable because I was incredibly sick. While I wasn't well enough to go outside and ride horses, I was stuck inside and in bed reading a book. It was rest much needed, but I still wished to be outside with the horses playing and being surrounded by God's creation. And then, as I sat in bed looking out the window, a butterfly flew across the room. It was the most bizarre occurrence! The door had been shut all day, the windows had been shut all day, there was no way it could have even got in to the hallway outside the door. The butterfly landed on the window sill, and I immediately went over to look at it. So beautiful and alive, it fluttered around some more until I finally caught it and decided to take it outside so it could be in it's natural habitat.
After setting the beautiful butterfly free, I kept thinking how ironic that was and what a blessing from the Lord it was to see something beautiful in such an unexpected place. To me, this was God's act of kindness given to me that day. It was God's way of still wanting to bless me with His creation even though I could not make it outside. I felt so loved by Him. It was so sweet! God's acts of kindness may take us by surprise at times, but they are never random. He is a loving God who long to show us His compassion, His mightiness, His beauty, and His kindness. When I look around, I can see God showing me kindness each day.
It's easy to be quick to snap at others, let them get under your skin, or perhaps you may be tempted to make fun of those who are different than you. Maybe there are people who look different than you, have a different job than you, don't eat just like you, don't talk just like you, don't worship God just like you, or maybe they dress different than you. The list can go on, but what about showing them kindness? It's easy to love those who love us, but even more difficult to get out of our comfort zone and risk being rejected to show love and kindness to others. Jesus said it best:
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? - Matthew 5:46, NIV
You see, of that time, tax collectors were considered the low of the low. Jesus was saying, if you love only those who love you, that anyone can do that - even the low of the low of society. Let's make our acts of kindness not so random, and more of a practice revealing our faith and our fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22, NIV). God is not random with His acts of kindness, He is consistent and trustworthy. Let's align our heart with His, and bless others by being kind - not randomly. Reach out to those who are not like you, reach out to those who you know are hurting even if they do not show it (after all self-protection is just another form of fear resulting from pride and insecurity), reach out to someone who needs a hand, or just reach out to someone around you to show you care. Let's make kindness a practice, and not so random. Kindness is an attribute that can make anyone attractive, and reveals what is in your heart. Let's choose kindness. Let's bring glory to God by revealing His kindness through us. Are you with me?
He handed me my food, charged my debit card for my meal, and then informed me the guy in the car behind me had ordered $7.80 worth of food. I handed him my debit card again, got a receipt and away I drove. I was beyond excited! Such a simple act, costing me less than $10 and I'm sure the guy behind me had no idea he'd get a free meal today! This got me thinking, acts of kindness bring us joy because they bring God joy. However, acts of kindness don't have to be so random - giving or receiving.
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. - Colossians 3:12, NIV
When I was in Ireland, I was set to go out and ride horses that day but was unable because I was incredibly sick. While I wasn't well enough to go outside and ride horses, I was stuck inside and in bed reading a book. It was rest much needed, but I still wished to be outside with the horses playing and being surrounded by God's creation. And then, as I sat in bed looking out the window, a butterfly flew across the room. It was the most bizarre occurrence! The door had been shut all day, the windows had been shut all day, there was no way it could have even got in to the hallway outside the door. The butterfly landed on the window sill, and I immediately went over to look at it. So beautiful and alive, it fluttered around some more until I finally caught it and decided to take it outside so it could be in it's natural habitat.
After setting the beautiful butterfly free, I kept thinking how ironic that was and what a blessing from the Lord it was to see something beautiful in such an unexpected place. To me, this was God's act of kindness given to me that day. It was God's way of still wanting to bless me with His creation even though I could not make it outside. I felt so loved by Him. It was so sweet! God's acts of kindness may take us by surprise at times, but they are never random. He is a loving God who long to show us His compassion, His mightiness, His beauty, and His kindness. When I look around, I can see God showing me kindness each day.
It's easy to be quick to snap at others, let them get under your skin, or perhaps you may be tempted to make fun of those who are different than you. Maybe there are people who look different than you, have a different job than you, don't eat just like you, don't talk just like you, don't worship God just like you, or maybe they dress different than you. The list can go on, but what about showing them kindness? It's easy to love those who love us, but even more difficult to get out of our comfort zone and risk being rejected to show love and kindness to others. Jesus said it best:
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? - Matthew 5:46, NIV
You see, of that time, tax collectors were considered the low of the low. Jesus was saying, if you love only those who love you, that anyone can do that - even the low of the low of society. Let's make our acts of kindness not so random, and more of a practice revealing our faith and our fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22, NIV). God is not random with His acts of kindness, He is consistent and trustworthy. Let's align our heart with His, and bless others by being kind - not randomly. Reach out to those who are not like you, reach out to those who you know are hurting even if they do not show it (after all self-protection is just another form of fear resulting from pride and insecurity), reach out to someone who needs a hand, or just reach out to someone around you to show you care. Let's make kindness a practice, and not so random. Kindness is an attribute that can make anyone attractive, and reveals what is in your heart. Let's choose kindness. Let's bring glory to God by revealing His kindness through us. Are you with me?
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Hello, Jesus!
How do we often greet Jesus? I've been thinking about this a lot of the last couple of days. You see, this past week, in my dear Second Baptist Church family of Houston, Texas, we lost one of our brothers and a dear friend to so many. As I watch and hear of the pain my friends are going through in the midst of this loss, I find myself seeking a Holy Christ on their behalf. Over the years, when I seek God I will beseech God, petition to Him, gently ask for Him, shake my fist at Him, cry out for Him, seek His throne on my knees, reach for Him on my face, and just whisper for Him. Such a myriad of emotions, but I know in the midst of it all - He still answers.
At this very moment, our dear brother in Christ, Sam Sinclair, a faithful servant of the Lord, has the incredible honor of greeting Jesus face to face. I could write for days at how amazing an encounter between a brother in the faith and Jesus must be. It also has me thinking of how I greet Jesus now. There isn't a wrong or right way necessarily for everyone, but I can tell you, after this week, how I greet Jesus has slightly changed. I find myself in a softer place with God, more thankful, more enamored with His glory, more peaceful, more trusting, more strength given by Him, more resolve, more dignity, and even with a heart that cannot imagine putting anything else ahead of Him, my Savior. I want to celebrate the joys in everyone's life, bring on the engagements, the weddings, the birthdays, the anniversaries, the new job announcements, the birth announcements, the new home purchases, the graduations, the retirements, all of it. I've realized life is much too short to not embrace these joys, even if I'm not having them myself.
I've come to a place of utter surrender, and it's outstanding. The surrender wasn't something I was striving for, trying to make happen, I feel as though I literally just stumbled upon it. There were no magic words from someone, no "convicting" words from a fellow believer, nothing like that. I've realized there are things that will workout in life even when we don't think they will, and there are things that we always thought would workout that don't. People may come and go in your life, and the way people treat you may always be changing, but God is without a doubt the most trusted constant you will ever have in your life.
I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. - Psalm 91:2, NIV
It may all sound like such a "duh!" moment to recognize God is our immovable peace, and even something I've preached to people about for years. Truly, God is your best friend - and if He isn't, He should be. As I approach God now, I find myself thankful for every trial in my life because I trust that He is bringing about good work in me. It is Him who makes us stronger to make our life count for Him.
...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. - Philippians 1:6, NIV
Furthermore, I know that my security is in Him and my future is in His hands. He never let's go. No matter what it all holds, I can know that His plan is for my life to bring Him the most glory, and bringing Him the most glory is all I can ask for my life. So when it comes to people, albeit brother or sister in Christ, or non-believer, how I treat them is in direct relation with how I treat God. People will not always act like Christ to you, you just have to get over it. Give them grace, forgive, and realize God is so much bigger. Make adjustments if they are unsafe people, you have to be a good steward with the life God has given you. We don't have to figure it all out, He has it all figured out. Now, this is not an excuse to not make an attempt to grow from trials in your life, but you can be rest assured God holds the answers. People will let you down, instead of reacting in a critical spirit, just try to love them as the hands and feet of Christ. Often times we try to over preach to people, over analyze, are quick to admonish, assume things we don't know, try to train or teach a person when we really should be asking ourselves, "Who am I to think I know what is best for this person?" Truth is, we often don't know what is best for them and quite frankly, we often don't like that answer because we think we know what is best for ourselves - and we really don't know that either. But then there is God. Only God knows what's best for us and others, He made us, so let's approach Him. Let's ask Him. Let's petition, beseech, plead, beg, go to Him with our needs and our requests for others.
It is now that I am more inclined to say, fear isn't worth it, because God is bigger and He is trustworthy. Stress isn't worth it because He has it all worked out. Every breath we take is a gift from God and has eternal value. All of these things are what I'm learning on this journey with my King, and I know every day will be different with its own highs and lows. I'm so thankful for the brothers and sisters in Christ who stick by me despite my sin nature, and even the ones who may not over the years. Let us all jointly recognize that God is bigger, He is what matters, as we take our eyes off of our weaknesses and brokenness and put our eyes on the Author and Perfecter of our Faith. I only say this because I am in the trenches with you, and I know we are not guaranteed tomorrow.
At this very moment, our dear brother in Christ, Sam Sinclair, a faithful servant of the Lord, has the incredible honor of greeting Jesus face to face. I could write for days at how amazing an encounter between a brother in the faith and Jesus must be. It also has me thinking of how I greet Jesus now. There isn't a wrong or right way necessarily for everyone, but I can tell you, after this week, how I greet Jesus has slightly changed. I find myself in a softer place with God, more thankful, more enamored with His glory, more peaceful, more trusting, more strength given by Him, more resolve, more dignity, and even with a heart that cannot imagine putting anything else ahead of Him, my Savior. I want to celebrate the joys in everyone's life, bring on the engagements, the weddings, the birthdays, the anniversaries, the new job announcements, the birth announcements, the new home purchases, the graduations, the retirements, all of it. I've realized life is much too short to not embrace these joys, even if I'm not having them myself.
I've come to a place of utter surrender, and it's outstanding. The surrender wasn't something I was striving for, trying to make happen, I feel as though I literally just stumbled upon it. There were no magic words from someone, no "convicting" words from a fellow believer, nothing like that. I've realized there are things that will workout in life even when we don't think they will, and there are things that we always thought would workout that don't. People may come and go in your life, and the way people treat you may always be changing, but God is without a doubt the most trusted constant you will ever have in your life.
I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. - Psalm 91:2, NIV
It may all sound like such a "duh!" moment to recognize God is our immovable peace, and even something I've preached to people about for years. Truly, God is your best friend - and if He isn't, He should be. As I approach God now, I find myself thankful for every trial in my life because I trust that He is bringing about good work in me. It is Him who makes us stronger to make our life count for Him.
...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. - Philippians 1:6, NIV
Furthermore, I know that my security is in Him and my future is in His hands. He never let's go. No matter what it all holds, I can know that His plan is for my life to bring Him the most glory, and bringing Him the most glory is all I can ask for my life. So when it comes to people, albeit brother or sister in Christ, or non-believer, how I treat them is in direct relation with how I treat God. People will not always act like Christ to you, you just have to get over it. Give them grace, forgive, and realize God is so much bigger. Make adjustments if they are unsafe people, you have to be a good steward with the life God has given you. We don't have to figure it all out, He has it all figured out. Now, this is not an excuse to not make an attempt to grow from trials in your life, but you can be rest assured God holds the answers. People will let you down, instead of reacting in a critical spirit, just try to love them as the hands and feet of Christ. Often times we try to over preach to people, over analyze, are quick to admonish, assume things we don't know, try to train or teach a person when we really should be asking ourselves, "Who am I to think I know what is best for this person?" Truth is, we often don't know what is best for them and quite frankly, we often don't like that answer because we think we know what is best for ourselves - and we really don't know that either. But then there is God. Only God knows what's best for us and others, He made us, so let's approach Him. Let's ask Him. Let's petition, beseech, plead, beg, go to Him with our needs and our requests for others.
It is now that I am more inclined to say, fear isn't worth it, because God is bigger and He is trustworthy. Stress isn't worth it because He has it all worked out. Every breath we take is a gift from God and has eternal value. All of these things are what I'm learning on this journey with my King, and I know every day will be different with its own highs and lows. I'm so thankful for the brothers and sisters in Christ who stick by me despite my sin nature, and even the ones who may not over the years. Let us all jointly recognize that God is bigger, He is what matters, as we take our eyes off of our weaknesses and brokenness and put our eyes on the Author and Perfecter of our Faith. I only say this because I am in the trenches with you, and I know we are not guaranteed tomorrow.
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